incubating issues

[watsontheduck]

I have a little giant, still air incubator. We have been having issues hatching our eggs and have only had a total of one successful hatch. First we attempted chicken eggs and tried 7, and only ended up with 3 viable. One hatched well and the other died. However, the other viable egg was shrink wrapped. It was our first time incubating eggs and we didn't want to risk and assist her hatching and the chicken ended up dying because we didn't assist them. Later we examined the egg and realized she couldn't hatch because the membrane was shrink wrapped to her. During this incubation, we had standing water in the bottom of the incubator at all times, and during lock down, there were sponges full of water, and still we struggled to keep the humidity above 49-50%.This time, we attempted duck eggs and all 3 were viable. One egg didn't make it and the other two were put into lock down. One of the eggs in lock down didn't survive and after later observation it was also shrink wrapped. The last duck made a pip hole and 48 hours later it hadn't made any progress. We ended up assisting her hatch and realized she also was shrink wrapped. During this incubation however, we only had the wet sponges in during lock down and NO standing water in the channels this time. We are getting very frustrated with our lack of success with incubation and the fact that almost all of our eggs have been shrink wrapped. Should we get a new incubator? What are we doing wrong? So next time we can have this insight to hatch our eggs successfully.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have a little giant, still air incubator. We have been having issues hatching our eggs and have only had a total of one successful hatch. First we attempted chicken eggs and tried 7, and only ended up with 3 viable. One hatched well and the other died. However, the other viable egg was shrink wrapped. It was our first time incubating eggs and we didn't want to risk and assist her hatching and the chicken ended up dying because we didn't assist them. Later we examined the egg and realized she couldn't hatch because the membrane was shrink wrapped to her. During this incubation, we had standing water in the bottom of the incubator at all times, and during lock down, there were sponges full of water, and still we struggled to keep the humidity above 49-50%.This time, we attempted duck eggs and all 3 were viable. One egg didn't make it and the other two were put into lock down. One of the eggs in lock down didn't survive and after later observation it was also shrink wrapped. The last duck made a pip hole and 48 hours later it hadn't made any progress. We ended up assisting her hatch and realized she also was shrink wrapped. During this incubation however, we only had the wet sponges in during lock down and NO standing water in the channels this time. We are getting very frustrated with our lack of success with incubation and the fact that almost all of our eggs have been shrink wrapped. Should we get a new incubator? What are we doing wrong? So next time we can have this insight to hatch our eggs successfully.

First of all, what model little giant do you have and if it's a digital do you have your own thermometers ands hygrometer in the bator or are you going by the incubators read out? The digital lGs are known for being off by 3 degrees a lot of the time and the hygrometer is useless reading not much different with or with out water. You need your own checked and accurate therms and hygrometers.

Many people mistake a normal membrane for shrinkwrapped. Humidity 49-50% has a higher chance of drowning chicks than letting them become shrinkwrapped.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

 

[watsontheduck]

Thank you for your help! and we have a model 9300 incubator and egg turner. We are new to incubating and are getting frustrated. However, we did our research about the membranes and both the chicken that died and our new ducks membranes were like paper and very dried out and the inner membrane was glued onto the duck. Where would you suggest we look for good hygrometers and thermometers for our incubator?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you for your help! and we have a model 9300 incubator and egg turner. We are new to incubating and are getting frustrated. However, we did our research about the membranes and both the chicken that died and our new ducks membranes were like paper and very dried out and the inner membrane was glued onto the duck. Where would you suggest we look for good hygrometers and thermometers for our incubator?

The outer membrane should be white and papery. That's a good sign. The inner shouldn't be glued though. Lots of people use the hygrometers and thermometers that are found in the reptile section of the pet stores. Many people prefer the Brinsea spot check to monitor accuracy. No matter what hygrometer you go with you check the accuracy using the salt test.