Lockdown temp question & feeling like a failure

[JLeigh]

Well, I'm about 1 day from lockdown, and I can't remember how high to bring the temp up to, and the humidity. I know it's been posted 100 times on this forum, but I can't find it anywhere! Would someone please give me those numbers?

I have a Hovabator 1588 (air circulated and digital temp & humidity readouts) and kept the temp at 99.5 (it fluctuates from 99.4 to 99.6 and self-adjusts). I've kept the humidity between 40 - 50% as much as possible, checking at least twice a day. Once it went down to 30% overnight, but was corrected first thing in the morning. I have an auto turner.

It also looks like I'm only going to hatch one keet from my shipped eggs (14). Between the shipping and my inexperience.....of all 14, there were four or five that were infertile. Some were early quitters, and others were late quitters with bloodrings. I had six eggs that seemed viable, but one by one they just died. I'm down to one egg that is alive, and the good news is it's a robust little thing, pulsing and wiggling...

I have the brooder set up with 95 F temp under the lamp, rubber shelf liner with paper towels over it, food/water dishes, marbles for the water. I've sterilized everything (even the stuffed animal I have in there I ran through the washer & dryer with a little bleach). The only things I don't have that I'll need is a mirror and a feather duster for the one keet I might have.

I feel like a keet killer today. What are the main mistakes beginners make? Candling too much? (Guilty) Too much fluctuation with humidity? (Guilty - I think). I certainly don't blame myself for infertile eggs, or very early quitters, but the later quitters I feel really bad about.

Thanks for reading my "rant/vent".

 

[Marty1876]

Shipped eggs are very very tricky. I've had groups where none of 13 ever did more than make a bloodring, and other times I've hatched the entire shipped group. You just never know, so don't feel like a failure or murderer, its just not so.

Now then, do NOT adjust your temperature. DO raise your humidity to 50, and don't let it drop below 30 if you can avoid it. I personally do not raise humidity until first pip most of the time, since I often end up hatching mixed fowl varieties so I watch for internal pip. In your case, with only one variety and a lack of experience, it may be best for you to riase your humidity to 75-80% now, if you expect hatch tomarrow. If in doubt, rasie humidity 2-3 days before expected hatch. Then shut the bator, and only open it to put in water quickly if humidity drops below 75%.

DO STOP THE EGG TURNER 3 days before expected hatch, or immediatly. I just stop mine when its upright by unplugging the turner (take care not to unplug incubator). I add 2 wet sponges to my bator to help keep humidity up. Add your water, then check in 2 hours to see if additional sponges for extra humidity are needed. Keep humidity up (min. 75%) until chick hatches, then into your 95* brooder will be perfect.

Good Luck with the hatch!

 

[JLeigh]

Thanks, Marty, Keep 'bator temp at 99.5 and raise humidity to 75 - 80%. Got it. I think I'm even going to write it down - I'm THAT nervous. And I have a second incubator for hatching with no egg turner.

I've been told by others that shipped eggs are tough, but I thought since I had six that were chugging right along the worst was over. To lose all but one really bums me out. I've had that talk with myself - you've probably had it too, you know, the one where you say, "Snap out of it!"

I do have another question about internal pipping. Can you describe what that looks like? The air sac right now looks to be at a perfect angle, but the keet still looks small to have only 4 days to go to official 28 day hatch date. Is that normal? (that's two questions...)

Thanks for your help, and the encouragement.

 

[PeepsCA]

Internal pipping is when the keet pecks thru the membrane and you can see the shape/shadow of it's head and beak in the air cell area. Sometimes the tip of the beak is right up against the inside of the shell and really obvious. You can usually hear some peeping at this point and see it the head moving too.

70-80% RH for hatching is what I use for lockdown on Guinea eggs, be sure to open the red plug too. And put it in a safe place, those things walk off and leave when you aren't looking, lol.

 

[JLeigh]

Ok. And then when they've pipped internally, I move them to the hatcher at 75-80% humidity. Ok. Good deal. Got it. Thanks Peeps and Marty.
This is NERVE WRACKING.

I don't think I was this nervous when I went into labor with my daughter! But I think when I get through it, I'll say, "Piece 'o cake!!"

 

[daylily]

I am so happy for you Leigh! Even if you get the one! Now I am nervous for you!!!!!!!

You have to post pics!
I am on my second hatch with 7 this time and all are fertile! Let's see how many I can manage to ruin this time! Though I do have a better set up than last time.

 

[JLeigh]

I think you'll be fine, daylily. Round two can't be as tough as round one, right? But I'm nervous as a cat for this one egg I have. All I can do is the best I know how.

I have about 15 fertile eggs from my adult pair - they're veining and the air sacs look perfect. What a difference between the air sacs that were shipped, and the sacs from my gathered eggs. Peeps said there was a big difference, and I'm seeing that now! I'm hopeful all will go well. What incubator did you get?

I think I have someone who will take the lone keet and raise it with her chicks. That would be ideal. I'd love to keep the little one, but gotta think of the keets first - and he/she will be much happier with some chicks.

 

[PeepsCA]

...
I have about 15 fertile eggs from my adult pair - they're veining and the air sacs look perfect. What a difference between the air sacs that were shipped, and the sacs from my gathered eggs. Peeps said there was a big difference, and I'm seeing that now! I'm hopeful all will go well....

That's GREAT news Leigh, and 15 eggs is excellent! And after all you went thru with your first batch of eggs, you SO deserve a great hatch!!!

I'm rootin' for both you guys this time around