Jan./Feb. 2014 hatch a long

[Cynthia12]

They were shipped, but if they were exposed to cold or frozen, it seems like that would have stopped them from developing at all, not resulted in fully formed chicks that had absorbed the yolk, but did not escape the egg. I could not tell if they were malpositioned. They seemed curled up like the chicks in the illustrations. Maybe that's it, but if so, how would I try to prevent or alleviate that in the future? Regarding ventilation, the incubator has a fan and air holes.

Maybe I will try the dry incubation method - but, where I live, the ambient humidity is often in the single digits. I read something about skull deformations related to dry incubation - is that a risk?

I will try local eggs for the next batch, when I work up my courage, again. Others, though, had successful hatches from eggs shipped from the same seller about the same time as mine.

Just another thought. Sometimes the shell will harden, I mean harden! The chick can't pip. I have had eggs that I tired to put a knife into and it took a lot to do it! So, I started raising my humidity the last three days before lock down. Helps soften the egg shell. Seemed to work better. Instead of mid 30's low 40's, I raise it to mid or high 40's a few days before lock down.
And yes, too low a humidity, anything lower than mid 30's, which is considered dry hatch now, can cause skull problems, and toe problems. Less toes! Don't let the humidity get lower than 25.

 

[Cynthia12]

Day 20 here. No pips yet. Only set 3 of my sizzle hen's eggs. Lots of movements at last candle, so I'm hopeful. of course I stick my face against the window on the incubator every ten seconds. Temp is consistently 100-101 and humidity at 62-64%.

I told my husband that I keep imagining them busting out of their eggs like the kool aid man used to do through brick walls....anyone else remember that? So now everytime I walk to the incubator, he calls out "kooooooooll aaiiiid".

It's going to be a long couple of days. Lol

TO BYC! AND, GOOD LUCK TO YOU. CUTE HUSBAND.

 

[Cynthia12]

Lacy, darling!

 

[sasimpson77]

Day 21 is coming to an end and still nada. maybe tomorrow????? I sure hope so they were consistently at 99 degrees from what I am understanding this could extend there time to hatch can't wait to be able to seriously set up my brooder.

 

[DeannaA]

Today Max, my dog, all of the chickens and I had a shower together. It has been freezing for weeks, now it's warm but pouring. I bought an extention cord connector cover for my heat lamp over my youngins. When it started to pour, I was happy I bought it. Would have helped if I had remembered to put it on.

Burned out the bulb. All fixed now and I had a second shower. 3rd really if I count the one in the the bathroom. I got everything out to paint my toenails. Max had fun playing with everything on my bed. He really enjoyed the bag of cotton pads. He played for ages. I thought it was so cute until I got up and they were everywhere. Silly turkey.

 

[butterflygrooves]

Baby #1 hatched about 15 minutes ago!

 

[JDchicks]

Baby #1 hatched about 15 minutes ago!

Congrats!

 

[Whoops]

Baby #1 hatched about 15 minutes ago!

That's something I love to see!

 

[butterflygrooves]

Ack! Baby #1 rolled another egg and exposed a pip that I couldn't see from above, the pip is at the wrong end, do I need to do anything?

 

[gimmie birdies]

NO!