Eggs slightly “jarred” in day 15 of incubation

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

I am very worried about my eggs that are on day 15 of incubation and this is my first attempt at hatching so I am extremely nervous. I have shipped polish crested and easter eggers and out of ten eggs 7 fertilized, one of which had a detached air sac in the easter eggers but I have kept it upright and turned by hand. I had one quitter around day 8 judging by the size of the embryo which was heartbreaking wondering I caused this in some way. We are going out of town for a day and I added too much water to my janoel 12 incubator so I had to carefully remove the top rack and soak up water in the bottom due to my hygrometer reading 90% humidity, and I have read it’s better low than high. Well sitting the tray back in the incubator the eggs seemed to rattle when sitting the tray back down. I am now absolutely worried sick that I have killed the embryos doing this. Any advice or thoughts if this would kill them? And if my humidity drops too low for a day will it be bad? I am so scared I have put all this work in for nothing. Advice and thoughts please!

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I think they should be okay.
Do you have any other chickens? Maybe you should consider getting a broody breed, like silkies or Cochins, so that the hens can brod the chicks. Secretly, I hope never to use an incubator..... Seems so risky and detailed, and I would be totally freaking out like you!

 

[AlleysChicks]

That shouldn’t effect them. I’ve bumped my incubator so bad it almost fell off the table. Eggs were fine and all hatched.

 

[AlleysChicks]

I think they should be okay.
Do you have any other chickens? Maybe you should consider getting a broody breed, like silkies or Cochins, so that the hens can brod the chicks. Secretly, I hope never to use an incubator..... Seems so risky and detailed, and I would be totally freaking out like you!

I’m on my second year of incubating using a bator. Last year I had a broody hatch 5/6 eggs and that was way more nerve wracking than hatching them yourself. I was worried even after they hatched!

I find it easier to hatch the eggs and brood them myself. Plus the babies end up friendlier.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I agree they should be fine... IF they were going to be anyways.

I always run my incubator around 40-45%.

But have ran as low as 10% for dark Marans eggs. "Too low" for a short period of time isn't going to break you. It's the overall humidity through out the whole of incubation.

I usually let it run around 35% for several hours to a whole day before adding water... depending on how high it's been for the most part.

Good luck, and happy hatching!

Quitters can be caused by dirty egg, bad nutrition, poor genetics or maybe some other stuff. Really nothing you can do about it beyond controlling your stock. Try not to be too broken hearted.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I’m on my second year of incubating using a bator. Last year I had a broody hatch 5/6 eggs and that was way more nerve wracking than hatching them yourself. I was worried even after they hatched!

I find it easier to hatch the eggs and brood them myself. Plus the babies end up friendlier.

I always worry some, but I know that this is how nature is, and the hen knows everything to do! Actually, from a batch that hatched several were quite friendly. I have raised chicks Ina. Brooder too, from a hatchery. They are a lot more friendly, since you can spend time with them. I guess I haven't ever used a incubator, so I don't know what it's like!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Just this week I lost a 3 week old and a two week old chick both with their broody mums.. to aerial predators.

My girls have to fight to keep their nest, and eggs become soiled. I prefer incubating and adopting if I want a broody raised. Plus I hate for my broody ladies to sit and lose condition become shaky and so on. If I already have eggs or very young chicks (under 6 days old MAX), the moms only have to set a few days to a week to get their payoff.

Nope they don't get better hatch rates than me and I don't like being left out of the loop.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Actually, from a batch that hatched several were quite friendly.

Yes, the unfriendliness was one of the draw back we experienced at first. But the broody hen has some influence on this. Once they settle down and teach the chicks it's OK to be near you... if it's a calm hen. They come running for treats and such. It's very precious!

We have since discovered that it's COMPLETELY an individual thing. Though brooder chicks can be friendlier depends on your interactions and the breed. Broody raised chicks... are usually a little more well adjusted and a hint smarter earlier and start out higher in the pecking order... though that usually disappears with some time and they all become equals before long.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Yes, the unfriendliness was one of the draw back we experienced at first. But the broody hen has some influence on this. Once they settle down and teach the chicks it's OK to be near you... if it's a calm hen. They come running for treats and such. It's very precious!

We have since discovered that it's COMPLETELY an individual thing. Though brooder chicks can be friendlier depends on your interactions and the breed. Broody raised chicks... are usually a little more well adjusted and a hint smarter earlier and start out higher in the pecking order... though that usually disappears with some time and they all become equals before long.

Yeah, I raised some chicks in the spring, and spent equally time so all of them, and only the modern games were in your lap friendly. I think it's a breed trait.
The chicks that hatched were free ranging with mom at two weeks.

 

[Iva S.]

They should be fine. When I incubated eggs for the first time, my cat knocked the lid off and woke me up due to the peeping when one hatched. The rest were completely ok though