Incubation frustration

[chickenlady7770]

You are so right. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I am a newbie at chicken incubation. I have let my chickens hatch eggs but this is my second incubation. the first time around things didn't go well. I have a janoel 10 incubator. The first time around I learned a lot. I only had 2 out of 11 hatch, and BOTH were assisted. Both chicks are doing well now (#2 may be a little slow... lol) anyway, first time I had them sitting in the kitchen by the dishwasher which made for heat and humidity surges.... Now I know

I am on my second try at incubation. I had shipped eggs, so I kept them upright till day 7. They candled well on day 10, and again of day 14. When I went to put them in lockdown, I saw very little movement. temp was kept at 99.5 to 100.5. Humidity at 30 ish percent through day 18. ) Humity then increased to 70 ish. Everything should be ok. I am on day 22. I was DYING last night as I saw NO signs of anything. I candled and only saw 1 movement....(Yes, I know you shouldn't during lockdown, each egg was placed precisely back in its place) I still have them incubating but I have lost all hope. Can you give me your opinion? Encouragement? Anyone?​

At least two things were wrong. Not turning the eggs for the first week is a big problem. The first week is when frequent turning is imperative for vigorous embryonic growth.
https://www.pasreform.com/academy/f...tion/1279-the-biology-behind-egg-turning.html
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmor.1052010207

Your temperature may also have been low with the first pip being on day 22.
The lack of early turning may have been the primary cause weakening the embryos.​

View attachment 1328366 I have a hygrometer and three thermometers. Lol if they all died on the same time period, I am thinking bacteria? Idk

The funny thing is, after I made the post of desperation, I came in and found a pip and hear a faint chirp

It doesn't matter how many thermometers if they are all wrong.
I originally used 5. None agreed so I ignored the one which was actually accurate. Not until I got a guaranteed accurate one which agreed with the Brinsea spot check did I start having success.

 

[chickenlady7770]

I did rotate/turn the eggs from side to side at a 45 degree angle during the first week, I just kept them with airsac at the top to help with reattachment of the aircells since they were shipped.... I do think the temp may have been too low. There are sooooo many articles with conflicting information out there it is hard to tell which is right.....

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

At least two things were wrong. Not turning the eggs for the first week is a big problem. The first week is when frequent turning is imperative for vigorous embryonic growth.
https://www.pasreform.com/academy/f...tion/1279-the-biology-behind-egg-turning.html
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmor.1052010207

Your temperature may also have been low with the first pip being on day 22.
The lack of early turning may have been the primary cause weakening the embryos.​

It doesn't matter how many thermometers if they are all wrong.
I originally used 5. None agreed so I ignored the one which was actually accurate. Not until I got a guaranteed accurate one which agreed with the Brinsea spot check did I start having success.

A few ppl say don't turn eggs if air cells are detached for the first few days to 1 week they are in. I agree with the temp thing tho. but maybe not the brinsea part mostly mine has been well I'm not impressed lets put it that way. but keep in mind to high and hurt them to I suggest finding a calibrated ceritifed thermometer and hydrometer (note to self I do to lol). and chickenlandy7770 it's ok things happen we can only focus on the here and now

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I know I've read about not turning eggs with detached air cells but IMHO, turning is more important. In an automatic turner, the air cells aren't going to be disturbed any more than during shipment.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I did rotate/turn the eggs from side to side at a 45 degree angle during the first week, I just kept them with airsac at the top to help with reattachment of the aircells since they were shipped.... I do think the temp may have been too low. There are sooooo many articles with conflicting information out there it is hard to tell which is right.....

So they were turned. Not all shipped eggs will have messed up air cells. If candling didn't show detached cells, treat them like normal eggs.

 

[oregonkat]

You've got a pipper, that is encouraging. How is it doing now? Are there any others?

 

[chickenlady7770]

Thanks for asking! I hear a little peep every one and a while. Size of the pip hasn't changed. Just one.

 

[oregonkat]

Thanks for asking! I hear a little peep every one and a while. Size of the pip hasn't changed. Just one.

Dont lose hope yet, it is still relatively early. These littles can take days to do this. Keep checking in though. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

 

[chickenlady7770]

Dont lose hope yet, it is still relatively early. These littles can take days to do this. Keep checking in though. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Thank you!! I see another pip