Hands on hatching and help

[AmyLynn2374]

That's the problem with setting at different times. You have a couple options. If you don't have another incubator or hatcher to move some to, You can raise the humidity when the first batch is supposed to be raised and stop turning those eggs, then drop the humidity back after they hatch. Or you can wait an extra day or two, until they start pipping, then crank up the humidity, and just leave it up till they all hatch. For me, it would depend on how the air cells of the later eggs look.

Ditto

Thank you! Isn't it amazing how fast the times flies when setting?! It did used to take forever to get to lockdown and hatch!! I still don't even have the brooder set up!
X2

My last hatch I was like that...lol I had pipping and hadn't got the brooder ready. My first hatches the brooder was up at lockdown...lol

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I didn't want to do two batches at different times but I had to. What is best: to keep the eggs rotating or to stop rotation? I'm so afraid I'll mess the new eggs up

. Would it be ok to raise the humidity, will it not hurt them too bad? I was originally told to keep them turning from a family member. I thought about once most of them are piping put the first batch of eggs in a styrofoam box with wet sponges for moisture and a heating lamp. But not sure if it would be a good enough plan to work out safely.

I have 2 days and my air cells aren't that big I believe. What to I do??

Eggs don't need to be turned after 2 weeks (chickens). I always stop tuning end of day 13. So if they are past day 13, I wouldn't even worry about turning. If they aren't, then hand turning the ones that need it would be the best. I agree with Ravyn, if the air cells aren't big enough, I would wait till first pip to higher it. If they are really small I'd hatch them upright in cut down cartons to help keep excess moisture pulled down.

What's your humidity been at? Don't raise humidity until first pip... stop turning them on day 18 though...

Xs 2

Humidity Between 30-43. And I don't have any water or wet sponge in there. It's naturally that humidity

Has it been at that rate the entire incubation? Have you ever checked your hygrometer for accuracy?

X3
You know I find this true with my chicken eggs too. My auto-turner (cradle) is packed up and away in the closet. I've compared hatches, hand turning vs auto turner and my hatch rates were significantly higher with hand turning. I always hand turn each batch...luckily I'm home so I can though.

I highly believe hand turning is much better if a person can. I started with a turner and switched to hand turning and I really think it was a big attribute to the constant rate increases.

Hello to the new people! Welcome to the thread.

 

[Pyxis]

So, there's life in at least three of my old AC eggs! The oldest ones, strangely enough. I didn't see anything in the freshest ones but it's early days yet so I'm giving it time

 

[RubyNala97]

Ditto
My last hatch I was like that...lol I had pipping and hadn't got the brooder ready. My first hatches the brooder was up at lockdown...lol

I'm going down to the basement now to get the brooder and bring it upstairs!! 2 are out and I think there's 10 more pips!

So, there's life in at least three of my old AC eggs! The oldest ones, strangely enough. I didn't see anything in the freshest ones but it's early days yet so I'm giving it time

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I'm going down to the basement now to get the brooder and bring it upstairs!! 2 are out and I think there's 10 more pips!

Awesome.

 

[dcba flock]

So I have eggs heading into lockdown for hatch next Mon (2) the rest were clears only one is a bantam and 8 due Weds I'm worried the little bantam will hatch all by itself thoughts I will have little week olds it can go in w/ but they are in w/ 2 week olds so they are getting more rowdy.... Idk what I'm going to do w/ the poor little thing until the others hatch on Weds.... They are all locking down together but I won't leave it in there for 3 days + etc

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm going down to the basement now to get the brooder and bring it upstairs!! 2 are out and I think there's 10 more pips!

I just laid mine down and cranked up the humidity. Every hatch is still so exciting!

 

[WVduckchick]

I also moved my broody and her 6 eggs to the baby coop last night. She had been in the regular nest box, the rest of the flock had left her alone for 18 days. I checked her eggs when I moved her and 1 had quit, maybe day 10ish, so I gave her another out of the incubator to keep her at 6. She walked around for a few minutes, then settled back on the eggs. I hope most of hers hatch. I'm anxious to see what kind of mother she will be!

 

[WVduckchick]

Pip!

@RubyNala97 update??

 

[RubyNala97]

So I have eggs heading into lockdown for hatch next Mon (2) the rest were clears only one is a bantam and 8 due Weds I'm worried the little bantam will hatch all by itself thoughts I will have little week olds it can go in w/ but they are in w/ 2 week olds so they are getting more rowdy.... Idk what I'm going to do w/ the poor little thing until the others hatch on Weds.... They are all locking down together but I won't leave it in there for 3 days + etc

You might get an early hatcher from the other eggs. If not and you think it will be lonely then pull one of the smallest, sweetest tempered older ones you have and see if it will be a good baby sitter for a couple days. I had one that was a couple weeks old and finally had chicks hatch to give her company and she took right to them like a little mother!! She would snuggle and sit on them and go after my hand if I went to pick them up! She was only 2 or 3 weeks older.

I just laid mine down and cranked up the humidity. Every hatch is still so exciting!

Pip!

@RubyNala97 update??

Yay!! So excited for you! And your mama hen!
I just had another hatch. And 8 more pips, I think. I got the brooder cleaned out and I'll move them over in the morning and check all the eggs quick. A lot will probably hatch over night!
Bad pic but best I could get...