Hands on hatching and help

[sday615]

@RubyNala97 the rest of my family enjoys the chickens and liked this hatching thing but I may slightly be obsessed lol or at least that's what they would probably tell you! I have officially hatched my first chick in an incubator and it's amazing I will probably be talking about it for the next 6 months straight! Lol I'm glad your son is doing ok! Poor little guy!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Has anyone else noticed after just one day of incubation fertilized eggs already feel heavier. It's crazy cause their is not much there yet but I can feel a difference in the weight when I turn them. Am I crazy or do any of you notice this as well?

 

[josefini]

Hi all, im new to the obsession. I had 1/24 shipped eggs make it to lockdown with visible movement all the way when candling. A little silkie. She pipped and 24 hours later started a strong zip. Then stalled out and i didnt get in soon enough to rescue. Peeled her sad little body out and she was beautiful. Such a sad loss. After talking with amylynn i think this was a humidity issue.

Now i have one americauna egg left in the bator. Its blue and ive seen an intact air cell, veins, and a dark shape, BUT never any movement. Its now day 22. I candled and float tested. No movement, tho it did float. (Dont scold - i know was too soon but im mad with grief over the lost silkie).

My question for the experienced: Whats the hope? It seems pretty slim to me. Any realistic chance its just late and i cant see movemevt thru the blue shell? I see articles about late hatching day 23 etc. But is that just a one in a million fantasy?

Part of me just wants a fresh start but i hate to give up if theres a valid hope....

 

[Rod-T]

If no movement in float test.. probably not much.. just my opinion. . Maybe the more experience hatchers has had a diferent experience

 

[josefini]

I appreciate the candor. Id rather end this round of misery asap than drive myself crazy.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Hi all, im new to the obsession. I had 1/24 shipped eggs make it to lockdown with visible movement all the way when candling. A little silkie. She pipped and 24 hours later started a strong zip. Then stalled out and i didnt get in soon enough to rescue. Peeled her sad little body out and she was beautiful. Such a sad loss. After talking with amylynn i think this was a humidity issue.

Now i have one americauna egg left in the bator. Its blue and ive seen an intact air cell, veins, and a dark shape, BUT never any movement. Its now day 22. I candled and float tested. No movement, tho it did float. (Dont scold - i know was too soon but im mad with grief over the lost silkie).

My question for the experienced: Whats the hope? It seems pretty slim to me. Any realistic chance its just late and i cant see movemevt thru the blue shell? I see articles about late hatching day 23 etc. But is that just a one in a million fantasy?

Part of me just wants a fresh start but i hate to give up if theres a valid hope....

I'm not a super experienced hatcher but I just wanted to say. I had 2 incubators that I was struggling with. I used them for a week and then caved and bought a Brinsea octagon 20. The change is unreal. Temp and humidity is dead on. I have 17 shipped eggs and so far I counted 13 with embryos moving. I really believe if I hadn't switched they would not be alive now. I'm realizing quality over quanity. They still might have trouble through hatch you never know but I do know that having a good incubator makes a huge difference. Maybe this is the issue your having? Also on day 9 I thought my Littles had stopped growing because I couldn't see what I was supposed to. They were developin slow. A week later all had chicks. That's just been my experience. Hope this helps some.

 

[Rod-T]

I appreciate the candor. Id rather end this round of misery asap than drive myself crazy.

What kind of incubator you have

 

[Mschkweasnduck]

For a few months @RubyNala97
  and I have talked about having a thread for Hands on Hatchers to come together and for help for those who want to be more involved or don't want to accept the "Never help a chick" theory.  People have different methods of hatching, and that's ok. When you find something that works for you, you do it. Don't worry about what other's views are, as long as your method is working- that is what is important. This thread is meant for us hands on people.  A place to come together and talk, exchange our "hands on" methods, or seek help in assisting or just to see how our methods really do work for us. We aren't a thread to debate the differences for hands on/hands off, there's a thread for that. We are strictly for people  that want to experience hatching in it's entirety w/out being literally yelled at because you are doing it different or because you are being hands on. OH no you opened your incubator at hatch???  That's ok, here we understand and will help anyone who needs it regardless of wether you did something we wouldn't. One of the greatest and most knowledgeable things is candling, and you shouldn't be afraid to do it.

A little about myself: I use an old LG incubator with fan attatchement, and I have awesome hatches. My last was 100%. I prefer a low humidity incubation method, and a high hatch humidity. I am VERY hands on. I open my incubator frequently during hatch and I have NEVER lost a chick that has pipped or started zipping. I seldom have post hatch mortality and my chicks are very healthy with no leg problems. And I am more than willing to assist my chicks if I feel it is neccessary. Why am I saying this? Because these are the things that a lot of hands off hatchers will swear to you will happen if you are not hands off. I respect a hands off hatchers philospohies and that's great for them. But I hate the fact that some would condem and put down those of us that don't share their philosophy. So if you are looking for a place to share your experiences and excitment in being hands on, without the worry of being scolded or threatened you won't be helped in a time of need, feel free to jump in and inroduce yourselves. Tell us a little about your methods and share pics of your flocks and chicks. 

Like a "No chick left behind" thing! I LIKE IT kudos

 

[josefini]

If no movement in float test.. probably not much.. just my opinion. . Maybe the more experience hatchers has had a diferent experience

Jennifer, i could kind of kick myself b/c i looked at brinsea but just didnt want to spend the money. But now im on failed hatch number two. First set lost to a POS janoel gifted by a well meaning relative. Thing only heated to 94 degrees the whole time but i didnt figure that out till day 24.

So then, Rod-t, i upgraded to a hovabator 1588 with auto turner. Forced air and set temp. Ive been comparing the bator readings with a separate hygrometer and two thermometers.

So long story short, i just seem bad at this. Got so close with this silkie tho. Arggghhhhh

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Jennifer, i could kind of kick myself b/c i looked at brinsea but just didnt want to spend the money. But now im on failed hatch number two. First set lost to a POS janoel gifted by a well meaning relative. Thing only heated to 94 degrees the whole time but i didnt figure that out till day 24.

So then, Rod-t, i upgraded to a hovabator 1588 with auto turner. Forced air and set temp. Ive been comparing the bator readings with a separate hygrometer and two thermometers.

So long story short, i just seem bad at this. Got so close with this silkie tho. Arggghhhhh

Don't judge yourself to harshly. I started with the generic janoel. 1 mannual and 1 auto. The auto runs high and the manual runs low. I have spent almost 200 dollars on the cheap ones and just wanted to kick myself for wasting my money. Like you I was trying to save money. Now I realize if I had just bought the good one in the first place it actually would have saved me money. Also I've been buying the cheap digital hygrometers off of amazon.com. all crap. They never have the right temp or if they do they die out quickly. Right now I'm praying the ones I have are accurate while I'm waiting for the new ones to get here.. I've hear the hova bator 1588 is actually pretty good. I think the brinsea is easier for the novice user though..