Is my baby shrink wrapped?

[ReefRanch]

I am have trouble keeping my DIY bator humid enough. Even leaving it closed doesn't seem to help. However I not it can be too humid and I have not found a hydrometer to put in it yet. Small town nothing I need!!! Trying to keep it locked down. Thought Thursday was day 21 but after looking in eggs using the open air bubble side to get a good look they are more likely due tomorrow. Already had to throw one of the 3 away as the little guy stopped growing and was DIS. This is not my 1st hatch but is 1st with this homemade bator. The other bator I had did ok on a couple chicks but burned up my cockatiel eggs so I tossed it. Can anyone tell me how much water I need to put in the bator? And If either of my little guys are shrink wrapped? The bator is made from a 5 gallon square bucket. Really need to know as my other bator has 3 dozen eggs in it each dozen at days 18, 12, and 5. The first egg is the one I'm really worried about as the membrane is contoured to his body. Both are bouncing in the eggs tho so very much still alive. Any help would be great thanks!

 

[PoultryGirly]

In the pictures you posted did you open those eggs up on your own? Are there chicks still in them?

 

[ReefRanch]

Yes I opened the air bubble side to get a better look as I thought they were over due. Yes chicks are in them and moving around.

 

[PoultryGirly]

Next time instead of opening the whole end like that you could candle them to see if they're still alive and/or poke a small hole through the air cell end. And yes, the eggs do look a bit shrink wrapped. I would get a paper towel dampened with warm water and lay it over the part of the opened egg.

 

[ReefRanch]

Will do Thanks! I had just a small hole at first but read that when the membrane turns white you can put a drop of water on it to see the veins. So that is what I did to see if they were soaking up the blood yet or not. I'm not touching my other eggs tho. How much water would you think I need in a 5 gal bucket type botor?

 

[PoultryGirly]

I'm not sure. It depends on the ventilation. I would really consider about getting a hygrometer.

 

[ReefRanch]

Ok so I got my bator to 102 degrees and put plenty of warm water (about 8ozs) in a bowl in the back. I took out the eggs that are not on lock down and wet the rag the two open ones are laying on. The chick in egg #1 has really been kicking around so I'm hoping his new wet environment helps him move more easily. I will keep everyone posted on the hatch. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[PoultryGirly]

I would dampen the membrane on the chicks.

 

[drlcb]

Get a clean wash rag soaked with warm water in there and don't open it again. Once they start hatching the humidity will go up. Every time you open the incubator all the warm moist air will be gone in seconds. I had 10 pasty chicks on my last hatch of 60 plus eggs because I got impatient. Getting the "glue" off of the ones I could save took a lot of effort and was entirely preventable. I thought I was being careful using a misting sprayer with hot water in it when I opened it... All I did was make a mess! Lastly make sure they are getting oxygen. I use an aquarium pump (cheapest one at Walmart) to ventilate my bator. I just aim the air stream at one of the light bulbs so it stays warm.

 

[ReefRanch]

It looks like there is plenty of moisture now my observation dome has some condensation on it. Also, my bator has two vents one on top and one on the side. When the top one (a very small drilled hole) lets air out that pulls new air in the side (silt) near the light. I can see chick #1 seems to be less stressed. I don't want to open the bator to do anything else. Its wet and warm so we will see what tomorrow brings.