First time hatching eggs

[Shalva Levine]

This is the first time I am trying to incubate and hatch chicken eggs. I have a home made incubator made of wood with a small fan and temperature controller. The temperature ranges between 98.6 and 100.4. Is it OK. Today is the 4th day since we put the eggs in the incubator. The humidity level is around 50%. We are turning the eggs three times a day 180 degree every time. Let us know we are doing the correct things. The eggs are of RIR and Sussex.

 

[sumi]

Temperature and humidity is right, and you are turning them often enough

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Shalva Levine]

The eggs were brought from a good source.I put the eggs in the incubator to hatch on August 22, 2012 after 4 pm and the temperature is set between 98.6 and 100.4 and the humidity was around 50%. On September 8th in the evening (I thought it was day 18) I set the humidity to around 70% - 72% and I stopped turning. Today is September 10th and I do not see any movements. I am very anxious. Let me know if I set the humidity too high very early ?

 

[sumi]

That was day 17, which was a bit soon, but hopefully it'll be O.K. By my calculations today is day 19? So you should see something happening day after tomorrow, on day 21. May be tomorrow, but more likely day after.

 

[Shalva Levine]

Thank you

 

[Shalva Levine]

I have 10 chicks that are hatched. I would like to know when can start feeding them and what kind of home made baby chick feed I can make for them.

 

[sumi]

Give them some water in a shallow dish and start feeding them when they are 1-2 days old. Most people would recommend chick crumbles, medicated or non-medicated. There is a bit more on it in this link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens

I put a little Apple Cider Vinegar in their water to prevent pasty butt. Mix 4-5 tablespoons to a gallon water. If you want to give them treats you can feed them some plain yoghurt and when they are a little older (1-2 weeks) you can give them meal worms and fresh greens like spinach. If you give them treats you'll have to give them grit as well, to help them digest it. If you can't find chick grit you can sprinkle some coarse sand over their food.
I've never made home made chick food, so I can't help you there, but look in the Feeding and Watering section.
Enjoy your babies and congrats!

 

[Shalva Levine]

Thank you for all the help, tips and advice. We put 26 eggs altogether in the incubator. 17 hatched , but the last one to hatch has right leg pointed backward and cannot stand. It is not drinking or eating. I took it out of the rest and transferred to a friend who works at Society of nature preserve. We candled the unhatched eggs and found out, 2 pipped and did not hatch, 5 were not fertile, one had a a small black spot and another one solid black and did not pip. The 16 chicks are doing great. Thank you again and you have a very useful website.