Incubators Anonymous

[ki4got]

I recently made a fan for my still air incubator using a PC fan and a 5.8 volt AC/DC plug.
I put it in my incubator and it was working fine, but after about an hour I noticed that the plug was warm to the touch.
Is this something that I should be concerned about? I really don't wan't a housefire, but then again who does?
Is it normal for the plug to be warm?

Thanks

warm is normal. if you can hold it without being uncomfortable, then that's fairly normal. if it's hot or the wires are hot, then it's NOT normal.

the key would be to check the fan's amperage requirements and look at the power supply. if the power supply is capable of giving MORE amps than the fan needs, that's fine. if not, there's going to be problems. it'll either list the number as mAh, or Ah if there's an m, it's milli Amps (1000 mA - 1 Amp, .5 Amps = 500 mA)

computer fans are designed to run at 12v so as long as the power supply says 12v or LESS, then you're OK. less just means the fan won't turn as fast as it would at 12v. all of my incubators have between 5 and 9v power supplies because I DON'T want a hurricane in the incubator. LOL

 

[ki4got]

Is it normal for eggs to hatch at 20 days or pip at day 20? I have a still air that's temp is at 100 degrees.

it depends on the incubator, setup, breed, etc. I have one hen who's chicks usually hatch on day 20 but most usually start pipping late on day 20 and hatch out within 24 hours of that... the latest I normally get would be early on day 22 to hatch. though I did have one that actually made it out on his own on day 24... I had just left the hatcher alone and had some other things going on, nothing else coming up to hatch soon, and forgot about it for a couple days, until I heard loud peeping in the hatcher. thinking I forgot to pull a chick, I rushed in to check, but he was just starting to zip at that point. humidity had gone down to about 30% so I added some hot water and it came back up quickly, he was out a couple hours later with no assistance. but that's the only one in thousands of eggs to hatch for me that's ever done that. (and survived beyond a day or 2).

 

[Renee97038]

I have dune the same thing as I am very curious to see if everything is finished or not but surprisingly a lot of chicks pass even at this point but it depends on the hatcher if mother nature is going to take over or the hatcher is going to intervene to save the day .......

Thanks everyone. I was feeling a bit guilty taking out the 7 healthy chicks after 24 hours, and risking the last egg that had been pipped for over 24 hours. I did just that, took out the 7 quickly and left the one pipped in there overnight. Next morning it hadn't done anything, so I opened it a bit and it was chirping so I tried helping it out and I think the inner white was a bit shrunk in the air space area against the chick, but his head was out and it was breathing. I felt so bad, like I should have not let the other 7 out, and perhaps this one would have hatched. After inspection and picking away some of the shell along the top I could see the chick clearly had not stopped the circulatory system since the blood veins were still there and bled a bit. So, I stopped and put it back in the bator for another 6 hours, nothing happened and the chick just layed in there. I could see it breathing the whole time. Then, I read the entire BYC article about helping out a chick and did that and discovered this chick had never taken in the yolk. It died soon after. I went into mourning that whole day like it was all my fault. I told myself I am never "helping" a chick out ever again. Has anyone else had this experience with helping a chick?

 

[ozexpat]

Thanks everyone. I was feeling a bit guilty taking out the 7 healthy chicks after 24 hours, and risking the last egg that had been pipped for over 24 hours. I did just that, took out the 7 quickly and left the one pipped in there overnight. Next morning it hadn't done anything, so I opened it a bit and it was chirping so I tried helping it out and I think the inner white was a bit shrunk in the air space area against the chick, but his head was out and it was breathing. I felt so bad, like I should have not let the other 7 out, and perhaps this one would have hatched. After inspection and picking away some of the shell along the top I could see the chick clearly had not stopped the circulatory system since the blood veins were still there and bled a bit. So, I stopped and put it back in the bator for another 6 hours, nothing happened and the chick just layed in there. I could see it breathing the whole time. Then, I read the entire BYC article about helping out a chick and did that and discovered this chick had never taken in the yolk. It died soon after. I went into mourning that whole day like it was all my fault. I told myself I am never "helping" a chick out ever again. Has anyone else had this experience with helping a chick?

you did everything right

one egg that late amongst 7 healthy was saying something is wrong.

under normal situations, helping a chick out is not really recommended but this one was clearly in need and I am sure you learnt a lot.

monday morning quaterbacking is never useful.

 

[rnt2005]

you did everything right

one egg that late amongst 7 healthy was saying something is wrong.

under normal situations, helping a chick out is not really recommended but this one was clearly in need and I am sure you learnt a lot.

monday morning quaterbacking is never useful.

I agree! I experienced something similar too. It's so stressful yet exciting at the same time. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hatch again but I am ready... Congrats on your hatch!

 

[roostereggs]

I had a hard time with knowing when to help and when not to during our first hatch. I pretty much made up my mind that I would remain hands-off...but the mom and nurse in me couldn't NOT help and my original plan went right out the window.

There are two that I tried to save that didn't make it, and two that I did help that are doing great to this day, and two that I wish I had helped after the fact that I think could have actually saved. But the whole experience is very educational, and going into next weekend's hatch I feel more comfortable with what to do and when...and knowing when to not interfere.

 

[ki4got]

helping vs not helping... I agree, it's tough NOT to, but the majority of the chicks that get helped end up dying within a week usually, so I wonder if I was just prolonging their suffering in doing so... I decided last year to let the chick tell me if he needs help. if he's pipped a large hole and is screaming bloody murder, then i'll help. if all he's done is pip a small hole and isn't talking much, I leave it in there. *tap tap tap* on the incubator every now and then. if he starts hollering and sounding frantic, then i'll step in because likely he's a bit stuck.

usually the ones that wouldn't' make it anyways are the quiet ones that aren't talking much. hubby refers to them as SWI. something wrong inside. there's a REASON they're not hatching properly.

after hatching literally thousands of eggs, you eventually get a feel for what will help or won't.

 

[gimmie birdies]

help the pipped hole after 24 hrs right? they pip- and still are absorbing and getting used to our air. not ready yet.

 

[Renee97038]

Ozexpat,
Thank your for your wisdom. I appreciate knowing that I did what I could at the time.
Renee

 

[gimmie birdies]

Sal. don't worry I have him walking on quilts mostly.