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

[Cynthia12]

Hi all! I hope I can get some guidance on this. I had 6 bantams, two were sitting on eggs, and I had several eggs in the fridge from some others. One night, a raccoon came in and slaughtered all my chickens, except for the one hen that had actually hatched two eggs (she was in another place). These were pets to me, and I was just devastated. One of the hens that was killed, had two eggs that went unnoticed by the racoon. They were cold when we found them. I took her eggs and put them in a aquarium with a light bulb over them. Got it to around 99-100F. A couple of days later, after reading something on a forum here, I decided to take the eggs in the fridge (I couldn't bring myself no eat them now), and put them in there also. Then I started seeing signs of life, and went and bought a Brinsea Manual Egg Incubator. Now all except 1 are showing signs of life! My problem is, I have one incubator, and these poor eggs are at all different levels of development- and the very first one looks really close to hatching. Does anyone have any tips? Maybe I could put the first one in the aquarium with another heat source, and do the lock down? But I'm not sure what to do. Any ideas greatly appreciated!

So, you have no idea how far apart they are? This is me personally. If no other bator, I would keep the humidity around 55%. Turn the ones that you can tell still have time. When you candle and see that one is pipped internally, just hurry and turn the others, leaving that one alone. Bet it still hatches fine.

Any other ideas?

BTW..

 

[FridayYet]

Just marking my place, even though I won't be hatching until next year.

 

[Saris]

 Just marking my place, even though I won't be hatching until next year.

me either but it's still nice to watch the hatches and get tips and advice.

 

[hereorthere]

Subscribed! Won't try my hand at hatching until next year, but I'll take notes! My hatch rates this year was pitiful, but in my defense they were shipped eggs. I was so disheartened that I didn't even bother with trying to incubate any of my barnyard eggs, but stuck them all under my broody mama hen.

Sally, glad to hear that you're feeling better and I hope all is well!

 

[lisahefner]

Hi Cynthia! Thank you for the warm welcome and the tips! I really hope this works because I miss my babies

 

[GreenRunner]

Subscribed! Great to see another hatching thread.

I've got 12 silkie eggs set - day 8 now. Bought them from a local auction which gives no guarantee of fertility and I candled them yesterday - I think only 3 are viable. :| Still, I have six ayam cemani eggs waiting so I can get that hatch on the way soon.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Just marking my place, even though I won't be hatching until next year.

You will be a great help and asset to the thread @FridayYet

glad to see you

Subscribed! Won't try my hand at hatching until next year, but I'll take notes! My hatch rates this year was pitiful, but in my defense they were shipped eggs. I was so disheartened that I didn't even bother with trying to incubate any of my barnyard eggs, but stuck them all under my broody mama hen.

Sally, glad to hear that you're feeling better and I hope all is well!

thank you!!!! Shipped eggs are tough as dried leather! so very glad your here!! you should hatch your own eggs, you will learn the basics with them faster. and then totally get what you need to do for shipped eggs when you get them nasties! you should be practicing on them now and selling those off and then hatching what you want in spring.... call me SallyAnnEnabler will ya!

incubators are a big issue in hatching too, maybe you should see what improvements you can do with that overwinter too! again WELCOME so happy you came over!!!

Subscribed! Great to see another hatching thread.

I've got 12 silkie eggs set - day 8 now. Bought them from a local auction which gives no guarantee of fertility and I candled them yesterday - I think only 3 are viable. :| Still, I have six ayam cemani eggs waiting so I can get that hatch on the way soon.

AWESOME!!! Hey GreenRunner!!!! only 3 viable! thats stinks! ayam ready and waiting! how exciting!!!! I bet you are itching!!! dont let them get too old! esp if you paid alot for them!
So glad your with us! @GreenRunner

Hi all! I hope I can get some guidance on this. I had 6 bantams, two were sitting on eggs, and I had several eggs in the fridge from some others. One night, a raccoon came in and slaughtered all my chickens, except for the one hen that had actually hatched two eggs (she was in another place). These were pets to me, and I was just devastated. One of the hens that was killed, had two eggs that went unnoticed by the racoon. They were cold when we found them. I took her eggs and put them in a aquarium with a light bulb over them. Got it to around 99-100F. A couple of days later, after reading something on a forum here, I decided to take the eggs in the fridge (I couldn't bring myself no eat them now), and put them in there also. Then I started seeing signs of life, and went and bought a Brinsea Manual Egg Incubator. Now all except 1 are showing signs of life! My problem is, I have one incubator, and these poor eggs are at all different levels of development- and the very first one looks really close to hatching. Does anyone have any tips? Maybe I could put the first one in the aquarium with another heat source, and do the lock down? But I'm not sure what to do. Any ideas greatly appreciated! I

we must have posted at the same time yesterday and I missed your post! I am sorry!!
Welcome to BYC and to the thread!!

I am so sorry about your flock, so very sorry, what have you done to prevent this again? So sad

I TOTALLY AGREE with Cynthia on the bator!!! Do what is best for the majority, keep looking for that internal pip, up the humidity let it hatch and then lower it and carry on with the others! I think it will do fine, sounds like they are survivors!

 

[WVduckchick]

Good morning! I got lost on the HAL HAL so maybe I can keep up with this one.

I don't plan to hatch until spring, but you never know! At least I get some "fix" from you guys....

 

[tao chick]

So, you have no idea how far apart they are? This is me personally. If no other bator, I would keep the humidity around 55%. Turn the ones that you can tell still have time. When you candle and see that one is pipped internally, just hurry and turn the others, leaving that one alone. Bet it still hatches fine. Any other ideas? BTW..

x2 I used an aquarium in a pinch for my Halloween Hatch. It was okay at keeping temps but the inability to lock in humidity was why I chose to hatch in the LG incubator I borrowed. The aquarium makes a great brooder. My biggest lesson learned was to calibrate thermometer and hygrometer. My temps and humidity ended up too high last time. I'm trying to be strong and not hatch again until Spring. March specifically. We'll see if I can hold out. This group is filled with awesome people who happen to enable my hatching addiction.

 

[GreenRunner]

@Sally Sunshine Thanks for the welcome. I know, it kinda sucks. I'm going to do another candling today and probably get the ayams on the go. I mucked up the last hatch and of four chicks I only got one ayam out (four dead in shell). Was heartbreaking. The little one is three weeks old now, growing fast and could do with some play mates.