Egg turner malfunction. Should I start over?

[americanchicks]

Hi all. So I have some olive eggers in the bater right now on day 16. Yesterday is when I noticed that the same grouping of eggs has not seemed to have moved. Well Marked an egg with a pen and it had not moved all night. so the auto turner is not working. I can still rotate the eggs by pushing the button manually. All the eggs are alive and moving but worried that not being turned for the first 4 days may have caused problems for the embryos. My hens are laying well now so im ok if I have to toss this batch and start again. I have people wanting some of my chicks so I want to hatch them healthy. Thanks
Jen

 

[sylviethecochin]

Sorry--how long has your turner been malfunctioning? For the first four days(0-4) of incubation, for the past four days (12-onwards) or you don't know. Sorry, I don't understand this sentence: worried that not being turned for the first 4 days may have caused problems for the embryos. But you also said that you just found out recently. So I'm unsure what you mean.

If they weren't turned 0-4, you should still be good. Many people don't turn for the first 2-3 days. If they weren't turned 12-16, you should still be good--there's been a study done that showed you can just stop turning eggs after day 14 with no ill effects. So you'd have only missed two days.

If you don't know when the turner started malfunctioning, then you may have problems.

 

[Mosey2003]

I'm betting she means the *last* 4 days, only thing that makes sense.

Go ahead and proceed with hatching them, but don't hope too hard for a super hatch. When I had the same thing happen I got 4 live chicks out of 24 eggs and one of those died within a day. It can really mess them up. By day 16, turning isn't really going to help them much.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You're fine! No need to fret.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I'm betting she means the *last* 4 days, only thing that makes sense.

Go ahead and proceed with hatching them, but don't hope too hard for a super hatch. When I had the same thing happen I got 4 live chicks out of 24 eggs and one of those died within a day. It can really mess them up. By day 16, turning isn't really going to help them much.

When did you stop turning? (Gathering data for future reference.)

 

[Mosey2003]

When did you stop turning? (Gathering data for future reference.)

I never started My turner was new enough (had only used it once) that I never imagined that it might not work. And since I look at my eggs typically morning and after work, I assumed that they were in the same position because that's where the turner cycles. It wasn't until AFTER the miserable hatch that I determined the turner wasn't working at all.

 

[americanchicks]

Thank you all for your replies. I have made the decision to scrap the batch. Candling them they are not looking right. ( I have hatched 3 clutches before) Since I have people wanting chicks I want them to be as healthy as possible. Another good reason to start over is the bater is still under warranty until April 4th so I can just exchange it a new one.