First Hatch!!

[Rammy]

Thanks to everyone who posted helpful hints on making sure I am incubating properly. If all goes well, and so far so good, I should have two babies this weekend. I only did two to make sure I had everything right before attempting a larger hatch. One should hatch on the 10th the other around the 21st. SOooo.......tues is last turn day then lockdown. Since one is hatching out a couple days later, should I attempt to turn it until the 19th or leave it alone and hope for the best? Thanks in advance.

 

[Rammy]

Anyone??

 

[sevenchickens]

It's my first time hatching too, so I'm sorry I won't be much help, but was curious, you did a test run with two eggs? Did you candle them? I'm just about to set a test hatch and was wondering if 6 was too few. Good luck!! I'll have my fingers crossed for you!

 

[MuranoFarms]

Truthfully.....I think I get a better hatch rate with a full bator. I just set extra mutt eggs with my black copper marans because I think it works better for me. That's just me though and you'll get a dozen different opinions from a dozen people! It depends on the size of your incubator for one. Also, if you want to set only a few eggs you can fill the space with soda bottles filled with warm water. The mass helps stabilize the temp inside the incubator so it doesn't fluctuate as easily.

 

[Rammy]

Oh, Yeah!! Ive been candling just about every day!! One is so dark, you cant see hardly anything. The other you can still see thru it a little but its getting bigger. Definitely veining and movement in both. I did not consider that putting two eggs in a few days apart would present a possible problem until today. These are my test run eggs so hopefully if one or both hatch, then I know Im doing something right. I went and got two digital thermometers at Walmart with the humidity indicators on them as well as a little humidity indicator that was only $3.00 to put in as well. I have them at separate levels. One reads exactly 99 the other 100. The 100 is a little higher than the 99 one so I figure Im in the ballpark. The humidity reads around 55 to 65 percent right now. So the only thing Im worried about is the one egg gets its final turn tomorrow[/img], then lockdown. What about the other egg? Ack!!

 

[sevenchickens]

I don't have any experience, but everything I've read is DON'T OPEN THE INCUBATOR!! What if you compromised and went into lockdown early day 19?

 

[Rammy]

I guess I could go into lockdown on the 19th but then if one chick is suppose to hatch that day, and your not suppose to turn them three days before they hatch........hmmm.......Im still thinking on it. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[sevenchickens]

Let me know how it works out for you.

 

[MuranoFarms]

If you don't turn for a day or two it should be fine. I'm confused though...in the first post it says your hatch dates are the 10th and 21st....today is the 15th. soooo?????

Ok...just re-read that Tuesday is the last turn day which makes the 19th day 21....and the 21st day 21! lol I think I got that right. Just go ahead and lock them down either at night on day 18 or morning day 19 according to the first hatch date. The second egg should be fine.

 

[Rammy]

Ooops!! I didnt realize I hit the zero. Its the 19th, this friday. Many apologies. Im exited. Ive candled the eggs and they are both dark. One is heavier than the other. You can tell when you pick them up. They are going into lockdown after the last turn tomorrow night. I just did not want to ruin anything or compromise the other chicks hatching by turning or not turning. They got rolled around when I moved the incubator< oops again> and I did not have dates written on them to know which is which. <so much to learn> After this hatch and if they both hatch, Im planning a bigger clutch next time. Thanks to everyone who has posted replies to the newbie hatch chick here!!

Rammy