Hatching from an Incubator! My first time, Please Help!

[Queen of the chickens]

Question: Did you place the eggs in the incubator on the same day or on the 27th and again on the 29th? If you started incubating at the same time, it doesn't matter which egg was laid first. They don't start developing until they reach a certain temperature.

 

[CritterLuvin]

This batch i put them in separate from each of the 3 days. I do have a second incubator going where i have eggs from collected over 3 days and then i placed them all into the incubator on 5/04 all at the same time. My second batch has been in a auto turner rack which i have just removed them from it and set my humidity level up. With what i am seeing from the chicks hatching now i am getting worried.

 

[CritterLuvin]

OK so here is the update. Still only one chick. At first they seemed to just be taking there sweet time but now things have completely slowed and now one is not breathing. I can see where they are breaking through the shell but the membrane is still intact. They do not appear dry. White membrane showing not brown or greenish looking. It has now been over 24 hours with little to no progress with my other chicks. Any ideas?

 

[phoenix912]

It sounds like your humidity isn't high enough and they might be shrink wrapping. Try adding more water see if that helps.

 

[CritterLuvin]

Thank you Phoenix912 for your help. I would have never realized what was happening. Yes they shrink wrapped. I have lost 2 more. I had to help 2 others out of the shell because they were incapable of moving at all. So far looks like i am going to end up with 2 very healthy babies. I am going to give it a few more days with proper humidity but i doubt the other eggs will hatch now. I thought i was totally prepared for this after all the research and studying. All of my problems have been a result of poor humidity level. Any ideas on how to keep that level where it should be? I had to use a small bowl and sponge because the syrofoam would begin to smell really bad and get bacteria from me putting the water directly into the bottom rows.

 

[phoenix912]

Sorry I just read you're post. I'm glad you got to the 2 babies in time. I use the short mason jars with a half of a sponge in each. I put them under the vent holes so I can fill them with a bendy straw and a condiment bottle. How did the rest of you're hatch go?

 

[CritterLuvin]

I used the same method as you described minus the straw. I will keep that in mind for sure. Unfortunately the rest of my eggs were unable to hatch. I am very surprised to see the 2 chicks i had to get out of the shells are doing as well as they are. The first one i helped out was so ready to come out that it pushed and pushed as i lightly cracked the shell while holding it in a warm moist cloth. I am so shocked at the condition of the eggs. It was was the strangest thing. Just as you said. Shrink wrapped. The membrane was completely moist but so tight they couldn't move. The other chick on the other hand looks as if during all of this stuck to the membrane. I am really worried it did not properly develop around its wings. I did the same with a warm cloth but i had to take a Qtip and moisten everything back up in order to completely remove it. All day i did not think it was going to make it cause it was so weak that it would roll over and could not get off its back. I am going to post pics of them shortly because its really amazing. Both of them are now fluffing up and walking around like they own the place kind of ganging up on the bigger one lol. Little fighters that's for sure. I am not going to give up. I have made adjustments to my second incubator and hopefully it wasn't too late. I really appreciate the info.

 

[CritterLuvin]

Well i was in for one heck of a surprise this weekend...As upset as i was with my last hatch rate and only saving 3 of them i had already given up on my second incubator with 10 eggs in it. I figured i would give it about another week before i disposed of my eggs and as i went to throw them out on Friday i had 2 babies running around in there. I now have 9! 6 are in my brooder the others took there sweet time and are still fluffing up! Thank you Phoenix912 for the sponge and straw idea! As soon as you told me this i started doing it to the other eggs and it worked. Perfectly. None of them had any trouble. !!!