EGGS DIDN'T GET TURNED!!UGH.. toss them or wait?

[bboyd1]

So I've got a still air incubator and went and found a used turner since I knew I needed to be gone several days. Plugged it in, seemed to work fine. I still marked the eggs so I could check it was working, being used. Anyway, appeared to be no problems, I left on day 9 of incubation, returned to find the eggs no being turned. Possibly a short in the electrical cord? I don't know if it had been hours, or days since they were turned! Its now day 17. Should I toss these and start over or wait it out? (They are eggs from my own hens, and I get 10-12 fertile eggs a day so replacing the batch won't be hard, just lost time) I should also point out, I'm terrible at candling, although I could try. My eggs tend to be darker brown and that doesn't help.

 

[WalnutHill]

Just lock them down tomorrow and let them try to hatch. Chances are everything will be fine.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you want to try candling them, use a standard light bulb, or CFL. You can make a shroud to go over it with a 1 qt cottage cheese container, or a pringles container, or any other similar item that will cover the bulb. Use tin foil as needed to exclude all light except for the light that will be shining directly into the egg. Be sure to exclude light from shining out from the bottom as well. Then, candle in a completely dark room. This will give you better visualization than trying to use a flashlight, though with a bright light and new batteries in a completely dark room, you might be ok there. Do a thread search for home made candlers, and you should get some good and EASY design ideas. While your hatch rate may be decreased a bit b/c of the malfunctioning turner, you should still get a decent hatch. Keep us posted!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Just lock them down tomorrow and let them try to hatch. Chances are everything will be fine.

xs 2 After day 14 it is not neccessary to turn anyway. Give them a chance. I've heard of people not turning at all and having hatchers (albeit few.)

 

[bboyd1]

Thanks, I'll update when things start happening (or don't happen).

Its only a couple more days so if I get 2 hatch out it'll be worth it. No difference in setting up the brooder anyway. After day 22 or 23 Im gonna clean that bator and put in more asap, just hand turning. Even if I get a good amount hatched this time, I can never have too many chicks!

 

[bboyd1]

Hi! Just wanted to say I've got chicks hatching, one big silver-laced Wyandotte decided to come early this morning, and my BO/Wyandotte cross is almost completely unzipped. Most pipped early this morning and are making a lot of noise now (technically due tomorrow). I may need to recalibrate my thermometer. But Im happy to see so much activity, even allowing that some that have pipped may not hatch out, it looks like I should get a decent hatch--Unless an extremely large amount don't make it out of their shells or are deformed of course. So Im VERY happy, all things considering. Thanks to everyone for telling me to wait it out, I can't believe I considered tossing all these babies. Keep praying I don't have a lot of sticky bellies or anything, this is only my 2nd batch and my first was a small batch (6eggs) and was 100% hatch and health rate. I'll holler back when hatching is complete and I have real numbers, but Im just so excited that the majority are very active in their shells this morning.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi! Just wanted to say I've got chicks hatching, one big silver-laced Wyandotte decided to come early this morning, and my BO/Wyandotte cross is almost completely unzipped. Most pipped early this morning and are making a lot of noise now (technically due tomorrow). I may need to recalibrate my thermometer. But Im happy to see so much activity, even allowing that some that have pipped may not hatch out, it looks like I should get a decent hatch--Unless an extremely large amount don't make it out of their shells or are deformed of course. So Im VERY happy, all things considering. Thanks to everyone for telling me to wait it out, I can't believe I considered tossing all these babies. Keep praying I don't have a lot of sticky bellies or anything, this is only my 2nd batch and my first was a small batch (6eggs) and was 100% hatch and health rate. I'll holler back when hatching is complete and I have real numbers, but Im just so excited that the majority are very active in their shells this morning.

Great!

 

[bboyd1]

Been crazy around here but I wanted to stop in and kinda finish this thread. I had an 80% hatch and survive rate, chicks have been happy in the brooder! Didn't really see any problems with any of them, just a couple eggs that never hatched. That's pretty awesome in my opinion!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Been crazy around here but I wanted to stop in and kinda finish this thread. I had an 80% hatch and survive rate, chicks have been happy in the brooder! Didn't really see any problems with any of them, just a couple eggs that never hatched. That's pretty awesome in my opinion!

Congratulations!