First time hatching & have eggs at 3 different stages.... Pleas help!!

[jwittrock33]

Hello, this is my first time typing on the forums but I have been reading them and learning a lot over the last year.

Last year we got 4 "Easter" chicks and totally fell in love with them. 2 of them are very consistent layers, 1 we only get an egg a couple times a month and then we have never gotten an egg from the other one. We decided we wanted to expand our flock this spring so we wanted to try hatching them ourselves. We thought it would be a great experience for our kids.

We looked into buying eggs off a website but decided against it since they were kinda pricey and we had never incubated before. So, my friend has a couple roosters and we just decided to get some from her knowing they would be mixes. So, we bought our bator and set it up according to the directions it came with. ( LG still air incubator 9200) we got our first batch (9 eggs) on 3/18 so they are on day 16 now. On day 7 we candled them and had 2 with babies in them. (We have had some extreme weather in Montana so she wasn't sure how many would even be fertilized) On day 10 we candled again since some of the shells are a dark brown and still only had the 2. My friend told me she would collect more eggs for me.

So on 3/28 she dropped off a dozen to my business but my employee didn't realize they were for hatching and put them in the fridge. :/ With our inexperience we thought the eggs had to stay between 60-70 degrees before they were put in the bator but I decided to put them in anyways to see what happened. We candled the first batch again (day 11) and still only had the 2 developing so we took the other 7 out. I ended up opening them and none of them had the bullseye so I don't think they were fertilized.

Because of the fridge incident my friend gave me a dozen more on 3/30. So they are in there now too. Yesterday 4/1 day 5 we candled the refrigerated batch and we think 8 of them are developing!!

So, now I'm not sure what to do and how to handle the lockdown process with all these eggs at different stages. Our first 2 are at day 16 so they are getting close. I have turned ours by hand twice a day. I've seen people put their eggs in cartons in the bator but mine have always laid flat on the rack and I didn't know if they could be moved upright like that. I'm worried about contamination and chicks stomping over the other eggs. Also, I have read a lot of posts that the bator I have isn't the greatest. It has 2 vent plugs and 1 was always stayed in. I don't have a humidity checker so I have no idea what that level is but the temp has stayed consistent at 99.5 except for when I open it and turn them. All 6 channels are full of water.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!

Batch # 1
9 eggs-7 clear
2 developing on day 16

Batch # 2
12 eggs
We think 8 are developing on day 6

Batch # 3
12 eggs
Haven't candled yet

 

[jwittrock33]

 

[bibkel]

I have only hatched ducklings, and under a broody hen. When I see the external pip, I wait patiently for a bigger hole in the egg.....I check frequently, some shoot out and others take over a day.
If I can catch it right, then I will bring the egg in and with a towel, water, and a hot lamp I watch the egg and peep at the chick. It is so fun to watch them emerge.....I rarely have had to step in. The first time I did, Champagne came out, and he had a wry neck and pigeon toes. He is 3 years old now, still waddles funny, but his neck was fine after a week of us straightening in and holding it there while we peeped at him. Once there was one that still had half a yolk (it died in the shell, but was trying to get out) I could see it would not make it, so I left it alone.

Just keep watch as the day grows near to hatch day, when they hatch they are exhausted so trampling won't be an issue/ even if they do, that would occur naturally in the nest. I am sure it won't harm those still developing. Keep posting!

 

[jwittrock33]

Thank you for responding! So, you think I should take the egg out when it pips a decent hole in the shell? Should I keep turning all the other eggs up until this point? I wasn't sure what to do with batch 3 & 4 during lockdown since the humidity levels are so important for the hatching chicks??

 

[bibkel]

Keep turning for sure, and allow them to hatch on their own. Don't step in until you have too, when it is obvious they are struggling. You have a couple that will hatch first, allow those to come out on their own. Once they are born, they will rest, let them. They can go without food for 24 hours I hear, but I personally like to bond with them. I would take them out a few hours after they hatch and place them in a brooder with a heat lamp.

 

[jwittrock33]

Thanks for your help! Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

[jwittrock33]

So, I have been thinking and I think I'm going to put batch # 2 & # 3 in an egg carton during lockdown for batch # 1. I can get them in and out of the incubator quicker when I need to turn them. My question there is..... they have always laid sideways on he bottom rack. Will it affect them to now to put them upright? Please let me know what your thoughts are. Thanks!!

 

[bibkel]

I am not familiar with incubators at all. The chickens have done my hatching, ducks too. Those remain on their sides, so I would assume that is how they should be. The live birds do the turning.
Good luck, maybe do half and half and see (and post) the results!