INCUBATING w/FRIENDS! w/Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs No problem!

[Cynthia12]

Been watching this thread but haven't posted on it yet. Anyway my incubators run year around. Just hatched a group of Khaki Campbell's on Tuesday and a group of bantam Cochins a week ago Friday (went 61 for 62). Also I have Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers, Australorps and Rhode Island Reds hatching next Wednesday and then we have Barred Rock/Light Brahma's hatching on Wednesday that are from our egg layer pen. All are laid in my breeding pens. Oh, I can't forget about the Silkies that are hatching on the 2nd!

Anyway, had a heart stopper yesterday with one of my cabinet incubators. All my cabinets and hatchers run incubator warehouse digital t-stats and I've had very good luck with them. When I walked by the cabinet, I noticed one of my good thermeters was reading 104.5. So I looked at the other 2 and same thing. The t-stat was saying 99.5 so I grabbed the thermal gun and hit a few eggs, 104.5'ish. Dang it. Luckily I had an open hatcher that was running and was able to move them. These are the mixed pen eggs hatching Wednesday. It couldn't have been that way more than a few hours and looks like they'll be fine. I did go ahead and candle this morning and they are alive. The most I've ever had to offset one of t-stats is .4 degrees to match calibrated thermometers and I have 8 of the t-stats. After trouble shooting this, it automatically offset itself -5.0 degrees. Wow!!!! The keypad was locked and I have no idea what happened or why it happened. I reset it it and it's been steady according to the log. I think I'll just order a new one for the piece of mind.

Wow, glad that you caught that! Guessing the eggs in there are past 7 days or there about?

 

[ambe0487]

What innovative systems have you all come up with for candling your eggs. I can barely hold the egg and the light stable together and i see all of you posting picture... Please, I must know how! I want pretty pictures of my babies growing but I choke on my own spit so juggling too many things terrifies me and seriously jeopardize my eggs lives!

 

[Cynthia12]

My DH made me a candling light. Made out of a large bean can, he cut out a cardboard piece with a small hole in the middle for the top, and taped it to the top of the can, used the light fixture of a heat lamp inside..the clip just clips on a drawer I have out on one of my dressers. lol... cut out the bottom for the light fixture...sooo easy. I've been using it for yrs. We just replace the top every now and again. We use an iridescent light inside.

 

[Hawk12]

I ordered mine off Amazon.

 

[cliffoco]

I have 3 eggs left, (one has passed ) but 2 are alive and external pipped but there white protective layer is starting to turn a little brown, I boosted the humidity, should i assist or keep a close eye. It has not been the 24 hours since external pip.

 

[Cynthia12]

I know I don't explain things the best, here is a photo..like I said, have been using this for yrs. And yes, that tape is fine, gets a bit warm if I take a long time candling, say..30 eggs. Never been a problem overheating though.





I just clip it on the bottom drawer when I want to candle.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have 3 eggs left, (one has passed ) but 2 are alive and external pipped but there white protective layer is starting to turn a little brown, I boosted the humidity, should i assist or keep a close eye. It has not been the 24 hours since external pip.

A little brown? Seeing any movement?

 

[Cynthia12]

I say if you are still seeing the baby work on it, leave it for another 6 hrs. If it looks like it has turned more brown, go in slowly..go to Sally's help on assisting.

 

[fire370]

Yes Cynthia12, they are day 15. But they are all chugging good since their close call.

To the poster asking about a candling set up, I tried many and never cared to much for them. I use the light on my iPhone. LOL. Works great and about the best I've tried. Way better than years ago.

 

[cliffoco]

A little brown? Seeing any movement?

I say if you are still seeing the baby work on it, leave it for another 6 hrs. If it looks like it has turned more brown, go in slowly..go to Sally's help on assisting.

The chick has not began to work the zip yet, they are still moving inside the egg, one of eggs had a very big air cell the other one really small. I was at work all day and i guess humidity dropped on me.

I will get a picture in an hour, i want to give the humidity a chance to rise.