How soon can I candle remaining unpipped eggs?

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

I need some advice. We are located in Southern Colorado at approx 6,615ft. I currently have a hatch going that isn't terribly successful. I'm using a styrofoam incubator from Farm Innovators. I've had a terrible time keeping my humidity up both during incubation and now during lockdown. We had 12 live chicks at lockdown and only 4 have hatched, today is day 21. I see no more pips or movement in the 8 remaining eggs. So, once my last little dries out a bit more, am I safe to slowly open the lid to candle the remaining eggs for viability? Thank you in advance for the help!

 

[aart]

I'd wait until at least day 23.
I don't candle after day 18 lockdown.....just let em do their thing and be patient.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

I'd wait until at least day 23.
I don't candle after day 18 lockdown.....just let em do their thing and be patient.

So, I have 4 babies in there right now that seem to be ready to be moved to the brooder. They sound like they are bowling with the eggs that are still unhatched. The first baby hatched on Sunday morning, so shouldn't it be moved to the brooder before Wednesday? If yes, do I move them before I see any new pips so that I don't shrink wrap anyone?

 

[R2elk]

So, I have 4 babies in there right now that seem to be ready to be moved to the brooder. They sound like they are bowling with the eggs that are still unhatched. The first baby hatched on Sunday morning, so shouldn't it be moved to the brooder before Wednesday? If yes, do I move them before I see any new pips so that I don't shrink wrap anyone?

If the other eggs aren't pipped they aren't going to shrink wrap. At your elevation, not enough oxygen is going to be the reason for a poor hatch. It is likely that the rest of your eggs are already dead. You can confirm this by candling them now.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

If the other eggs aren't pipped they aren't going to shrink wrap. At your elevation, not enough oxygen is going to be the reason for a poor hatch. It is likely that the rest of your eggs are already dead. You can confirm this by candling them now.

So I candled and no movement that I saw.
We are planning to set more eggs later this week.
Any tips on humidity, etc that will aid in better results?

 

[R2elk]

So I candled and no movement that I saw.
We are planning to set more eggs later this week.
Any tips on humidity, etc that will aid in better results?

Make sure you have vents open. At altitude having sufficient oxygen available is critical.

Humidity is strictly dependent on the surface area of the water. Increasing the depth of the water will only help in the frequency that the water needs added to, it will not increase the humidity. One way to increase the water surface area is to add sponges (coarse rather than fine) or better yet use humidity pads. Humidity pads are typically available from any source that sells incubator parts. They work much better than sponges do. You place one end in a water source and they will wick up the water and greatly increase the surface area. You do have to replace them from time to time as they will fall apart if you try to clean them.

You may find the Hatching at high altitude thread helpful.

 

[WVduckchick]

Make sure you have vents open. At altitude having sufficient oxygen available is critical.

Humidity is strictly dependent on the surface area of the water. Increasing the depth of the water will only help in the frequency that the water needs added to, it will not increase the humidity. One way to increase the water surface area is to add sponges (coarse rather than fine) or better yet use humidity pads. Humidity pads are typically available from any source that sells incubator parts. They work much better than sponges do. You place one end in a water source and they will wick up the water and greatly increase the surface area. You do have to replace them from time to time as they will fall apart if you try to clean them.

You may find the Hatching at high altitude thread helpful.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Make sure you have vents open. At altitude having sufficient oxygen available is critical.

Humidity is strictly dependent on the surface area of the water. Increasing the depth of the water will only help in the frequency that the water needs added to, it will not increase the humidity. One way to increase the water surface area is to add sponges (coarse rather than fine) or better yet use humidity pads. Humidity pads are typically available from any source that sells incubator parts. They work much better than sponges do. You place one end in a water source and they will wick up the water and greatly increase the surface area. You do have to replace them from time to time as they will fall apart if you try to clean them.

You may find the Hatching at high altitude thread helpful.

Thank you guys so much for your helpfulness!

Ok, So take the little red plugs OUT the whole time, not just at lockdown?

I will look for the humidity pads today.

My hubby cleared me for an up to $300 incubator upgrade.. any ideas?

I have one more question, one of the new, new babies is pooping bright green.. is that a concern? I thought it was just hungry and would get better as food is introduced..

 

[R2elk]

Ok, So take the little red plugs OUT the whole time, not just at lockdown?

Leave them out all of the time.

I have one more question, one of the new, new babies is pooping bright green.. is that a concern? I thought it was just hungry and would get better as food is introduced..

That is normal for newly hatched chicks.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Humidity is strictly dependent on the surface area of the water. Increasing the depth of the water will only help in the frequency that the water needs added to, it will not increase the humidity. One way to increase the water surface area is to add sponges (coarse rather than fine) or better yet use humidity pads. Humidity pads are typically available from any source that sells incubator parts. They work much better than sponges do. You place one end in a water source and they will wick up the water and greatly increase the surface area. You do have to replace them from time to time as they will fall apart if you try to clean them.

You may find the Hatching at high altitude thread helpful.

I tried sponges and they didn't work very well... I was on a thread about Hatching at high altitude, but the one I was on didn't have many posts... maybe I was in the wrong place!