First time hatching chicks in incubator and need advice.

[teamtmo]

The Mini Advance's turner is set to turn off two days before hatching. So, yours should shut off soon on its own. However, I usually manually turn the turner off on day 18, because my breeds tend to hatch a little early (and I want them to have enough time to position themselves in the egg). I always keep the turning tray in, even after the turning has stopped.

It stopped turning automatically later that night. Once it went into lockdown, I removed the tray, put down some paper towel and filled up both water reservoirs past the top. As of 3am this morning (5/15/2015), one of my eggs pipped a little (it looks more like a crack, not a hole). Since then, it's been 8 hours now & there hasn't been any more progress. I'm worried that maybe there isn't enough humidity. I don't want the poor little guys to be shrink wrapped. The water line has gone down to just the top of the two reservoirs. I'm afraid to open the incubator up though to refill the water. There is a lot of condensation around the bottom sides of the incubator. How often should I refill the water reservoirs during this stage (Day 20+)? I'm afraid to let it go lower than the line of the two reservoirs, but I don't want to let out more humidity by opening it up to refill it. Sorry again for all my questions. I appreciate the help
This is a photo of the pipped white egg.

This is a photo of the other side of the incubator with all the condensation.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

The Mini Advance's turner is set to turn off two days before hatching. So, yours should shut off soon on its own. However, I usually manually turn the turner off on day 18, because my breeds tend to hatch a little early (and I want them to have enough time to position themselves in the egg). I always keep the turning tray in, even after the turning has stopped.

It stopped turning automatically later that night. Once it went into lockdown, I removed the tray, put down some paper towel and filled up both water reservoirs past the top. As of 3am this morning (5/15/2015), one of my eggs pipped a little (it looks more like a crack, not a hole). Since then, it's been 8 hours now & there hasn't been any more progress. I'm worried that maybe there isn't enough humidity. I don't want the poor little guys to be shrink wrapped. The water line has gone down to just the top of the two reservoirs. I'm afraid to open the incubator up though to refill the water. There is a lot of condensation around the bottom sides of the incubator. How often should I refill the water reservoirs during this stage (Day 20+)? I'm afraid to let it go lower than the line of the two reservoirs, but I don't want to let out more humidity by opening it up to refill it. Sorry again for all my questions. I appreciate the help
This is a photo of the pipped white egg.

This is a photo of the other side of the incubator with all the condensation.

Updates?????

 

[teamtmo]

3 of my 5 eggs hatched that night One of the eggs (the first one to start zipping) needed assistance as it was exhausted after zipping for 4 hours. I moistened the drying membrane after it had fully zipped the egg and opened it a little and then put the hatching egg back in the incubator where the chick was immediately able to kick free out of it. 2 of the eggs never hatched, and when I candled them, it was apparent they were dead. I love my new little chicks! They are so funny and are growing up so fast already!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

3 of my 5 eggs hatched that night One of the eggs (the first one to start zipping) needed assistance as it was exhausted after zipping for 4 hours. I moistened the drying membrane after it had fully zipped the egg and opened it a little and then put the hatching egg back in the incubator where the chick was immediately able to kick free out of it. 2 of the eggs never hatched, and when I candled them, it was apparent they were dead. I love my new little chicks! They are so funny and are growing up so fast already!

Congrats! Chicks are so much fun

 

[Book Em Danno25]