July Hatch-a-long

[jnjmanning]

I posted this in a thread and didn't get any repsonses, I was hoping someone here could offer some insight:

This is my first hatch out of a homemade incubator that did a really great job at maintaining 99-100 degrees. I had 11 bantam eggs and 13 welsummer eggs.

Lockdown, day 18, started last Thursday. The next day (day 19) 3 of the bantam eggs hatched. Many of the other bantam eggs had pipped, some even zipped half of the egg! Then the next day all the eggs died, except two.

By Monday, day 22, had two bantam eggs that we could see the chicks moving and breathing, but they just wouldn't progress. One had a large hole and the other was completely zipped and just wouldn't hatch. Tonight, day 22 we decided to help them hatch. The membrane was stuck to their eyes and feathers, they couldn't move. We rinsed them off and they have started to improve.

So we decided to open the other bantam eggs that had died. Same thing, the membrane was stuck to them. What happened? The first 18 days I kept the humidity around 30-35 percent, and then in lockdown it's been 72-75 percent.

Also the night we put them in lockdown, even putting hot water in the humidity tray, it took about 10 hours for the temp to get back up to 99. It stayed between 80-90 until it finally got back up to 99.

Now as far as the Welsummer eggs, here it is day 22, we have not seen any pip or movement. I've taken the bantam eggs out, got 5 chicks, two that we helped hatched. What should I do with the welsummer eggs? They are still in the incubator, and when I candled them on day 18 I saw several with very good looking air cells.

It is most certainly a humidity issue. You might need to re-calibrate your hygrometer. I would pip each of the Welsummer eggs and see if you can see movement. Or go to this page and float test to see if any are still alive. You need to make sure you have the water very still and let the eggs settle to see if there is any movement. If you see life get that humidity up and put them back in. If the others were shrink wrapped, its most likely they are also

 

[ceocka]

Well I am hoping to pick up some chicks tomorrow (silkies) after I take the kids to the movies!

 

[Alwayswantchics]

Two of the chicks have rough navels. What should I do? All are still in incubator. Hoping other six will hatch. Today is/was day 21.

 

[Shellz]

Rough navels are fine. Don't worry. They dry up & will become smooth later. Some folks put a little antibiotic on them. I've never bothered & they do fine.

Loving all the broodies all of a sudden! Woo hoo! July 23 can't come soon enough!

 

[jellybellyx6]

Well today is suppose to be hatch day for us. I was sure that when I woke up this morning there would at least one out but not a one has decided to come out. There are several I see in there rocking so maybe some time today. My husband laughed at me yesterday because I was hovering over the incubator a lot yesterday. He said you know they know you are there so they stop moving. It was true I would see them rock when I would first look and then they would stop. I guess a watched egg never hatches.

I just want a good hatch that way I can get my husband to agree to getting more eggs to set this month. I am sure he would anyway but it would be easier if we had a good hatch.

 

[Kristye]

Well today is suppose to be hatch day for us. I was sure that when I woke up this morning there would at least one out but not a one has decided to come out. There are several I see in there rocking so maybe some time today. My husband laughed at me yesterday because I was hovering over the incubator a lot yesterday. He said you know they know you are there so they stop moving. It was true I would see them rock when I would first look and then they would stop. I guess a watched egg never hatches.

I just want a good hatch that way I can get my husband to agree to getting more eggs to set this month. I am sure he would anyway but it would be easier if we had a good hatch.

Good luck I hear chirping in my incubator this morning

 

[Gen9]

Good luck I hear chirping in my incubator this morning

happy for you

 

[monita]

I still have 2 eggs in the hatcher waiting for babies to come out...... come on lil babies!!!!!!!

on another note.... one of my hens decided to go broody yesterday with just 1 egg and the other hen that is in the pen with her decided to climb in the nest and lay an egg on top of the broody hen lol. it was funny to watch. anyway..... I couldn't just let her sit 2 eggs so I took the other hen out and slipped in 6 eggs from the incubator that I had set day before yesterday. so my dates and numbers are +2 I just gave up the care of 6 out of my 20 eggs due on the 22nd. woo hoo. so now I have 22 eggs due on the 22nd.

I just wish I could turn them all over to the hens.... they do such a better job than I do hehe.

 

[sharol]

More thermometer trauma.

Last night I tested my new reptile thermometer and 3 aquarium thermometers with a human (high quality) digital fever thermometer in a glass of 102 degree water. 2 of the aquarium thermometers were right on the money and the reptile one was about a half degree low. OK. right?

I put them in the bator - styro Little Giant with a fan - (held down with zip ties to keep them from jamming the turner). This morning the two aquarium therm agree with my cheapie digital one from Walmart and the reptile one was 3 degrees below the others. I moved it to a different location and it is still low.

Those of you with experience with these things -- Does it make a difference that it is air rather than water? The package says it works in aquariums and terreriums (sp) so it should work equally well in water and air.

I went ahead and put the eggs in because i don't want them too far ahead of the broody hatching the other half of them. It seems to be holding at 100 just fine according to the 3 that agree. STRESS STRESS STRESS.

 

[Shellz]

I still have 2 eggs in the hatcher waiting for babies to come out...... come on lil babies!!!!!!!

on another note.... one of my hens decided to go broody yesterday with just 1 egg and the other hen that is in the pen with her decided to climb in the nest and lay an egg on top of the broody hen lol. it was funny to watch. anyway..... I couldn't just let her sit 2 eggs so I took the other hen out and slipped in 6 eggs from the incubator that I had set day before yesterday. so my dates and numbers are +2 I just gave up the care of 6 out of my 20 eggs due on the 22nd. woo hoo. so now I have 22 eggs due on the 22nd.

I just wish I could turn them all over to the hens.... they do such a better job than I do hehe.

Great stuff! Yes, broodies rule! I tried to get them to go broody weeks ago. No dice. I figured if they don't go broody now, they probably won't this year. 2 weeks later, my younger hen goes broody then her sister the next day! Their broody foster mom last year has yet to go broody. Go fig, but I love them!