First time hatching with an incubator help

[chicapee]

That is a very pretty incubator full of eggs. How does your humidity look. do you have an accurate hygrometer. If you get condensation it is too high. Best of luck!

 

[elb61288]

At Chicapee Well we just locked down a few mins ago but the temp is back up to normal and the humidity seems to be at 60 should I remove a sponge? They stayed at 50% the whole time till now! Should I remove the sponges and leave it at 50%

 

[chicapee]

At Chicapee Well we just locked down a few mins ago but the temp is back up to normal and the humidity seems to be at 60 should I remove a sponge? They stayed at 50% the whole time till now! Should I remove the sponges and leave it at 50%

I aim for 65 -75% humidity for lock down I will add water to attain this level after the first pip, because if I need to open the lid for any reason it will restore humidity rapidly. It will probably take a little while for the humidity to stabilize, i always use very warm water to top up humidity when needed. I boil a kettle and let it cool down. I also add half a sponge, my incubator is smaller than yours. I add water to both channels and drape a doubled paper towel over the bottom to increase the surface area.

50% is a little high from days 1-18. I incubate between 35% and 42% days 1-18. But every machine is different so you will probably be just fine.

Be sure to keep vents wide open.The first hatch was a major learning experience for me. My hatches have definitely improved. How ever anxiety levels remain just as acute as the first one.

 

[elb61288]

I'm so excited I'm just going to leave it and see what happens I just want to see one pip can't wait!! I've read they can pip at day 18 so I'm hopping we see some action tomorrow!!

 

[chicapee]

I'm so excited I'm just going to leave it and see what happens I just want to see one pip can't wait!! I've read they can pip at day 18 so I'm hopping we see some action tomorrow!!

It is very exciting. Don't wish for pips too early as that means incubation was too hot and can have a worse outcome than a slightly cool incubator. During my last hatch the 1st pip came at day 20 and it was malpositioned breech and required me to assist. It turned out well, thank goodness. Mine hatch on day 21 on the nose which means my temp is correct.

 

[elb61288]

Ah ok didn't know that I'm just excited and want them to hatch I have a few that I don't think are going to do anything but over half had movement when I candled today and on day 14 so that's good I think for my first time!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

How does this look?

Looks good to me.

I aim for 65 -75% humidity for lock down I will add water to attain this level after the first pip, because if I need to open the lid for any reason it will restore humidity rapidly. It will probably take a little while for the humidity to stabilize, i always use very warm water to top up humidity when needed. I boil a kettle and let it cool down. I also add half a sponge, my incubator is smaller than yours. I add water to both channels and drape a doubled paper towel over the bottom to increase the surface area.

50% is a little high from days 1-18. I incubate between 35% and 42% days 1-18. But every machine is different so you will probably be just fine.

Be sure to keep vents wide open.The first hatch was a major learning experience for me. My hatches have definitely improved. How ever anxiety levels remain just as acute as the first one.

I totally agree. I strive for 75% at hatch because I am a meddler. If you are hands off 65% is usually sufficient. I use an LG and I run dry if it stays above 25% for the first 17 days but I prefer 30-35% I use two or three full sponges...lol Yup on the anxiety.

I'm so excited I'm just going to leave it and see what happens I just want to see one pip can't wait!! I've read they can pip at day 18 so I'm hopping we see some action tomorrow!!

Don't count on day 18 pips. It's unusual for standard size chicken eggs to pip that early and if they do, as chicapee said, it's a sign that the heat was a tad too high during incubation. Average heat being too high/low can cause development problems. With that being said because I use an LG and good luck for completely stable temps, mine usually start pipping day 19 because my bator runs a degree higher on average. Bantam eggs are known to be a day or too early as well. I wish you the best of luck and hope to see good news soon!

 

[elb61288]

I just had my first pip I herd the chick chirping and got up to see and there it was!! But I guess that's bad but I tested my thermometer and all to make sure it was acurate kept it at 99.5 and humidity at 50% that's wat I was told so idk but now the issue is going to be telling what chick is what!! I have several different kinds I think this is a ee egg blue green! Sorry for the bad pic but it's through the incubator window and it's dark..

 

[GitaBooks]

I just had my first pip I herd the chick chirping and got up to see and there it was!! But I guess that's bad but I tested my thermometer and all to make sure it was acurate kept it at 99.5 and humidity at 50% that's wat I was told so idk but now the issue is going to be telling what chick is what!! I have several different kinds I think this is a ee egg blue green!

Congrats! That sounds so exciting!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I just had my first pip I herd the chick chirping and got up to see and there it was!! But I guess that's bad but I tested my thermometer and all to make sure it was acurate kept it at 99.5 and humidity at 50% that's wat I was told so idk but now the issue is going to be telling what chick is what!! I have several different kinds I think this is a ee egg blue green! Sorry for the bad pic but it's through the incubator window and it's dark..

I wouldn't say it's "bad". Unusual, yes. I did have a pipper late day 18 last hatch, but normally mine start pipping day 19. It could have been in a "hot spot" in the incubator too. I use the LG and mine has the fan installed and I still have hot and cool spots. As a matter of fact directly under my heating element is 1-2 degrees warmer than around the outside and center so I monitor the temps under the element and keep that a degree warmer than recommended so the rest of the bator is closer to the temp I want. Just note that there's a good chance that it will take close to 24 hours for it to hatch. (Mine seem to go by the early in the lockdown/hatch process they pip -on average- the longer it takes before they zip.)