Everybody cross your fingers!!! Day 19 and counting!!!

[silkiechicken]

YAY!!! Keep us updated on how many make it into the world!!!

 

[skeeter9]

Oh, I will definitely keep you updated!!! I'm having a hard time concentrating on my work - I just want to go home and check on the new babies, see if there are any more pips, etc. I think in my next life I'm going to be rich so I don't have to work all the time!!!

Lori

 

[skeeter9]

For crying out loud!!! Out of 18 eggs, only 2 hatched!!!! This is the second time in a row that I have had a bad hatch!! I know the eggs were good when they left the seller (Mothergoose), and nothing strange happened during incuabtion. I am so disappointed!!!

Oh, and I can't post the pics yet because they are stuck in my camera!!! GGGRRRRRRR!!!!!

At least the 2 little Welsummer that hatched are doing well. One of them was weak and sticky, but I gave him a bath and some vitamins and he is doing much better.

Lori

 

[justusnak]

Awwww Lori, I am soo sorry only 2 hatched. Did you candle the rest?? Maybe they are still alive, and just " late bloomers"?? I bet those 2 little ones are ADORABLE!!

 

[jimnjay]

Skeeter, What type of incubator are you using? If they were really wet and sticky it could be humidity was to high. They can drown at the time of internal pip with humidity that was to high during days 16-19. Your hygromete may be off. I have had several that were off by as much as 10 points. Also the styrofoam incubators are known to keep eggs to moist. Have you read about " Dry Incubation" ?

I am so sorry for your dissapointing hatch. I have been there.
This is a link to a good troubleshooting site.

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/trouble.htm#PIP

 

[skeeter9]

Jimnjay - I am using a Hovabator. I have 2 thermometers in the bator, both with hygrometers and they read about 70% in the last 3 days. Before that, I just put a little water in once a week. I wonder if both hygrometers could be off? Maybe I should try another one??

The other thought I had was that I am using an average of the 2 thermometers. When one reads 100 degrees, the other would read 98.5 (1 1/2 degrees difference). I wonder if I had them a little too high the entire time?

I've got to get this figured out because I have 12 Serama eggs coming in a couple of days. . . .

I turned off the bator last night, and when I get home tonight I'm going to crack open the remaining eggs to see if I can tell at what point they stopped developing.

Have you tried the dry incubation method? Exactly how did you do it?

Lori

 

[skeeter9]

Justasnak, Thanks for your sympathy!! I feel so guilty. One way or another I'm going to ge this figured out.

Lori

 

[jimnjay]

http://p098.ezboard.com/fbackyardchickensfrm17.showMessage?topicID=3842.topic

This is a link to the article on the Orginal BYC. It is lengthy or I would copy the whole thing.

Dang thermometers are often off and it is really hard to guess what is correct. Averaging may or may not be work if one is off by alot. 1.5 degrees cooler will not destroy a hatch but will slow it down. Consistant temps of 2. hotter may kill the embryos. I wonder if you could test your thermometers with a regular people, in the mouth type thermometer.

I hope you get it figured out before the Serama eggs arrive. If you decide to get a new therm/hygro. I do recommend the Fluckers, available at Petco/Petsmart. It is designed for reptile habitat. I find mine to be reliable for extended periods. Others I have had seem to vary after extended periods in the incubator for some reason. Expecially the humidity reading.

 

[skeeter9]

I think I will get one of those thermometers and test it against the other 2 I have and also against a people thermometer. Maybe that will give me my answer???

At this point the chicks are doing well. They are adorable and I love them!!

Thanks for all your help,

Lori

 

[thndrdancr]

Lori, did you break open the other shells and figure out what/where it went wrong?

Since this is my first hatch, I am also wanting to learn.
Thanks
Jill