Lockdown on my first hatch!!!

[chantels1]

It looks ok to me. I bet they are fine, just resting! . Did you see any internal pips?

 

[rsb911411]

One has and I could see it breathing. There may have been one or two more but i didn't see them moving at all.

 

[chantels1]

Don't give up til day 26!!!

 

[chantels1]

I keep checking back. Has #3 externally pipped yet?

 

[rsb911411]

No still nothing. I checked it again and it was still breathing but no signs of life in the others. I think my second one had one splayed leg and curled toes so I just taped it up like I have seen to do for splayed legs and curled toes on here. Hopefully it will help.

 

[chantels1]

It's early yet. Some don't get strength right away and walk funny for a day or so.

Since we have the same incubator, U would suggest a few things for the next hatch.

1. keep a towel around the base. It will prevent a lot of temp fluctuations.
2. Be sure to get a good thermometer/hygrometer. Mine the hygrometer is on an outdoor sensor. Most track indoor humidity and the probe is strictly outdoor temp.
3. Use a little duct tape to cover the gap created by the probe wire for the thermometer/hygrometer.

(4 this is in parentesis because it's theory. Don't candle or handle the eggs too often as it introduces bacteria). With that said, I will tell you I obsess like these are my own children and candle pretty much daily. I greatly reduced candling during lockdown. Only candling when there are no external pips it when I have to remove a chick from the bator for egg bowling..

5. I kept humidity around 30% for first 18 days. sometimes it dropped down to 10, but a 1/4 cup of steaming water fixed it. Sometimes it got up to 65%, but would slowly drop. No worries.

You mentioned having humidity issue at lockdown. Next time add a sponge in the very botyom., Or be sure the bottom is covered with a thin layer of water. The thin layer of water across the whole bottom (I had to check it with a flashlight from behind) would give me 70% humidity. If you can't get that in Texas add a sponge

Lastly, try not to over think things. Your incubator could have run a bit cool. Hoping you have more babies tomorrow!!!

 

[rsb911411]

It's early yet. Some don't get strength right away and walk funny for a day or so.

Since we have the same incubator, U would suggest a few things for the next hatch.

1. keep a towel around the base. It will prevent a lot of temp fluctuations.
2. Be sure to get a good thermometer/hygrometer. Mine the hygrometer is on an outdoor sensor. Most track indoor humidity and the probe is strictly outdoor temp.
3. Use a little duct tape to cover the gap created by the probe wire for the thermometer/hygrometer.

(4 this is in parentesis because it's theory. Don't candle or handle the eggs too often as it introduces bacteria). With that said, I will tell you I obsess like these are my own children and candle pretty much daily. I greatly reduced candling during lockdown. Only candling when there are no external pips it when I have to remove a chick from the bator for egg bowling..

5. I kept humidity around 30% for first 18 days. sometimes it dropped down to 10, but a 1/4 cup of steaming water fixed it. Sometimes it got up to 65%, but would slowly drop. No worries.

You mentioned having humidity issue at lockdown. Next time add a sponge in the very botyom., Or be sure the bottom is covered with a thin layer of water. The thin layer of water across the whole bottom (I had to check it with a flashlight from behind) would give me 70% humidity. If you can't get that in Texas add a sponge

Lastly, try not to over think things. Your incubator could have run a bit cool. Hoping you have more babies tomorrow!!!

I am at work again today, so I won't be able to check on them until I get home tonight. I checked on the chick I think has a splayed leg and curled toes and the tape had come off the toes and stuck to him so I had to take it off. I also don't think I taped its legs close enough together because one is still partially out to the side and it can't walk. I will try to fix it when I get home tonight. I am hoping to also have another chick waiting for me! I don't have a lot of hope for the other ones, but I would more than love to be proven wrong!

I did have a lot more issues with the incubator than I anticipated because I had not had any before hatch time. The temp kept fluctuating as well as the humidity. I found the temp at 101.8 at one point and then down to 95.5 at another. The humidity was pretty all over the place, too, but I think it is because I don't have an outside sensor like you have, which I didn't think about. I have one for the temp, but I guess I thought it read humidity, too. After this hatch is over, I will still consider it a success because I did learn A LOT from it and was able to successfully hatch 2-3 chicks! I have some button quail eggs I will try to hatch next time. Hopefully I will be able to use your advice and improve my hatch rate.

One thing I did notice about the temp was it was cooler when the sensor was on the bottom try than it was when I had it in the air in the middle. Could this have been because I had about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom? (I am getting the feeling having that much water also led to some of my issues.)

Thank you for your help and encouragement through this whole thing. I did not expect it to be as stressful as this! Lol! It felt like I was waiting on my own baby in the end! But it was easier having someone to relate to and go through the experience with, especially for a first hatch.

 

[chantels1]

I am at work again today, so I won't be able to check on them until I get home tonight. I checked on the chick I think has a splayed leg and curled toes and the tape had come off the toes and stuck to him so I had to take it off. I also don't think I taped its legs close enough together because one is still partially out to the side and it can't walk. I will try to fix it when I get home tonight. I am hoping to also have another chick waiting for me! I don't have a lot of hope for the other ones, but I would more than love to be proven wrong!

I did have a lot more issues with the incubator than I anticipated because I had not had any before hatch time. The temp kept fluctuating as well as the humidity. I found the temp at 101.8 at one point and then down to 95.5 at another. The humidity was pretty all over the place, too, but I think it is because I don't have an outside sensor like you have, which I didn't think about. I have one for the temp, but I guess I thought it read humidity, too. After this hatch is over, I will still consider it a success because I did learn A LOT from it and was able to successfully hatch 2-3 chicks! I have some button quail eggs I will try to hatch next time. Hopefully I will be able to use your advice and improve my hatch rate.

One thing I did notice about the temp was it was cooler when the sensor was on the bottom try than it was when I had it in the air in the middle. Could this have been because I had about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom? (I am getting the feeling having that much water also led to some of my issues.)

Thank you for your help and encouragement through this whole thing. I did not expect it to be as stressful as this! Lol! It felt like I was waiting on my own baby in the end! But it was easier having someone to relate to and go through the experience with, especially for a first hatch.

I had temps do that as well, but not long enough for the eggs to change temp. Don't worry about that.

I did notice the temp took longer to stabilize when I took out the top tray. Heat rises, , so it takes longer for the fan to circulate the heat all around. Having a towel wrapped around it will help I think.

Also consider the eggs you put in. How old were they? I numbered my eggs as they were laid so I knew which one was oldest. The one egg that died before hatch was 7 days old before going into the bator. All of the eggs came from one pullet. So her quality of eggs are good. I don't know about your eggs.

Another tip for dplsyed legs is to put the chick in a teacup. It makes their legs closer. I have used both the tape & teacup. Band-Aids work great too. Is the curled foot better today? If not tape it again tonight.

Still wishing you some luck! I hope you get more to hatch!

 

[chantels1]

I just re-read your first post. You lost 5 eggs out of 12 before lock down and may only get 2 hatched. Not a good ratio. Definitely a big learning curve. Did the eggs start to develop and die? We're they infertile?

What was your humidity in the early days?

I would guess it's either a temp issue from not calibrating, but could be an egg quality issue.

Your next hatch will probably go better!

 

[rsb911411]

I agree the hatch rate is horrible, but I am glad I have at least two that have made it so far. I was planning on trying to sell them, but I don't know if I can after what we have been through!

Four of the eggs were not fertile. One had started developing but stopped. It was the first eggs of a new quad of silkies I had gotten a month or two before so I expected some interfile eggs. If I am able to get my broody hen off the nest then I will hopefully get some more eggs to try again. Then again, I may just leave the hens to it since I am sure they will do a better job than me and I will just stick to my button eggs.

I will be making some changes and improvements for the next hatch, so I am looking forward to trying again.