Hatch-Along - Eggs set in November, due December, anyone?

[3Dchicken]

That was a lot. O.O

 

[katsdar]

Candyman now that your chicks have all of your gauze I hope you don't cut your finger.

 

[chicknlove]

And this is my incubator AFTER I started lockdown! ^ (lots of containers filled to the brim with marbles and water)




A few candling pictures... The air cells look pretty good!

This is probably the best candling picture. With this egg you can see a big, thick vein in it. I think if any of them hatch, it will be this one.

I think it was this one that I saw moving its foot. ^

Outside of my incubator in the dark. ^

What do you guys think? I have a few concerns.

1.) The heat lamp is not behind any kind of wire mesh, so I am concerned for any chick that ventures too close while hatching. (I will probably make a barrier between now and hatch day to protect the chicks.)

2.) The eggs are crammed in side by side. Is this bad? On any video of a chick hatching, you can see the eggs moving. I don't want an egg to bump into another one that has not developed and break open, releasing the goo and make a mess.

Am I a worry- wart?

3.) Should I cover over the water reservoirs so the chicks don't droop their heads in and drown? That's what the marbles are for- to prevent them from drowning, because I figure by day 21, the water would have evaporated below the marbles, and they would be fine if their heads were to drop into the containers, but what if it doesn't evaporate, or something goes wrong?

4.) I don't have the water bottle in it any more, is that okay? How much does the water bottle regulate the temperature? I couldn't fit it in there, so I don't know...

5.) Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Now starts the loooong wait.

What kind of humidity % are you getting with all water containers? I wonder if you could add more room for the eggs to hatch if you took a couple out and used a wick like Candyman to get the same ammount of humidity and have more space for the chickies? Also maybe you could just take out a shortest ones if your worried about the chicks drowning. I would try to find a way to keep the chicks from being able to get too close to the heat lamp ..I can't wait for your hatch day! I saw a foot when I ws candling yesterday! Soo fun! Hard not to name them all! Well I did number them actually and draw little happy faces on them and such.. I'm a lil bit crazy.

Good Luck!!

 

[3Dchicken]

Lol, chicknlove. Sounds like something I would do... I don't know what the humidity is yet, 'cause I just put the containers of water in there, so I will probably check in a few minutes. I don't know if I have any sterile gauze...

 

[chicknlove]

Lol, chicknlove. Sounds like something I would do... I don't know what the humidity is yet, 'cause I just put the containers of water in there, so I will probably check in a few minutes. I don't know if I have any sterile gauze...

I'm going to have to get crative myself with getting my humitiy at a good level for lockdown. Mine runs low, naturaly

 

[Candyman]

Good News: the one that piped on 2nd number and the one on 12th are in a race to hatch!!

 

[Candyman]

Good setup!
1- I think you should put that barrier in right now, coz once they pip, don't... I repeat DON'T open your bator!!!
2- They are moving alright when they are zipping, but my hatch board with the spoon marks on it are preventing them from moving, but I don't think they can break the others by bumping into them.
3- It will evaporate alright, I think it will be good.
4- The water reservoirs you have put in now will do the work of the water bottles.

 

[Candyman]

Hurrrrrrrrayyyyyyyy... my first one hatched!!!

 

[chicknlove]

Yay! congrats!! Don't leave us when your eggs have all hatched!

 

[Candyman]

The 2nd one follows: