First time incubator questions.

[DesertBrahma]

Ok let's try typing this out again. Day 18 has begun. I candled the eggs and they are dark inside. You can only see a little bit, and the air cell. The air cell looks a little small to me. I looked at the last mark I made for it and it's only a little below where it was. Should I keep them in the turner for another day, or go ahead and remove them to the grate? I can see a little bit of veins but it's hard to see them unless you're looking really closely. They look like good strong veins. I really want this batch to hatch. My humidity went down to 16% because our humidity went way down. I just rewetted the sponges and popped them back in. I'm almost like a new momma again lol. I'm probably worrying over nothing but I would rather be safe than sorry. I have to get my brooder set up too, and will just use an old plastic bin for that. Easierto clean uuntil they get big enough.

 

[FridayYet]

I brood for the first few weeks in a big plastic tote, too! Then they go out to the brooder box in the coop. As soon as we finish wiring in there, out they go!

I would take them out if the turner and get ready for lockdown, but don't add the extra water until tomorrow if your air cells are small.

 

[DesertBrahma]

Ok I'll get them moved at nap time. That way I don't have goober boys trying to mess with them. I've just been using the sponges for the humidity. I haven't been putting any in the water channels at the bottom. I'm hoping that will help me hatch them instead of drowning the poor babies. I think that's what happened to the last batch. I have everything to set up the brooder i just have to get it put together. I'm going to use the same shavings I use in the coop also.

 

[FridayYet]

You might want to cover the shavings with paper towels for the first day or so until all of them are walking, eating and drinking well. Helps their little legs.

 

[duluthralphie]

Did you weigh any of the eggs before you set them?

Is the air sac about 1/3 of the egg?

I am a little worried by what you described, you may want to run the incubator dry (10%) for a day just to get the moisture out of the air sac. I hope I am wrong but it sounds like the moisture was a little too high.


Good Luck and ignore me I am a pessimist before each one of my hatches.

 

[FridayYet]

No ralphie, that's actually a good idea if the cells are really small.

 

[duluthralphie]

No ralphie, that's actually a good idea if the cells are really small.

I am just worried the chicks will drown when they Pip.

 

[FridayYet]

Hey desert, can you post a pic of your air cell lines?

 

[duluthralphie]

Hey desert, can you post a pic of your air cell lines?

Yeah,Thats a great idea!

 

[shellikirbey]

One of my incubating eggs the chick has pipped underneath egg instead of on top..will it be ok