Hatching Eggs Day 12 Help needed?

[Rosy Starling]

Hi, this is my first hatch and I would like to ask some advice. I had no idea about shipping eggs and the consequences so set eggs after only standing for a couple of hours without candling as I didn't know I should. I manually turned eggs with clean hands 5 times a day. At day 5 I candled and was surprised my eggs did not resemble any that I'd seen on the internet (this is where experience or lack of it comes in). I soon realized they had detached air cells so placed them upright in a cut down egg box. Two were infertile so where discarded and on day 8 two had a blood ring so where also set aside. Two now remain and are moving but still with massive detached air cell. However, up until day 5 when all were still in the incubator they were losing weight on target but since removing 4 eggs they have lost 1g more than they should at this time. So on day 10 I added water to the second well to increase humidity so chicks might catch up in weight. However, today I am now questioning this logic so I have since dried up second well and humidity resting back at 45%. I am concerned that they are underweight but with the huge air cell I wonder is this normal? Should I increase humidity to even out weigh loss or continue on this normal trajectory? Also should I continue to turn (lean) eggs up until day 18 or should I stop at day 16? Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Chickinie]

You're very dedicated to your incubation processes! I never bother to weigh my eggs - too much work.

If I were you, I wouldn't play around with the humidity too much; you should keep it at the recommended percent until you fill your water up on lockdown.

It's recommended that you stop turning on day 18 if the eggs are due to hatch on day 21: Bantam eggs may hatch early (day 20) so I usually stop turning them on day 17.

 

[Rosy Starling]

Thank you Chickinie for replying. The eggs were expensive so I wanted to give them the best chance. I will continue with normal humidity until lockdown and hope for the best. I was asking about the turning day because I had heard with detached air cells it was better to leave them longer to settle prior to hatching hence stopping turning on day 16 thereabouts. Not sure what to do about that one yet.

 

[Chickinie]

Thank you Chickinie for replying. The eggs were expensive so I wanted to give them the best chance. I will continue with normal humidity until lockdown and hope for the best. I was asking about the turning day because I had heard with detached air cells it was better to leave them longer to settle prior to hatching hence stopping turning on day 16 thereabouts. Not sure what to do about that one yet.

Understandable! I would definitely put in extra effort with an expensive batch! But ... Then I'd be super bummed when they gave up for no apparent reason - which some do.

I'm actually thinking of locking down my next batch 4-5 days before hatch, because the last lot from them that I incubated were mostly malpositioned... Apparently it might give them longer to be able to get organised in there. So I think it might be a good idea if you do do that. It won't harm them, the extra couple of days.

 

[Tonyroo]

If your working with detached air cell eggs, I wouldn't turn them 5 times a day, just 3. Also you should incubate them upright in a egg carton to balance out the air cell. Just as a reminder shipped eggs must be settled and candled before going into the incubator. And not turned for the 1st 2 days. Just from my experience with shipped eggs.