Hatching in rocker cradles?

[aridpermaculturechickens]

Hi, I have a pretty basic 46 egg incubator that has 40 eggs in it. The problem is that the eggs went in in batches over 2 weeks and are unmarked. I am now 20 days in and the first eggs are being pipped.

The first chick has hatched inside the egg cradle, and I quite stupidly put some of the pipped ones to lying flat on the floor of the incubator. Now I have read that I should have put the about to hatch eggs onto the incubator floor 3 days ago & not to move the for the last 3 days during 'lockdown'

So, given that I don't know which eggs are about to hatch and some are already pipped, do I:

1. Do nothing, keep incubator closed & wait 48 hours and remove any chicks that have hatched. Continue with incubation for next 2 weeks for the next 2 batches. - leave eggs in cradles and let them hatch themselves.
2. Try to identify by candling which eggs are about to hatch but open the incubator in the process & mess with 'lockdown'
3. Put the pipped eggs back into the rocker cradle and continue with lockdown
4. Something else...

I've kept chickens for some time, but this is my first incubation - so guess I should have read the manual before starting...It's definitely easier with a mother hen involved!

 

[MGG]

I would just leave the pipped ones, and remove them as they hatch. Once you think the first batch has all hatched I would candle the rest and try to figure which ones are coming next. Can you post a pic of the cradles? I'm not sure what they look like.

 

[aridpermaculturechickens]

Hi, thanks I guess opening the incubator is the worst thing to do at this stage. Attached is a pic of the incubator inside - not sure what the yellow rocker things are called...

Also attached is a pic of the first one out, welcome to the world little koekoek!

 

[aridpermaculturechickens]

... 3 more popped out since the last message, the one was from an egg still in a cradle and was stuck in the corner, I have quickly moved it to the middle area with the other 2...looks like pipping is happening fast for the rest.

Have sprayed a fine mist into the incubator to keep humidity up.

Temperature here today (in Southern Africa) is 39 degrees centigrade (102F) so its about the same temperature inside and outside the incubator ☀☀☀

 

[MGG]

Wow it's so hot there! That's great. Good job! Cute little babies. What breed are they?

 

[aart]

The problem is that the eggs went in in batches over 2 weeks and are unmarked.

OyVey!!
How many batches?
Any idea of date of last eggs added?
Is the rocker cradle turned off or still moving?

 

[aridpermaculturechickens]

so I now have 11 little black fluffballs all with white tummies. Lost one who didn't make it out the shell.

Not ideal with the rockers in, one chick got stuck under & I had to take all the other eggs out to remove the unit...chick is fine though.

After all the hatching the incubator was a bit smelly&full of muck, so removed all the eggs - kept them in eggboxes while I gave the whole thing a proper clean +- for 15mins. Temp outside of the incubator was high & only marginally lower than inside so I reckon they should be fine.

Have tried to candle the remaining eggs - about 30 of them, but all are pretty dark & similar looking.

The chicks that hatched out of eggs that were still in the rockers all did fine, so I don't think that in itself is a problem.

Looking forward to doing it all again this weekend with the next lot

MGG: some of them are koekoek hen / boschvelder rooster, and the others are all boschvelder.

Have attached some pics of the parents & the chicks for interest.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Congratulations on your hatch! When in doubt, always remove the turner. Chicks can get stuck and I've heard of horror stories of broken legs. Once the chicks are running around the incubator they will "turn" the staggered hatch eggs plenty as they play chick soccer, lol. I hope the rest of your hatches go well! Happy hatching!

 

[toredano]

just make a box with a warming lamp. water and chick starter... and move them into it once they hatch

 

[cmom]

Can you take the turner out? If you can then take it out and lay the rest of the eggs back in the incubator. When you put the eggs back in mist them with warm water. This will help to bring the humidity up a bit quicker. I'm getting ready to load my incubator up for my first hatch of this year, Good luck and have fun...