First time hatching with an incubator help

[GitaBooks]

How long should I give the ones that haven't pipped? What day do I give up?

After 24 hours you should do an "eggtopsy" to see if the chicks are alive or not. It can be a little disgusting, but at least you know there is nothing you can do before you throw them away.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

How long should I give the ones that haven't pipped? What day do I give up?

I recommend giving them 24 hours after the last hatcher hatches. Then candle the eggs. Check for internal pips or movement. If there is any, give them another 24 hours. If there are no internal pips and no obvious movement proceed to eggtopsy if you are doing them by tapping into the air cell end first to double check for life before completely opening.. Generally (there's always exceptions), anything that is going to hatch usually has hatched within 48 hours of the first hatcher.

Congrats on all the hatchers and pippers!

 

[elb61288]

Ok so all the pipped eggs have hatched I have 23 chicks out of 42 eggs I would say half is a good hatch for a first timer now the other eggs haven't hatched but I'm going to give them till tomorrow then that's it! What do u all think is that a good hatch?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Ok so all the pipped eggs have hatched I have 23 chicks out of 42 eggs I would say half is a good hatch for a first timer now the other eggs haven't hatched but I'm going to give them till tomorrow then that's it! What do u all think is that a good hatch?

I think it's excellent for first time. Most of us don't have good first hatches, so I'd be very pleased with that. If you do the eggtopsies before throwing out the eggs, (or at least a few of them) you might get a better idea of what you can change to increase your hatch rate. Did you remove clears and all before lockdown or are you counting them in the total?

 

[elb61288]

No I didn't remove the clears I had 5 clears!! The other eggs were dark so I couldn't see them but all of the others had air cells so idk I tried to hatch 3 banny eggs none hatched so idk!! I think I'm going to clean the incubator tonight though then smell is awful

 

[AmyLynn2374]

No I didn't remove the clears I had 5 clears!! The other eggs were dark so I couldn't see them but all of the others had air cells so idk I tried to hatch 3 banny eggs none hatched so idk!! I think I'm going to clean the incubator tonight though then smell is awful

Well, if you subtract the clears then you are over 50%

I don't count clears.

 

[elb61288]

Ok so when do I change the temp on the brooder?? They have wing feathers and are a week old?? When can they go outside to stay?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Ok so when do I change the temp on the brooder?? They have wing feathers and are a week old?? When can they go outside to stay?

The recommended method for brooder temp is to lower it by 5 degrees each week until they are fully feathered or the brooder temp matches the room temp. As for outside there's different opinions and a lot depends on the temps and your set up.

 

[GitaBooks]

The recommended method for brooder temp is to lower it by 5 degrees each week until they are fully feathered or the brooder temp matches the room temp. As for outside there's different opinions and a lot depends on the temps and your set up.

x2

I let mine outside when they are around 4-6 weeks of age.

 

[elb61288]

Ok thanks so much