January Hatch-a-long 2018

[The Golden Egg5]

what should the humidity be during lock down it is at 66 right know

There are a bunch of different opinions, but I’d shoot for 65% to 75%. I’ve seen many people have success with those.

 

[mrsdee]

ok it is day 18 and it fills like it is taking forever but i was trying to get the humidity up so i put some water in the bator but!!? i have the vent plugs out so the chicks can breath but the humidity is down to 48 i put one plug back in and more water will this work also i know it is lock down but today ive been opening the bator to put water put the egg in the right spot and look for pips will that hurt the chicks i will not open the incubator after today but i still have to candle

The humidity needs to be around 65 or so. After you candle add water in all of your channels and only open one plug hole. Leave the incubator alone, as hard as it is! You don't need to take the eggs out to check for pips. If you see them great, if not, you'll see them zipping eventually. I chose to add water to the channels using a straw and a syringe through the plug hole. That way humidity wasn't released when you open the top. ALWAYS use warm water when adding so it doesn't cause a temp drop. Humidity becomes critically important once chicks start to pip and zip. If the humidity drops while chicks are piped or zipping it could shrink wrap them inside the egg and may cause the chick to die. If you have to open the bator to remove chicks or add water, I used a spray bottle and misted inside the bator and it raised the humidity very quickly. Also adding a wet sponge will help keep humidity up if you need it.

 

[mrsdee]

My broody got off her nest and her eggs were stone cold. She is back to sitting but I don’t know if the eggs have a chance. Help please

If you don't have an incubator then you don't really have any options other than letting her continue to sit and hatch. I'd keep letting her do it until she gives up or the eggs don't hatch.

 

[Scott214]

So I candled my eggs to see if any were starting to position themselves to hatch and all four of my silkies looked in the correct position and more developed. The marans are all black other than the air cell. so I think that’s a good sign and the Wyandottes are developed beautifully but aren’t completely in the correct position to hatch yet like the four silkies. I heard bantams hatch sooner so could I expect these babies a lot sooner? I will take pictures here in a second but does that mean I need to go into lock down sooner? Also one silkie is a scotch tape baby and the crack is on the thicker side of the egg so should I try to take the tape off soon or leave it? Thank you .

 

[chickenmama109]

The humidity needs to be around 65 or so. After you candle add water in all of your channels and only open one plug hole. Leave the incubator alone, as hard as it is! You don't need to take the eggs out to check for pips. If you see them great, if not, you'll see them zipping eventually. I chose to add water to the channels using a straw and a syringe through the plug hole. That way humidity wasn't released when you open the top. ALWAYS use warm water when adding so it doesn't cause a temp drop. Humidity becomes critically important once chicks start to pip and zip. If the humidity drops while chicks are piped or zipping it could shrink wrap them inside the egg and may cause the chick to die. If you have to open the bator to remove chicks or add water, I used a spray bottle and misted inside the bator and it raised the humidity very quickly. Also adding a wet sponge will help keep humidity up if you need it.

thanks so much i have a wet towel in there know and th temp is around 102 is that ok what shold the temp be on lock down it is a still air bator

 

[mrsdee]

thanks so much i have a wet towel in there know and th temp is around 102 is that ok what shold the temp be on lock down it is a still air bator

Has it been 102 the whole time? If so you may get babies earlier than you expect. I think temps in still air bators should be between 100 & 101. Not 100% on that though. I wouldn't mess with the temp if it's been steady the whole time.

 

[chickenmama109]

Has it been 102 the whole time? If so you may get babies earlier than you expect. I think temps in still air bators should be between 100 & 101. Not 100% on that though. I wouldn't mess with the temp if it's been steady the whole time.

For the past couple of weeks it has stashed around 100 101 and my e some times 102 but right know it is 102 I can Chang it if that is to high thanks

 

[Scott214]

These are the silkie eggs and they are nearly completely black all the way.

This is the Wyandottes and they don’t go all the way yet.

And here is my marans. Today was day 14 and they look really developed. My temp has been varying from 100-102 the whole time.

 

[Scott214]

In the silkies you can see a foot and it’s the actual size of a chicks foot it’s crazy to me! Also what should I do about lockdown and also the taped egg?

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

ok it is day 18 and it fills like it is taking forever but i was trying to get the humidity up so i put some water in the bator but!!? i have the vent plugs out so the chicks can breath but the humidity is down to 48 i put one plug back in and more water will this work also i know it is lock down but today ive been opening the bator to put water put the egg in the right spot and look for pips will that hurt the chicks i will not open the incubator after today but i still have to candle

Humidity should go back up once you stop opening.