Eggs gone cold, are they okay???

[BirdGirl2004]

they should be fine.

OK thanks

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay! This old incubator is CONSTANTLY fluctuating, and it's really hard to keep the temp and humidity constant!

If you are just going to be constantly fighting it, it might not be a bad idea to let these eggs go, and work on getting the incubator stable and start over.

 

[Rose Quartz]

I

Alright. Sorry for my ignorance, but how do I "calibrate" the thermometer/hygrometer?? Also, I'm not sure I should keep incubating them, because the humidity got down to 29%!!! Should I start with a new batch??

i run my incubator at 12-20% humidity for the first 18 days. (it's humid where I live.) that's not gonna kill them.

 

[Rose Quartz]

I could always just wait 7 days and candle them... thoughts?

I'd wait to day 7. or you can try candling them now, but just because you don't see anything doesn't mean it's bad at day 4.

The first incubator I worked with was old and by the end of the 21 days I was a wreck. but all 3 eggs hatched.... despite a 111* temp spike in the 3 hour window I was trying to get some sleep.

If you're not up to babysitting your incubator then yes. you should wait until you've got it working with out you. maybe find a closet to set it up in where there isn't a temperature swing during the night and day.

 

[Dharmachick]

Imagine how it is for a broody hen. I have a lot of fluctuation in my incubator, I check it 4 times a day and adjust as needed.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

I'd wait to day 7. or you can try candling them now, but just because you don't see anything doesn't mean it's bad at day 4.

The first incubator I worked with was old and by the end of the 21 days I was a wreck. but all 3 eggs hatched.... despite a 111* temp spike in the 3 hour window I was trying to get some sleep.

If you're not up to babysitting your incubator then yes. you should wait until you've got it working with out you. maybe find a closet to set it up in where there isn't a temperature swing during the night and day.

Thank all of you SO much! I appreciate it! I have 11 eggs in there total, so hopefully i hatch something! I feel like a helicopter mom because i literally check on them every 10 minutes. Hopefully they hatch! If not, I will try again maybe with a better incubator!

 

[BirdGirl2004]

If you are just going to be constantly fighting it, it might not be a bad idea to let these eggs go, and work on getting the incubator stable and start over.

I would, but I don't have the heart to let them go! If some were to make it I would feel awful! I think I'm going to wait till day 7, candle them, post some picture, and see what ya'll think.

 

[WVduckchick]

I would, but I don't have the heart to let them go! If some were to make it I would feel awful! I think I'm going to wait till day 7, candle them, post some picture, and see what ya'll think.

Perfectly understandable. We're here to help, so give it a shot!

 

[lazy gardener]

I

Alright. Sorry for my ignorance, but how do I "calibrate" the thermometer/hygrometer?? Also, I'm not sure I should keep incubating them, because the humidity got down to 29%!!! Should I start with a new batch??

I use a good medical grade thermometer (either digital "fever" thermometer, or a mercury bulb type.) The digital is usually guaranteed to +/- .2*F. I place my "gold standard" thermometer in a bowl of water that is approximately 100*F. I then place my other submersible thermometers in the bowl (without letting them touch sides or bottom), and wait for the readings on all thermometers to stabalize. Then compare your readings. If your medical thermometer reads 100.5, and your other thermometer reads 99.7, you know that your other thermometer reads .8* low. You now know how far off that thermometer is so you can adjust your bator thermostat accordingly. If the thermometer you are using reads air temp, I suggest that you start by calibrating a standard bulb type of thermometer with the warm water test. Then you can use your bulb thermometer in your bator along with the air temp thermometer in the bator to calibrate THAT thermometer.

As far as your hygrometer: Do the salt test. You can read about that test by doing a thread search, or reading "hatching eggs 101" in the learning center. I won't even plug my bator in without doing a refresher reading of that excellent resource material. So much useful information. It's lengthy, and composed of a LOT of articles. But, by taking the time to read through it, you will find that you have answered a lot of questions that you didn't even know you had.

Humidity DOWN TO 29% IS A GOOD THING! I incubate at 30 - 40%. And often my humidity gets down to 10 - 15% before I get around to adding more water. Then, when the humidity shoots up to 40%, I look at the average, and am very satisfied. Humidity is a TOOL which you use to achieve proper air cell size and wt. loss in the embryo. In "HE 101" you will find a nifty chart that shows air cell size in relation to embryo age. Follow the chart. If on day 14, your air cells look too small, you then have a few days to run the bator dry so you can achieve the correct lock down air cell size.

Do not consider throwing away eggs unless you know for a fact that they have been fried, or you know for a fact that they are dead. Wait at least till day 10 before making that judgement. When you candle the eggs (again, read "HE 101" for some great instructions for candling eggs and judging embryo development and health)