Jan./Feb. 2014 hatch a long

[JDchicks]

I'm 3/4 for my English Orpingtons that went into lockdown. 3 are out and gorgeous. The 4th I was concerned about it, since before lockdown it had no air cell visible, but was clearly alive and moving. After the 3 chicks hatched and dried, I took the last egg out to give it a quick candle and the chick had died. It was a full term chick, but still had the entire yolk attached and I think without the air cell, she just couldn't get thru the external pip to get air.
I still have 8 Blue Marans in my other incubator and I'm going to set 8 more Blue/ Splash English Orpingtons tomorrow.

Sorry for the little one you lost. Would love to see the babies. Post pics.

 

[TwinArrowsFarm]

x2

for detached air cells, I also stop turning at day 16 instead of 18. And leave in carton upright for hatch, and only candle inside the incubator - without removing it or tiling it side to side. The air cell needs to reattach and heal so be extra gentle about tilting when candling at least for the first 14 days.

Oh okay! Good to know. How long should I wait before I start turning again?

 

[luvmypets]

Also the hens natural instinct to not each or drink can be very strong

 

[Farmer Viola]

Oh okay! Good to know. How long should I wait before I start turning again?

I would give them a 24 hr rest after they arrived, storing them in a cool (ish) room, maybe 65F.

Then the next day, I slowly begin warming them up to 70 - 75 - 80 - 90 over 8-10 hours. I use a space heater with a temperature setting, and a thermometer in the room, with the door closed in a bathroom to warm them up very slowly. putting cold eggs in the incubator can shock them.

then after I set the eggs, I don't turn for another 24-36hrs (for detached air cells only).

My last hatch was all detached, almost all developed, but just 2 ended up hatching. Next hatch, I am going to make an effort to take the lid off the incubator for daily cooling. Because I was so hands-off about not candling and not tilting, they didn't get the amount of cooling they normally would. not saying you have to do this, but something I am going to try...

 

[TwinArrowsFarm]

I would give them a 24 hr rest after they arrived, storing them in a cool (ish) room, maybe 65F.

Then the next day, I slowly begin warming them up to 70 - 75 - 80 - 90 over 8-10 hours. I use a space heater with a temperature setting, and a thermometer in the room, with the door closed in a bathroom to warm them up very slowly. putting cold eggs in the incubator can shock them.

then after I set the eggs, I don't turn for another 24-36hrs (for detached air cells only).

My last hatch was all detached, almost all developed, but just 2 ended up hatching. Next hatch, I am going to make an effort to take the lid off the incubator for daily cooling. Because I was so hands-off about not candling and not tilting, they didn't get the amount of cooling they normally would. not saying you have to do this, but something I am going to try...

That sounds like a great plan to me! I will keep them still for a day or two then start to turn very slowly. Thank you so much for your advice =)

 

[DeannaA]

What is that. Looks expensive. Lol

It's a digital thermostat. Turns the heat on automatically. $15-20 on Ebay.

ok. I put a dish and a small waterer in their with her and I have seen her eating and drinking form each sometimes, she just got excited about my other chickens making a bunch of noise. But do you think, since she went right back on the nest, that she's ok with it still?

They don't usually like to poop in their nest. So letting her out first thing in the morning or in the evening before they all go to bed is usually ok. They take 5-20 minutes to eat, drink and poop. But when mine tried to go broody the first time, she lost interest after 10 days. I've read that can happen a lot the first time when they are young. Good luck.

 

[Cynthia12]

My one little lonely egg didn't make it. Out of so many, I was sure hoping. It had so much fluid in it from the beginning.

 

[chicken pickin]

Ok so I just got 30 silkie eggs in the mail Saturday. Rested them 24 hours. Put them in the incubator Sunday.i decided to candle a couple to check for cracks and floating air cells. Sure enough most of them have an air cell that drifts back and forth when you tilt the egg. This is only my second hatch so I'm not sure what to do. My first hatch I did last month I incubated the eggs laying down. What I'm wondering is if I should incubate with the carton method and maybe stop turning for the next 24-48 hours to give the air cells a chance to reattach but keep them in the incubator?
Some immediate advice would be greatly appreciated! !

I just hatched Silkie eggs for the new years day hatch. I Bought my Silkie eggs from the same seller as you. The chicks I got to hatch are beautiful. I hatched 2 unexpected partridge chicks also, they came from the eggs marked B/B. I wasn't expecting them but turns out they are my 2 favorites of the bunch. I wish you luck and many chicks from this hatch.

If the air cells are rolling I would let them sit upright in the carton unturned for at least 2 days maybe even 3 and then continue to leave them in the egg cartons all the way through lockdown and hatch.

 

[TwinArrowsFarm]

I just hatched Silkie eggs for the new years day hatch. I Bought my Silkie eggs from the same seller as you. The chicks I got to hatch are beautiful. I hatched 2 unexpected partridge chicks also, they came from the eggs marked B/B. I wasn't expecting them but turns out they are my 2 favorites of the bunch. I wish you luck and many chicks from this hatch.

If the air cells are rolling I would let them sit upright in the carton unturned for at least 2 days maybe even 3 and then continue to leave them in the egg cartons all the way through lockdown and hatch.

Oh I think I saw your pictures on the listing!! They are so cute! Especially the partridge chicks!
Thank you for the advice. I'm glad everyone seems to agree on what to do. I put them in the cartons last night and made sure everyone was standing up nice and straight. I cut holes in the bottom for circulation. Crossing my fingers I get a decent hatch! =)

 

[JDchicks]

So I hatched 5 out of 11 chicks during the NYD Hatch-a-long in my incubator. Then my showgirl went broody and hatched out 3 on NYD. Then over the weekend hatched out another and last night again another. So my 5 and her 5, 10 babies total. And she still has a couple eggs underneath her.

So I was talking to my husband about the weather tonight and how glad it will be warmer. Cause I was worried about babies under the hen. His response..."she hatched out a baby last night with the temp being in single digits. Trust her, she got you beat hands down."

Really, grrrrr