Little Giant Incubation Experiment - Day 21 - Hatch Day!

[scflock]

My second batch I definitely lost one because I opened the bator and humidity dropped. I wouldn't call it totally shrink wrapped, but what happened is the membrane dried out right at the pip hole. When I did the eggtopsy, the entire chick wasn't wrapped, but the dried membrane at the pip hole had stuck to its beak, and it could no longer turn itself to keep working. The next batch was when I left them alone until the hatch was over, and just did the same again. 22/23 and 18/20

 

[AmyLynn2374]

My second batch I definitely lost one because I opened the bator and humidity dropped. I wouldn't call it totally shrink wrapped, but what happened is the membrane dried out right at the pip hole. When I did the eggtopsy, the entire chick wasn't wrapped, but the dried membrane at the pip hole had stuck to its beak, and it could no longer turn itself to keep working. The next batch was when I left them alone until the hatch was over, and just did the same again. 22/23 and 18/20

So it was like sticky chicked at the hole. I think that's a more common result of opening during hatch than true shrinkwrapping. Sticky chick syndrome. Those are good numbers. My last 13/16 and I was extremely happy w/that....lol I did come to the conclusion and I need to do some research on it, but I believe nns have a higher mortality rate in shell and a harder time at hatch. The last 6 of my eggs (after the others had hatched) 5 were nns. three hatched (one had digestive problems that took it's little life a little over a week after hatch,) and the other two never made it out of the shell.

This time I am hoping for at least 30/36 that will be going into lockdown tonight. I have a couple that really look behind that I question if they will make it to hatch and I also have a couple black Japanese bantams in there, which are known for having a fatal allel and 1/4 die in the shell, so if either of those don't make it I know it wasn't my fault...but I am soooo hoping they do.

I'm expecting to see some pips by tomorrow night if everything goes well and some hatchers by Thursday with them finishing up by Friday (their hatch day). Now just to wait and see how accurate my predictions are...lol

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Just an update:

Both my 9200 and 9300 seem to be doing well. They've both been very steady. When I candled on day 7, I had to pitch 7 eggs. 3 from the 9300, which were clear and 4 from the 9200, 3 clear and 1 blood ring. I may candle again tonight or tomorrow to see how everyone is doing. I've been running them both completely dry, and the humidity is staying around 35-37%. I have 1 egg that was brought to me with a crack at the air cell. It was alive and developing well the last time I candled, but the air cell is growing faster than the rest of the eggs (which look great). I sealed it with some nail polish, so I'm anxious to see if its still alive when I check them again. I don't have high hopes for it, but I'm giving it a chance. I've hatched eggs with cracks before, but they weren't started that way. Both times the cracks came from me dropping them onto the wire or onto other eggs. Those eggs got duct tape band aides, and made it. I've never used polish before, so

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Just an update:

Both my 9200 and 9300 seem to be doing well. They've both been very steady. When I candled on day 7, I had to pitch 7 eggs. 3 from the 9300, which were clear and 4 from the 9200, 3 clear and 1 blood ring. I may candle again tonight or tomorrow to see how everyone is doing. I've been running them both completely dry, and the humidity is staying around 35-37%. I have 1 egg that was brought to me with a crack at the air cell. It was alive and developing well the last time I candled, but the air cell is growing faster than the rest of the eggs (which look great). I sealed it with some nail polish, so I'm anxious to see if its still alive when I check them again. I don't have high hopes for it, but I'm giving it a chance. I've hatched eggs with cracks before, but they weren't started that way. Both times the cracks came from me dropping them onto the wire or onto other eggs. Those eggs got duct tape band aides, and made it. I've never used polish before, so

Good luck!!

 

[fiset94]

Just an update:

Both my 9200 and 9300 seem to be doing well. They've both been very steady. When I candled on day 7, I had to pitch 7 eggs. 3 from the 9300, which were clear and 4 from the 9200, 3 clear and 1 blood ring. I may candle again tonight or tomorrow to see how everyone is doing. I've been running them both completely dry, and the humidity is staying around 35-37%. I have 1 egg that was brought to me with a crack at the air cell. It was alive and developing well the last time I candled, but the air cell is growing faster than the rest of the eggs (which look great). I sealed it with some nail polish, so I'm anxious to see if its still alive when I check them again. I don't have high hopes for it, but I'm giving it a chance. I've hatched eggs with cracks before, but they weren't started that way. Both times the cracks came from me dropping them onto the wire or onto other eggs. Those eggs got duct tape band aides, and made it. I've never used polish before, so

How high are you able to get the humidity in the 9300 for lockdown... and are you using the built in thermo.. or did you buy one?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I haven't ever locked down the 9300, so far I've only used it for the first 18 days. It was originally intended for that purpose only, but I came into A LOT of eggs, so I might have to use it for hatching this time. I'll let you know when I get to that point I have no problems getting the humidity to 70-75% in my 9200 though.
And no, I'm not relying on the thermometer that's on the 9300. I'm using a Brinsea Spot Check to read temp. The temp is set at 106.3F to achieve an actual 101.5. If I'd have relied on the incubators thermometer to tell me temp, my eggs would be doomed.

And thanks AmyLynn!

 

[fiset94]

okay.. so I placed a humidifier in the room with a small space heater running . I've noticed that it gets quite cool in there with it running so to compensate I have added a bit of heat. the incubators are in the basement.

My Plan:


Run the Humidifier and the space heater during the day- monitoring the temp and humidity

At night.. shut off the space heater and check on them periodically for temp and humidity.

Keep all trays filled- and 2 sponges inside.

So far I have been able to get the humidity to 65-70 with these new things in place... Let's hope that once I add the eggs tomorrow... it will stay the same!!

 

[cochicken]

Strangely this morning I checked the temp on one of my thermometers and saw a max rise of 102. Its a probe thermometer that I have through the vent hole. It has a resettable max and min button so I reset it every night before bed.
I was thinking that because I added a splash of water last night, maybe that caused the rise. I candled a few and they appear fine. My other thermometers didn't read that high, so I'm not really sure anyway.
Tomorrow is lockdown for me. I'll add some water to up the humidity, and keep a close eye on all thermometers. Thank goodness I'm off work this week!

Did you check the eggs? I forgot what day you are on.

Anytime you add water it is important that it is also at the right temperature. I usually shoot for 102 df. Otherwise the incubator sees a lower temp when you open it up and now has the added thermal mass of the new water added to bring up to temp. This will always make the temp overshoot on the high side. Everything is a balancing act and usually controlled by a not too accurate thermostat. Digital controllers are better as they don't have to mechanically move a contact to open up. All mechanical thermostats move around periodically further than the normal cycling Because they actually stick slightly.

 

[lazy gardener]

Anytime you add water it is important that it is also at the right temperature. I usually shoot for 102 df. Otherwise the incubator sees a lower temp when you open it up and now has the added thermal mass of the new water added to bring up to temp. This will always make the temp overshoot on the high side. Everything is a balancing act and usually controlled by a not too accurate thermostat. Digital controllers are better as they don't have to mechanically move a contact to open up. All mechanical thermostats move around periodically further than the normal cycling Because they actually stick slightly.

I wonder if that's why my temps go wonky during lock down. I don't worry about water temp when adding water. I just add hot tap water, figuring that I've just opened the bator to get it in, so... hot is good! No problems with that.

 

[WalnutHill]

okay.. so I placed a humidifier in the room with a small space heater running . I've noticed that it gets quite cool in there with it running so to compensate I have added a bit of heat. the incubators are in the basement.

My Plan:


Run the Humidifier and the space heater during the day- monitoring the temp and humidity

At night.. shut off the space heater and check on them periodically for temp and humidity.

Keep all trays filled- and 2 sponges inside.

So far I have been able to get the humidity to 65-70 with these new things in place... Let's hope that once I add the eggs tomorrow... it will stay the same!!

You haven't set your eggs, and you are trying to hit 65-70% humidity? Please don't.

Your basement should have some relative humidity to work with. Try setting the eggs without extra water, without the humidifier. Hold off on setting eggs until you again have a stable temperature in the incubator. If your basement is below 65, you may need that space heater.

Too much humidity through incubation is not good. 40% is a safe starting number, and it shouldn't take heroic measures to achieve.