First Time Hatching Anyone With Me??

[chicken danz]

Leg issues; actually I believe it is a balance issue, usually has to do with either improper turning or humidity problems especially the first 3-4 days of incubating and the last 4-5 days before hatching. I've had this problem a few times but rarely in chickens. This happens more with game birds it seems. You can buy a digital thermometer/hydrometer at Walmart for under $7. It is with their other outside thermometers. I've also noticed this tendency more in shipped eggs. I think perhaps temperature changes may start to incubate the eggs early before you get them sometimes.
Chicks that have had these balance problems normally die if they are left with other chicks. But if put in a separate small container and if they can reach water and feed they get better over time. I normally just use a plastic jar lid for water with marbles in it so they don't fall in. It takes refilling a few times a day.

 

[ItsAZOO32]

Quote:
Thanks for the info! I have only the 1 out of 25 that is having the leg problems. I think I have the same digital thermometer/hygrometer you are talking about. I think I paid about 8$ for it.

These eggs were fresh, not shipped and I turned them by hand so they were all turned the same 3x per day.

I am doing my best to check on him frequently and move him to the food and water. I went ahead and put a band-aid on his legs like other people suggested for "splayed" legs but I don't think that's the issue here. I'm going to try everything! He's too cute to let go.

 

[cowgirlhog]

how long should it take after 21 days of no hatch to worry?

 

[ItsAZOO32]

I've heard 24 days...

 

[cowgirlhog]

ok thanks. cute chick. hope he does well. i too need to buy one of those hygrometers and i am a science teacher too. i should have known better...i guess i didn't know that they hatching chicks would be so sensitive to the humidity. figured it could get pretty humid under a hen's rear, so why would it matter so much in an incubator?? after reading some of these posts i was dead wrong. hope my chicks make it now

 

[ItsAZOO32]

Quote:
What kind of incubator do you have? How has the temp been running? Sometimes temp can speed or delay the hatch (mine was 2 days early!!)

Did you increase the humidity and stop turning at day 18? The hygrometer really isn't too necessary in the Styrofoam type incubators if you follow the directions. I'm just paranoid and watched my numbers like crazy!!

 

[cowgirlhog]

yes i did those things, and it is a styrofoam one with a fan. temp is steady about 99.8-100. i had to add water today. not a true "lock down". i too am paranoid, first time

 

[ItsAZOO32]

This was my first time too... I'm not sure how that goes with the fan as mine is a still air. Are you getting condensation on your windows? When my humidity was up there I got some (but not TONS) of condensation. If you don't, plug any vent holes you have. Humidity might be too low. It sounds funny but if you sit by the incubator and "cheep" or "bokbokbok" at them you may hear faint cheeping back at you. I did, that's how I knew they were coming.. I heard them before I saw any pips. Have you seen any eggs rocking at all? Did you candle them and know they are all fertile?

Sorry for all of the questions.. you know us crazy science teachers.. always trying to find a solution

 

[cowgirlhog]

ya, we are usually being asked- not asking. i teach everything from physical sci, to earth, biology and anatomy. but here i feel like i'm in foreign territory. i never thought of myself as a chicken gal! we just had horses and dogs mainly. now i'm addicted. i think i can answer "no" to everything: sounds, movement, or condensation. there is one small hole for a cord. yes, i candled them. 2 nonfertile, 1 had a bloodspot. i opened it today, very small embyro. and now i am left with two. there is still an air bubble at the top and most of the egg is dark (not blood, but body).
i do have three batches in there. so i may have prolonged it a bit. i still have opened and turned the others, quickly. rather stupid of me to do that, now i know. i actually was going to have a class hatch them at school for me, but they were due for break. i had ordered two sets as mentioned. they were supposed to arrive when i put the first few in. of course, delay in shipping. so the two i am waiting on really went in as a test for temp. i really WANT them to hatch though. so do my kids...
i'll wait a few days and then see. the ones that are 15 days along look awesome. they are ameraucana/olive eggers and can see great. i have some maran eggs that i'm not so sure on. thanks for the help thus far.

 

[Barbgarmo]

Hi, I have the same incubator from TSC with the egg turner. No fan.
My chicks were not hatching..but fully developed.
Last year I used less water. Maybe 2-3 Tbs. Then another Tablespoon week & half later.
No more drowned chicks.
17 chicks out of maybe 30 eggs. I was happy.

99 degrees or close at least.
Also I do not fill the the incubator egg tray full.
It seem's to burn up the motor.
Incubated 36 instead of the 42 this time.
Good Luck,
Barb