End of incubation update:
4 chicks are doing well, even the assisted hatch who is wearing his shoe still. He looks a bit smaller, but also isn’t quite as fluffy as the others so that may be why.
After the end of day 18 I decided to make a hole in the air cells of the remaining eggs to start eggtopsy but also be safe in case someone was alive in there.
The good news is every egg developed. One seems to have quit fairly early and was smelly. 2 quit maybe half way where there was a small embryo with all the limbs. The rest seemed to be fully developed or close to it but they all had not absorbed the yolk completely or at all. Only one of those had internally pipped. So maybe quit at about lockdown time?
I’m trying to recall if I did something that would have jostled them or something. They were not out of the bator long when I took the turner out. A few minutes maybe.
Anyways still a personal best at 33%. The bator obviously works. My birds have excellent fertility.
Next time I’ll fill the bator, I’ll probably start a new batch next week.
Thank you to everyone who patiently gave me advice! I adore all of you!
