Incubating with a little giant

[littledel]

I have a little giant 9200 incubator with a egg turner in it. It holds a total of 42 eggs. I just finished a hatch of 36 eggs of which only 10 hatched. I followed the instructions very closely, but something went wrong. No bantams eggs hatched and less than half my brown eggs hatched. I made sure the water rings were full at the start of lockdown, left them alone and they started hatching on time. When I took out the first 7 I noticed the water rings were nearly dry, so I refilled them. I took both vent plugs out at the start of hatch. Only three more hatched. I had three that started pipping, but died before they hatched. Several fully developed chicks were in the eggs. What did I do wrong. The temp was a constant 100.

 

[BawGock]

Hello,
I'm sorry to hear that your hatch didn't go well

Do you know at what humidity you had your incubator?
I'm guessing if the temps were stable that maybe humidity could be the cause of the problems.
Carolyn

 

[krstms]

Were they shipped eggs? I had miserable results with shipped eggs. 2 hatches out of 33 eggs I think and both chicks died. Shipped eggs dont always have good results. If they were your own, I have no idea what couldve went wrong. Maybe humidity?

Hopefully one of the more experienced hatchers on here can help you. Sorry for the lost eggies.

 

[Rammy]

I hatched two eggs that I put in an LG and kept the humidity at 45-55%. I had two digital thermometers with humidity detectors plus a humidity detector alone so between the three I had a pretty good idea the humidity level and temperature. I laid one therm ontop of the eggs and one on the floor. They read about two to three degrees off each other so that gave me a rough idea on the temp which ran around 99 to 100. I got them at Walmart. Once I got the temps set and it stayed there I left it alone. The next hatch I put in four eggs and followed the same steps and since I had the adjuster tweeked to where it was staying at the temp I wanted I didnt touch it and all four hatched. But three days before lockdown it started fluctuating to 103. I figured out though that it was because I had a heatlamp on for the two I had already hatched out. Once I turned that off the temps went back to thier 100 area mark. I would calibrate your thermometers. I also only filled the two outer wells for the first 18 days and only filled the middle one also for lockdown. I hope you have better luck next time. I know its disheartening and sad when all your hard work and diligence doenst pay off.

Rammy

 

[littledel]

I think I had humidity problems, because the three that died in the eggs had dried membrane around them. Hopefully I have learned something and will do better. Just put 9 turkey eggs in to try. Plan on keep the vent plugs in (may remove one at lockdown) and have added two saucers of water to keep humidity higher. We will see in 28 days how this works.

 

[abanjaf]

Also try not removing any of the chicks until hatch is complete. When you open the bator while some eggs have pipped, you run the risk of "shrink wrapping" those chicks by having an immediate drop in the humidity level causing the inner membrane to "shrinkwrap" them. Also my last hatch I had two chicks that I hatched out myself because they were cemented to the inside of their shells. The water wells had run dry while I was at work (had refilled them the night before so I don't know what happened there). I use fishtank air hose to refill water wells during lock down. It fits very nicely through any of the multiple small air vent holes and through the mesh flooring as well (have the same bator as yours).

 

[rayroberts]

Next hatch try putting some weights on top of the bator that will improve the seal between the top and bottom and do not open bator once first egg has piped untill hatch is finished
Cheers Ray

 

[littledel]

So it seems agreed that my biggest problem was humidity. I agree on that too. But how do I refill the water rings and such when they start to dry out if I don't open the lid up. Maybe I can drill a small hole in line with the water rings and use a small hose to refill the water. I have turkey eggs in there now and would really like to hatch as many as possible. thanks everyone for your input.

 

[justmeandtheflock]

I had the same problem with my 1st hatch in the LG. It was impossible to keep the humidity up just using the wells in the bator and I had a chick drown in the container with a sponge. I now have shamies cut and folded and placed along the front and back edges of mine under the screen. They hold plenty of water and I can re-wet them using a piece of fish tank tubing and one of those dosing syringes for kids through the little holes in the top of the bator. Good luck with your turkeys!!!

 

[krstms]

Intead of drilling a hole you can just put a tube or straw through the vent holes that are already there.