egg with hole in air sell

[MrsBrooke]

the one with the hole has no eggs on the same date as it. But their is one that is suppose-to hatch tomorrow.

Do you have them in separate incubators or did you put them in one incubator at different times?

Egg hatching is a sensitive science. An egg requires 21 full days of development under a broody/in an incubator to develop and hatch. Humidity, temperature drop, setting eggs at different times, poking holes in the shell... All of these things can equal disaster. Some we have control over, some we don't.. The goal in egg hatching is to eliminate as many variables as possible for maximum hatch rate.

Disturbances during those 21 days should be *extremely* limited in scope and duration, especially after lock down. A quick candle at day 10, water testing at day 18 to test for early quitters... But taking the egg out and fiddling with it for extended periods of time and poking holes in the shell could be disastrous at any stage. Letting the temperature get down too low for too long can kill your chick(s)... And each time you open the incubator, you invite temp and humidity fluctuations.

It's tough when you don't know what you don't know, and if I came across like a raging lunatic, my apologies. Capitalization is added for emphasis, never anger.

If I'm yelling in anger, you'll know it.

I just want to make sure that your chicks have the best chance at a good, strong start in life, because that will determine their success as they grow.

Not really sure what to tell you about the two eggs you've got... Your best bet is to leave them alone in the incubator and hope and pray, especially since you've got one due tomorrow... Are there any more or just those two?

Keep us updated, and we'll try to help if you need assistance with helping it hatch, should you choose to.

MrsB

 

[JJSS89]

MrsBrooke, I agree about the dangers of staggered hatching...which is why I bought two incubators! I can't help myself sometimes but to throw a few more bantam eggs in when they lay them

I keep one with an egg flat and high humidity for lockdown(s) and one with a turner. I mark each egg with a pencil and feed the addiction.

I had a lone D'Uccle hatch this morning and he is now in the brooder with three 3-day old bantams who are afraid to go near him

 

[ochochicas]

You got some great advice here. Mrs.B was not harsh with you. She is trying to save the life of a chick that has already been dealt a bad hand.

Next time it would be better to do some research BEFORE incubating eggs or experimenting with them on your own. There is so much information on BYC as well as many experts here you could ask before making huge mistakes with your eggs.

 

[peepsthebrassy]

Do you have them in separate incubators or did you put them in one incubator at different times?

Egg hatching is a sensitive science. An egg requires 21 full days of development under a broody/in an incubator to develop and hatch. Humidity, temperature drop, setting eggs at different times, poking holes in the shell... All of these things can equal disaster. Some we have control over, some we don't.. The goal in egg hatching is to eliminate as many variables as possible for maximum hatch rate.

Disturbances during those 21 days should be *extremely* limited in scope and duration, especially after lock down. A quick candle at day 10, water testing at day 18 to test for early quitters... But taking the egg out and fiddling with it for extended periods of time and poking holes in the shell could be disastrous at any stage. Letting the temperature get down too low for too long can kill your chick(s)... And each time you open the incubator, you invite temp and humidity fluctuations.

It's tough when you don't know what you don't know, and if I came across like a raging lunatic, my apologies. Capitalization is added for emphasis, never anger.

If I'm yelling in anger, you'll know it.

I just want to make sure that your chicks have the best chance at a good, strong start in life, because that will determine their success as they grow.

Not really sure what to tell you about the two eggs you've got... Your best bet is to leave them alone in the incubator and hope and pray, especially since you've got one due tomorrow... Are there any more or just those two?

Keep us updated, and we'll try to help if you need assistance with helping it hatch, should you choose to.

MrsB

ummm........ is it ummm......... bad to have them in the same incubator

i don't have a another incubator

 

[JJSS89]

What Mrs Brooke means is that humidity is ideally increased on day 18 or 19 until hatch. If you have what is called a "staggered" hatch, that is a group of eggs like yours that is going to hatch on different days, the humidity of some eggs would be lower or higher for longer amounts of time than is ideal.

It is not a death sentence for a egg to have low humidity or high humidity for too long but everything you do affects their chances of making to hatch.

Eggs on days 1-18 are not as sensitive to being handled and candled. After that though they are much more sensitive because they have to get into a certain position and their membranes have to be in the right humidity and warm environment to prevent them from being locked in their shells or from drowning to death. So if you have eggs on Day 20 that are trying to hatch but you're fiddling with eggs on Day 10 that you are candling, you are really hurting the chances of the Day 20 chick. Also, when the humidity spikes during a hatch of chicks, the ones that are days behind could be over-humidified which can drown them.

Don't throw these ones out, give them your best. However you need to read a lot of info on here if you want good results for you (and the chicks) in the future.

 

[MrsBrooke]

MrsBrooke, I agree about the dangers of staggered hatching...which is why I bought two incubators! I can't help myself sometimes but to throw a few more bantam eggs in when they lay them

I keep one with an egg flat and high humidity for lockdown(s) and one with a turner. I mark each egg with a pencil and feed the addiction.

I had a lone D'Uccle hatch this morning and he is now in the brooder with three 3-day old bantams who are afraid to go near him

What a happy day for you!

MrsB

 

[JJSS89]

3 weeks ago, I had 8 d'uccle eggs saved up and...the hound ate 6, and broke 1

This guy is the lone survivor.




PeepstheBrassy, read-read-read about hatching...there are sooo many threads.

 

[MrsBrooke]

ummm........ is it ummm......... bad to have them in the same incubator

i don't have a another incubator

If you set one egg in an incubator, that one egg should be allowed to develop for 21 days and hatch BEFORE you put more eggs in that incubator. Adding eggs as you go along will greatly reduce the chance of your eggs hatching (or if they do hatch, you run the risks of defects in the chicks due to swings in humidity). It doesn't work like... "Oh, I'll set the eggs as my chickens lay them."

Think about it. A broody will lay her clutch and *then* sit on them. She doesn't go around laying eggs all over the yard and sitting on them for 15 minutes a piece each day or something. Once she's "collected her brood," she goes to work for 21 days. You have to pretend like your incubator is a big mechanical chicken mama and as closely mimic what happens naturally as you can.

There's a ratio of 15% candling and 85% staring.

Let those eggies sit.

MrsB

 

[peepsthebrassy]

for future incubating i well not do what i did wrong this time like having eggs with two hatching dates or more. and if i do i well get them in another incubator. and resist opening it on lock down.

 

[MrsBrooke]

for future incubating i well not do what i did wrong this time like having eggs with two hatching dates or more. and if i do i well get them in another incubator. and resist opening it on lock down.

There is MUCH success in this plan. I think you will do much better next time.

Set all eggs at the same time (you can keep eggs in the fridge up to seven days to help increase your eggs set - let them warm to room temp on the counter before setting).

Lock down on Day 18. Make sure there will be enough humidity to carry them through hatching. Fight the urge to check them!

Once the first one pips, they usually all hatch within 24 hours. Once they are nice and fluffy and playing soccer with their siblings-in-the-shell, you can quickly scoop them out and place them in their 100 degree brooder.

If you notice any of the chicks struggling, resist the urge to help them. Help only as a last resort... There are two schools of thought on this: 1) a chick that's too weak to hatch will be a weaker chicken that is more prone to illness, 2) all things deserve a chance to live, so if you can help, you should intervene.

It's up to you which path you wish to take. I have both helped and left them alone. It's almost worse if you help them and they don't make it. Anyway.

I hope your chicks hatch and are happy and healthy when they come out!

Post pictures of the fluffy butts, please!

MrsB