Hatching day 18

[TaraBellaBirds]

Okay I have a few things going on. Today is day 18 and I was going to do final candle and remove tuner for lockdown tonight.

I started candling a few minutes ago and noticed one egg had a hole.....I thought ***...picked up egg and saw a little beak and the little one made a peep

I immediately put the lid back down and unplugged the turner. I also added a tiny half cup of water at the edge of the turner to bring up the humidity a bit, was 29%.

Is there anything else I can do?

I really wanted to remove the tuner. Can I still do it tomorrow if this little one hatches alright or would it be best to leave it? I'm just worried about them getting their legs caught.

 

[sumi]

Remove the turner now and then bump the humidity up to at least 65%. A wet sponge or two in the incubator will help you with that. Best of luck with the hatch!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Thank you. How should I lay the egg that has piped? Pip side up I guess?

 

[sumi]

Yes, I lay them on their sides with the pip up, so I can keep an eye on the little ones, but they'll be fine with the hole on the side too. The chick will roll the egg around as needed when it starts to zip the shell open.

 

[Sal14]

Yes, I lay them on their sides with the pip up, so I can keep an eye on the little ones, but they'll be fine with the hole on the side too. The chick will roll the egg around as needed when it starts to zip the shell open.

Thanks for this useful reply.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Thanks for your prompt reply

. I've never had them start this early, and I'm a nervous ChickenMama!

 

[sumi]

You're welcome

I've been hatching for years and I still fret when hatch day arrives, though I've stopped sitting glued to the incubator finally! I had a hen years ago, her eggs always hatched on day 18-19. They were not unusually small or anything, they just hatched early? I let her lay and hatch clutches, because she was a wonderful mom. What was the temperature in your incubator? Sometimes, if it's a little bit too hot in there, the chicks hatch early. (If it runs a bit cold, the chicks will hatch later.)

 

[sumi]

Thanks for this useful reply.

You're welcome @Sal14 . Are you also hatching now?

 

[Sal14]

You're welcome @Sal14 . Are you also hatching now?

Sorry, I am not to be honest but I might soon start as I am looking for quality silkies here in the UK but I can't find what I was looking for, so if I can't get some live Silkies then I will have to start importing some eggs and hatch them here.

Thanks.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

My temps have stayed between 99.5 and 100.2. for the entire hatch (except for the drop when candling of course). Right now temp is 99.5 and humidity is 68%. The early bird is peeping and rocking so the move must not have disturbed it too much! Now we just wait and see (I am still at the glued to the 'bator stage LOL)