This was my first time hatching. I had 12 eggs in the incubator, then I added 17 more (Woops)
So I built a hatcher, to accomodate the staggered hatch. of the original 12, 2 didn't develope, 10 had movement when they went into the hatcher. 1 was already peeping before the move.
The temp in the hatcher was about 98.5 - 99-ish, humidity between 68 to 72. When I had the first pip the temp and humidity jumped, and then the 2nd pip had the same result. I know I shouldn't have opened the lid but it was so hot almost 110 and the humidity was in the 80's, so I lifted the lid wide for 10 seconds and then closed it. Temp down to 103 (mercury thermo)
Another pip, another spike, this time I used the lid to fan the hatcher 3 or 4 times, temp back down. We watched as the first pipper rocked and rolled and cheeped and chirped. It took 3 or 4 hours and she was out! 2nd pipper still just pipping and rocking. Now we see another pip. but I don't want to lift the lid cause Kathy is still wet and I don't want to give her a chill so I lift the corner farthest from her and prop it open with a pen for about 5 minutes.
Trying to keep it under 103. getting a little stressed, but then I thought, maybe the spike is normal. so I close the lid and go to bed. In the morning we have a nearly dry chick but we leave her cause I don't want to open it and I don't want her to be lonely. I had to leave to go to the hatchery (3 hour drive each way) to pick up chicks I had ordered. Kids are home watching things. the 2nd pipper has stopped, the 3rd pipper is zipping. New chick is helping the zipper. All of a sudden another chick bursts out of an egg the kids didn't notice had pipped. They name her Porsche because she's so fast. the zipper started bleeding when chick 1 helped, that one stopped.
When I got home I quickly snatched the first chick out and put her with the other newbies that I just brought home so she couldn't "help" any more. Then we had another pip & zip and got our 3rd chick. didn't notice a spike on that one.
Now the remaining 5 have nothing, no movement, it's been 48 hours since the last hatch so I think they're done.
Is the temp supposed to spike? should I have left things alone rather than trying to balance the spikes? Is there anything else I should have done differently? I have another 9 that should be ready to hatch day after tomorrow and I want a better hatch rate.
Michelle
So I built a hatcher, to accomodate the staggered hatch. of the original 12, 2 didn't develope, 10 had movement when they went into the hatcher. 1 was already peeping before the move.
The temp in the hatcher was about 98.5 - 99-ish, humidity between 68 to 72. When I had the first pip the temp and humidity jumped, and then the 2nd pip had the same result. I know I shouldn't have opened the lid but it was so hot almost 110 and the humidity was in the 80's, so I lifted the lid wide for 10 seconds and then closed it. Temp down to 103 (mercury thermo)
Another pip, another spike, this time I used the lid to fan the hatcher 3 or 4 times, temp back down. We watched as the first pipper rocked and rolled and cheeped and chirped. It took 3 or 4 hours and she was out! 2nd pipper still just pipping and rocking. Now we see another pip. but I don't want to lift the lid cause Kathy is still wet and I don't want to give her a chill so I lift the corner farthest from her and prop it open with a pen for about 5 minutes.
Trying to keep it under 103. getting a little stressed, but then I thought, maybe the spike is normal. so I close the lid and go to bed. In the morning we have a nearly dry chick but we leave her cause I don't want to open it and I don't want her to be lonely. I had to leave to go to the hatchery (3 hour drive each way) to pick up chicks I had ordered. Kids are home watching things. the 2nd pipper has stopped, the 3rd pipper is zipping. New chick is helping the zipper. All of a sudden another chick bursts out of an egg the kids didn't notice had pipped. They name her Porsche because she's so fast. the zipper started bleeding when chick 1 helped, that one stopped.
When I got home I quickly snatched the first chick out and put her with the other newbies that I just brought home so she couldn't "help" any more. Then we had another pip & zip and got our 3rd chick. didn't notice a spike on that one.
Now the remaining 5 have nothing, no movement, it's been 48 hours since the last hatch so I think they're done.
Is the temp supposed to spike? should I have left things alone rather than trying to balance the spikes? Is there anything else I should have done differently? I have another 9 that should be ready to hatch day after tomorrow and I want a better hatch rate.
Michelle
