Hands on hatching and help

[rossfam06]

Asked this on the hatch along forum as well so sorry for redundancy.  I candled my eggs (day 16) and they look more like the day 12 photos on the 'chicks are here' post.  They are mostly active and the air sacs look good with exception of ones noted earlier.  So, lock down would be Tuesday, should I wait a day or so and candle again?  Also, when I take out the turner and put the eggs on the floor of the incubator, do I adjust the temp up as I am lowering the thermometer  down to the level of the eggs so the temp is the same as it was when they were in the turner?  Thanks. 

I would go based on aircell size. If your temps were running lower then I would give them an extra day in a higher temp. Just watch the air cell size just to be safe.

 

[oregonkat]

The temps have been between 99 and 102 degrees, still air incubator, with the thermometer at the top 1/3rd of the eggs. So am I keeping the thermostat right where it is through lock down and hatch (hopefully) even though the eggs will be lower down in the incubator?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Asked this on the hatch along forum as well so sorry for redundancy.  I candled my eggs (day 16) and they look more like the day 12 photos on the 'chicks are here' post.  They are mostly active and the air sacs look good with exception of ones noted earlier.  So, lock down would be Tuesday, should I wait a day or so and candle again?  Also, when I take out the turner and put the eggs on the floor of the incubator, do I adjust the temp up as I am lowering the thermometer  down to the level of the eggs so the temp is the same as it was when they were in the turner?  Thanks. 

The temps have been between 99 and 102 degrees, still air incubator, with the thermometer at the top 1/3rd of the eggs.  So am I keeping the thermostat right where it is through lock down and hatch (hopefully) even though the eggs will be lower down in the incubator?  

You may have to adjust the temps because the motor on the auto turners themselves give off a good amount of heat and when you take the turner out you may find the temp drop. It sounds as though your temps were a little low to begin with if the development is behind. Still air should be 101-102 for the incubation period. If you were running between 99-101 for a majority of the incubation time, I would expect a delay. Do you know if your thermometer is accurate?

If your air cells are the right size, I would take out the turner, keep the thermometer where the eggs are, so laying them down I would lay the thermometer beside them. Raise the humidity and give it a few hours. If after three hours the temps are not at least 100, I would adjust slightly to raise it and give it a couple more hours before making any more adjustments.

What brand/model incubator are you using?

 

[oregonkat]

You may have to adjust the temps because the motor on the auto turners themselves give off a good amount of heat and when you take the turner out you may find the temp drop. It sounds as though your temps were a little low to begin with if the development is behind. Still air should be 101-102 for the incubation period. If you were running between 99-101 for a majority of the incubation time, I would expect a delay. Do you know if your thermometer is accurate?

If your air cells are the right size, I would take out the turner, keep the thermometer where the eggs are, so laying them down I would lay the thermometer beside them. Raise the humidity and give it a few hours. If after three hours the temps are not at least 100, I would adjust slightly to raise it and give it a couple more hours before making any more adjustments.

What brand/model incubator are you using?

I calibrated the thermometer before putting it in the incubator and it appeared accurate. I thought that the temps I had for the still air were where they should be, dang it. Oh well, the incubator is an older LG 5200, I believe, with a turner. The air cells appear to be the correct size for day 16, which was yesterday. I will do what you suggest tomorrow and candle again and then depending on how they look, maybe wait a day or so before lockdown. Does that sound good?

The eggs, for the most part, (having trouble seeing really well into the Black Copper Marans) are looking really good with lots of activity, I really dont want to mess this up. The Blue Isbars are looking super.

 

[oregonkat]

So I candled one of my Blue Isbar eggs just now and the air sac is about where it should be for day 17, however, when I look through the bottom of the egg, there is still a whole lot of space in there. (I had only candled them through the air sac, from the top down. I did not candle any of the other eggs from the bottom up). The chick was alive and kicking about but I thought it should be MUCH bigger by now. Is it possible that my eggs are as much as 4 days behind? If so, is this OK? Should I raise the temp in the incubator even though it tops out now at 102.. Thanks, I am feeling totally at sea

 

[AmyLynn2374]

So I candled one of my Blue Isbar eggs just now and the air sac is about where it should be for day 17, however, when I look through the bottom of the egg, there is still a whole lot of space in there.  (I had only candled them through the air sac, from the top down. I did not candle any of the other eggs from the bottom up). The chick was alive and kicking about but I thought it should be MUCH bigger by now.  Is it possible that my eggs are as much as 4 days behind?  If so, is this OK?  Should I raise the temp in the incubator even though it tops out now at 102..  Thanks, I am feeling totally at sea 

No! Do not raise the temp higher than the 102. You can not make up for delay now. You can fry the poor babies though.
Yes, they can be as much as 4 days behind if the temps were low enough. My first hatch attempt my thermometer was (unknowingly) 6 degrees off. At lockdown I had 17 lively little chicks in there, but they looked quite smaller than they should. I finally had a hatcher day 24 and one day 25, but that one died. So don't loose hope if your temps were accurate and you ran 99-102, even at it's lowest you're 2-3 degrees off unlike my 6. I would definitely expect a couple days delay, but I wouldn't think it'd be a total loss if your air cells are good. Let it stay at 102, and expect to have a slight delay. And we're for you.

 

[oregonkat]

Than

No! Do not raise the temp higher than the 102. You can not make up for delay now. You can fry the poor babies though.
Yes, they can be as much as 4 days behind if the temps were low enough. My first hatch attempt my thermometer was (unknowingly) 6 degrees off. At lockdown I had 17 lively little chicks in there, but they looked quite smaller than they should. I finally had a hatcher day 24 and one day 25, but that one died. So don't loose hope if your temps were accurate and you ran 99-102, even at it's lowest you're 2-3 degrees off unlike my 6. I would definitely expect a couple days delay, but I wouldn't think it'd be a total loss if your air cells are good. Let it stay at 102, and expect to have a slight delay. And we're

for you.

Thanks so much. I just re calibrated my thermometer with my very accurate Thermopen in a jar of 104 deg water and the incubator thermometer registered 103.8 degs, so not too far off. Of course, I have been scaring myself reading about how delayed chicks will be weak and crippled and miserable and I feel like bursting into tears. So should I wait for several more days before thinking about lock down?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Than
Thanks so much.  I just re calibrated my thermometer with my very accurate Thermopen in a jar of 104 deg water and the incubator thermometer registered 103.8 degs, so not too far off.  Of course, I have been scaring myself reading about how delayed chicks will be weak and crippled and miserable and I feel like bursting into tears.  So should I wait for several more days before thinking about lock down? 

Going into lockdown later or on time really isn't going to make much of a difference if your air cells good. All lockdown really does is give you a time to stop turning and raise your humidity. It's not going to affect growth/development of the chick.

 

[oregonkat]

Going into lockdown later or on time really isn't going to make much of a difference if your air cells good. All lockdown really does is give you a time to stop turning and raise your humidity. It's not going to affect growth/development of the chick.

But if I am as much as 4 days behind, should'nt I still be turning them or does it not matter now?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

But if I am as much as 4 days behind, should'nt I still be turning them or does it not matter now?

Eggs don't need to be turned after 2 weeks. So even if they were as much as 4 days behind at lockdown, they'd still be at the 2 week development for growth.

Delayed chicks do have a higher probability of development issues, weak chicks. Doesn't mean they necessarily will, but it's better to be prepared for it. I would highly suggest having some sav a chick electrolyte for their water the first couple days as they may need the extra boost, and it probably wouldn't hurt to have some nutri drench on hand. You may not even need it, but it doesn't hurt having it.