Help & advice please!

[Mama Bex]

Help please! I am a complete novice and this is the first time I have ever attempted to hatch my own chicks (I have had backyard hens and fine with that part but hatching is a new adventure). Wanted the kids to experience it but I fear it’s all going horribly wrong. Kids being very mature about it but I’m devastated as I feel responsible.I have 12 eggs but only 3 eggs were viable from the candling on day 18. One egg pipped on day 22 but that was 24 hours ago and there’s nothing else happened. Could this one be dead? I can hear peeping from another egg but no pipping at all and I can’t hear anything from the other egg. I lifted the lid on the incubator to add more more water for increased humidity but my husband things I may have terminally compromised them. Temp is 37.6C and humidity 66%. As we are now day 23 - does anyone have any advice? The chicks are cream Legbars. TIA.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO, there isn't much to be done at this point except keep your fingers crossed.
There are so many variables involved in incubation. The most important is temperature. Frequent turning and humidity follow close behind but there may be issues with the eggs as well.
Given your experience, I would look at temperature first. Regardless of what your incubator or thermometers say, the temperature has likely been low throughout.

 

[Mama Bex]

IMO, there isn't much to be done at this point except keep your fingers crossed.
There are so many variables involved in incubation. The most important is temperature. Frequent turning and humidity follow close behind but there may be issues with the eggs as well.
Given your experience, I would look at temperature first. Regardless of what your incubator or thermometers say, the temperature has likely been low throughout.

IMO, there isn't much to be done at this point except keep your fingers crossed.
There are so many variables involved in incubation. The most important is temperature. Frequent turning and humidity follow close behind but there may be issues with the eggs as well.
Given your experience, I would look at temperature first. Regardless of what your incubator or thermometers say, the temperature has likely been low throughout.

Thank you. Should I still be turning the eggs? I thought I had to leave alone when on lockdown. Blimey - this is up there with the stress of my own labour with all four of my kids!

 

[Mama Bex]

Sorry I think I replied in the wrong box! Should I still be turning the eggs or leaving alone because they are in lock down? Many thanks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Turning is only essential the first two weeks. All the beneficial effects of turning are long over by now.
What are you using to measure temperature?

 

[Mama Bex]

We are just going off the temp that the incubator is telling us. This is more stressful than my labour with my four children....!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Those readings, as well as most thermometers are notoriously inaccurate.
All the incubator controls I've seen needed to be calibrated.
It is good news for your next hatch though. Now you have a starting point.
What country are you in?

 

[Mama Bex]

Those readings, as well as most thermometers are notoriously inaccurate.
All the incubator controls I've seen needed to be calibrated.
It is good news for your next hatch though. Now you have a starting point.
What country are you in?

many thanks - yes, we have a better starting point for next time and will be better prepared. I’m in Chester in north west England.