don't think I am going to have a hatch

[wowmanacat]

just bring it up again

 

[HEChicken]

Sorry, I don't know the answer on the antibiotics. I'm thinking either 10 days or two weeks but if someone said three weeks I wouldn't be surprised. As for the incubator - nice job! If I were you, I would use the method I use for turning (tilting one end and then the other on a thickish book). That way you won't have to open it very often and the temps will stay more stable. Let us know how it goes.

 

[wowmanacat]

I think I might have fixed the temp problem, This after noon I had my husband mount the fan to the side of the incubator and it seem to be hold a temp much better, so far it as gone to 101 but it had not dropped down below 98 unless I have to open it to turn eggs or add water. When it does get to 101 I just open it for a minute or crack the lid for a bit to bring it back down.

 

[Crayonsmom]

Don't get too discouraged yet!

I put some duck eggs in the bator 31 days ago. We had numerous temperature drops and a high of 110 for a short ammount of time.

But tonight I'm finally hearing some peeping from inside an egg.

 

[wowmanacat]

This is only day 4 so I have a long wait and I hate to wait. I am really hoping that my game hen mix eggs hatch for them are the chickens that really get out of the coop and do some bug hunting. All the white hens that I have stay in the coop or very close to it.
Of course if you do chicken math I only have 3 hens for the other 3 or molting and then there is the roo.

 

[petunias212]

Don't give up - the frustration, anxiety, and tiredness is all part of hatching - I think no matter how long you've been hatching, you never stop worrying...

My first hatch I used a little giant styrofoam still air bator - no thermostat - no fan..just a thermometer with humidity read out...my temps were all over the place, as high as 102 and as low as 97 - some days it didn't seem to matter what I did, I just couldn't get the darn thing to settle down..then some days, I had consistent temps and humidity.....from posting here and reading posts, it seems these styrofoam bators are very temperamental...

In the end, I was surprised to have hatched the three I did..not a lot since I started with 24 but it was a learning hatch and I learned a lot...so I'd hold on if I were you and give it some time - and stay on top of your temp and humidity...it's exhausting but the end result is wonderful and you'll never forget your first hatch.

 

[wowmanacat]

Thank you for all the encouragement I don't plan on giving up. I hope to be able to candle over the weekend or early next week to see if anything is happen.

 

[wowmanacat]

This might be a few months late but I had a 11 out of 13 hatch after all that happen.

 

[calgal98]

That was a nice surprise! Congrats. They should be close to point of late now!

 

[morgakl2]

Quote:
that makes me feel better that I'm not alone in that feeling. My first hatch was 0/10. I'm on my 2nd down and they are suppose to hatch Aug. 29th. It's gonna be a long month!!!