Help! On day 18 and I think I will lose all 9 eggs!!! SMALL AIR SAC

[Kentuckyrain]

I am new to this,,, only did one batch b4 and that was about 3 weeks ago, got 2 outa 3 Silkie chicks that hatches,, back when we had the bad storm here, lost power, etc. I think I was just lucky the 2 even hatched and are doing ok now.

Anyhow, I have NOT been "candeling the eggs" at all. I am still learning and I have been reading and discovered that I need to candle them at certain intervals.

So, long story short,,, I am on day 18, I removed the egg turner thingy,,, and "candled" kinda, with a flashlight,, and the air pockets are very SMALL. I looked at the one thread that shows candling and all of my 9 eggs look like the ones from about 7 days in that thread. I think I was just lucky 3 weeks ago that those 2 even hatched. Well some of the eggs have been moving around, I have them all laid on the metal screen now in the incubator, the temp is 99 and humitity is 74. I have removed both the little red cap things for venting, I think? I mean I think that is what they are for?

Anyhow,,, I was reading that if the air socket thing is small, they won't have oxygen to breathe???????????



Please, any suggestions at this point????

 

[kuchchicks]

What was your humidity at during days 1-17? If your air cells are really that small then most likely your humidity was way too high. Unfortunately many of us make that mistake in the beginning. I followed the directions that came with my bator and it said to run it 45%-50% during incubation and then raise to 65% for lock down. My hatch rate was less than 30% and I was ready to give up. Fortunately this site turned me on to dry incubation and I now run my bator around 35% for days 1-17, and then 75% for lock down.

Regardless of what your humidity was, or when you should have candled, you are now at the point where you are going to have to try to hatch with what you have got. BUT - all hope is not lost. If this were me I would hatch in egg cartons and place eggs fat end up or slightly angled so that the largest portion of the air cell is pointing upwards. IMO this will give the chicks the best chance of hatching without drowning once they pip.

One other thing you can try - but you will have to watch very closely, is lowering your humidity for the next couple of days and leaving the vent holes open. You will need to watch for when the chicks start to pip or listen for chirping. If either occur then raise your humidity back up to the level that it should be for lock down. At this point this is not going to work miracles but it may help and give a little more to the air cell.

I know this is a hard blow. We have all made mistakes when we are first starting. There is so much to learn, and there is a lot of conflicting information. But this site and the people on here are wonderful. This forum especially I think has the best people and the most knowledgeable people following and sharing what they have learned. This may not be a great hatch for you and no matter what I or anyone else says it totally sucks! You have loved these eggs and the excitement has grown as the days have ticked by. Now this... ugh!!! WHY?!!!

But, you did the best you could with the knowledge you have. And now you know better. And next time you will do better. Keep your chin up. Pray. Watch closely. And with any luck you will have chicks in the next few days.

Keep me posted. Good luck!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

What was your humidity at during days 1-17? If your air cells are really that small then most likely your humidity was way too high. Unfortunately many of us make that mistake in the beginning. I followed the directions that came with my bator and it said to run it 45%-50% during incubation and then raise to 65% for lock down. My hatch rate was less than 30% and I was ready to give up. Fortunately this site turned me on to dry incubation and I now run my bator around 35% for days 1-17, and then 75% for lock down.

Regardless of what your humidity was, or when you should have candled, you are now at the point where you are going to have to try to hatch with what you have got. BUT - all hope is not lost. If this were me I would hatch in egg cartons and place eggs fat end up or slightly angled so that the largest portion of the air cell is pointing upwards. IMO this will give the chicks the best chance of hatching without drowning once they pip.

One other thing you can try - but you will have to watch very closely, is lowering your humidity for the next couple of days and leaving the vent holes open. You will need to watch for when the chicks start to pip or listen for chirping. If either occur then raise your humidity back up to the level that it should be for lock down. At this point this is not going to work miracles but it may help and give a little more to the air cell.

I know this is a hard blow. We have all made mistakes when we are first starting. There is so much to learn, and there is a lot of conflicting information. But this site and the people on here are wonderful. This forum especially I think has the best people and the most knowledgeable people following and sharing what they have learned. This may not be a great hatch for you and no matter what I or anyone else says it totally sucks! You have loved these eggs and the excitement has grown as the days have ticked by. Now this... ugh!!! WHY?!!!

But, you did the best you could with the knowledge you have. And now you know better. And next time you will do better. Keep your chin up. Pray. Watch closely. And with any luck you will have chicks in the next few days.

Keep me posted. Good luck!

xs 2 Very sound advice!

 

[Kentuckyrain]

kuchchicks!

I think the humidity was and has been around 60 to 70? I thought everyone was only "candling" to "see", kinda like an ultrasound?

I know now, I need to learn more,, SO MUCH MORE,, before I try this again.

So, more than likely, my humidity was too high, so just get an egg carton, put the eggs in it,, large side up? Then leave them alone now? I did remove both vent plugs,,

 

[AmyLynn2374]

kuchchicks!

I think the humidity was and has been around 60 to 70? I thought everyone was only "candling" to "see", kinda like an ultrasound?

I know now, I need to learn more,, SO MUCH MORE,, before I try this again.

So, more than likely, my humidity was too high, so just get an egg carton, put the eggs in it,, large side up? Then leave them alone now? I did remove both vent plugs,,

If you were running 60-70% for the whole incubation then yes. That is extrememly high. Here's something that may help you if I haven't shared it with you before: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

Yes, at this point your best bet would be to hatch upright in cut down egg cartons and pray for the best. Good on the vent plugs being out.

 

[Kentuckyrain]

If you were running 60-70% for the whole incubation then yes. That is extrememly high. Here's something taht may help you if I haven't shared it with you before: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

Yes, at this point your best bet would be to hatch upright in cut down egg cartons and pray for the best. Good on teh vent plugs being out.

Ok,, I now have them in an egg carton large side up,,, vents open,,, ugh,,, I hope they will do ok now

 

[kuchchicks]

St Francis prayers your way!!!

 

[tiffanyjcruz]

Hoping all goes well. I'm a nervous wreck. I've only had my eggs in the incubator for 1 day now but I'm still nervous. It's going to be a long hatch process for me. This is my first time with hatching eggs.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hoping all goes well. I'm a nervous wreck. I've only had my eggs in the incubator for 1 day now but I'm still nervous. It's going to be a long hatch process for me. This is my first time with hatching eggs.

and good luck!

 

[Kentuckyrain]

If there is a tiny crack like a pip, does that mean the chick has entered the air sac?