Hatching Chicks... Need Help Please!

[chickenlife01]

Ok so I've made some horrible mistakes and I hope that I have not ruined everything... I have chicks hatching and I noticed one being stomped on laying on its back... I removed the little trouble makers and put them in the brooder... all is fine. The trouble makers are fine, the one being chickie jumped is fine too. The problem is... I now have 2 eggs that pipped and died... I know that this is caused by me opening the incubator... but I couldn't help it! What do you guys do when morals step in the way during a hatch? I feel like such a dummy! Out of 12 eggs, 11 made it to the chick stage (I candled before placing them into the hatcher). Out of those 11, 5 have hatched and now 2 are dead! Those were not the only eggs in there... just using a certain breed... they were all Barred Rocks. The rest of the eggs were Ameraucana.

Of course I reopened the incubator to check and make sure they were actually dead... I saw them not breathing and panicked... I always think I can save them even after they stop breathing. Anyway, please don't yell at me! LOL.

 

[loveourbirds]

what type of incubator are you using?

 

[chickenlife01]

Little Giant... foam.

 

[loveourbirds]

I started with little giants, how has your temperature and humidity ran? and where are you getting your eggs? you also talked about a hatcher - what are you using as a hatcher?

 

[robsease]

I know how u feel i killed all 30 of my chicks because i opened the lg still air last spring to fix the humidity but ive now restarted and im doin pretty well

 

[loveourbirds]

I know how u feel i killed all 30 of my chicks because i opened the lg still air last spring to fix the humidity but ive now restarted and im doin pretty well

it probably wasn't you opening it, that doesn't affect the chicks as much as it sounds. don't get me wrong its not a good idea to keep opening it during a hatch. with little giants (still air) the humidity recovers pretty fast. most of the time there is either to much humidity, or the thermometer is wrong. i had 12 of these running at one point, once i got onto running them i never used a hygrometer. out of the thermometers that came with 12 incubators and 8 turners, only 3 were close to right. a lot of people go get digital thermometers thinking they are more accurate, and that's not true. most digital thermometers have a 4 or 5 degree variance. (i measure everything in Fahrenheit)

 

[robsease]

My Humidity was too low though snd i opened it alot 2 fix it

 

[loveourbirds]

ive given these instructions to several people, most have good hatches with these instructions. (for little giant still air)

fill one half of the water troughs, put in your egg turner, remove one red plug and set your temperature to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

put your eggs in, if your using a turner pointy end down. if your putting them on their side put an x on one side to help you see how far your turning. if you are hand turning, try to turn them at least twice a day, 3-5 times is better.

during the first 18 days, only fill one half of the water troughs. open your incubator 15 minutes a day to simulate the hen getting up. if the temperature drops a few degrees (5 or so) for a few hours, don't worry about it, and do not adjust. if the temperature jumps above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, adjust it down to 100. let the water troughs almost dry before you refill them

on day 18 stop turning the eggs, remove the second red plug. fill all water troughs. only open your incubator to refill the water troughs if they start to dry out. if you have to open your incubator in the final days, mist the eggs lightly with water about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. be careful not to put in to much water during this period, if its touching the wire screen you have to much.

if its your first hatch:
it takes a while for the chick to zip around the egg. its not uncommon for it to take 24 hours from the first pip. don't try to help them during this period because they usually haven't absorbed all of their yolk. if you do assist during the first 24 hours, you will usually kill the chicks.

this link will help you if you have to assist a chick.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

 

[teach]

Thanks for the great info! I'm on day 21 and listening to the sweet peeps. I'm hoping I won't have to assist, but will definitely use this advice. Thanks!

 

[chickenlife01]

I use a Hovabator Genesis for a hatcher. Incubator temp is 99.5 And hatcher temp is 100. Humidity is 70-75%. This is not my first time, (5the or 6th) but I always have problems with helping them!