Losing confidence in hatching, 2nd attempt day 1.

[Backyardmummy]

Hi all, i'm a newbie to this and must say what a great website this is!!!

I have a hovabator, still air with auto egg turner. My last batch didn't work

I feel like a chick murderer, i was checking them everyday was becoming rather obsessed with it! Anyway they got to day 25 and still no hatch! Arrgh this was really doing my head in. But many were still alive so i couldn't bring myself to scrapping them! I opened one up which i thought was dead and bugger was still alive, didn't break the membrane but membrane was dried out. Is it meant to be like this? So at this point i then realised a vent plug was missing!! Arggghhhh children! Would this have affected the humidity levels? Also, the temperature is so hard to maintain and steady i live in a place that gets cold at night and warm during the day, since it's summer here the room temp rises to 25-30 celcius during the day. Some of the unhatched dead chicks were fully formed, others a bit small. You will probably agree the temp fluctuations sometimes at night down to 95 f and day time when i get home from work anywhere up to 104!!! would not help my hatchability.

I would love to hear some success stories where people were convinced they wouldn't get a hatch! Anything to keep me positive for this time around lol.

Also day 1 today and the temp has already gone up to 104f!!! Anyway i'm trying my best to regulate the temp and going to take a "whatever" attitude and not become stressed about.

Thank you in advance for your help and stories., x

 

[gamebirdsonly]

First Welcome to BYC.

All I can say keep your chin up and keep at it. I have made same mistake with craking egg and chick still alive it sucks. but just have to put behind you and keep trying. I wish you luck and on your second try.

 

[IggiMom]

It is hard to maintain the temperature and the humidity when it fluctuates so much. I wonder if another incubator would not do better for you?

I have a Little Giant and also a 1588 Genesis. The Genesis holds a much steadier temp even with fluctuating room temps. There might well be others that do even better, I don't know.

I do ok with the Little Giant, but I have a room that does not have such fluctuating temps. Winter is actually easier (except right now when I worry about the power going off all the time because of the incessant snow), because in winter I have my little heater on and it stays steadier in here.

Incubating is a lot of fun when it goes well, not so much when it doesn't.

Good luck.

Catherine

 

[srsmith69]

Couple of things mght help. First, install a recycled computer fan in your bator to circulate the air. There are posts on here to describe how. It's really pretty easy. Second, if you have space in the bator, put some closed containers of water in there for a heat sink. This extra water will absorb heat when the temp goes up and release the heat as the temp cools. Both of these things will help to moderate the temps.

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

I found hatching in the winter when the heater keeps the house temperature pretty stable is much easier. I sold my LG and made my on incubator. I keep it in a bathroom with no windows and the door shut. No drafts and a towel on one side. Works like a charm. Also I have a computer fan in there. I believe it helps keep the temperature more stable with no hot and cold spots in the incubator. Good luck next time.

 

[bockbock2008]

Once you get the hovabator regulated it should stay pretty level. Since you are only on day 1 you have a better opportunity to get your bator tuned in. Find somewher that is not drafty or in the sun coming in the window. Preferably an inside wall. If you have a thermometer with a lead to measure outside temps, fill a ziplock baggie about 1/3 full of water, roll it up and tape it. Then put the end of the lead into the "homemade water wiggler" and put that into your incubator with the actual thermometer unit outside. The air temps fluctuate alot more than the actual inside temperature of the egg and the baggie of water replicates the inside fo the egg temp. Days 1-18 are the easiest to keep humidity levels in check, at least here. I keep mine around 35 and then on day 18 take the turner out and just lay the eggs on their side on a paper towl to prevent some of the mess. Keep both top holes covered or plugged and make sure that BOTH trays inthe bottom of the incuabator are filled with water. Your humidity should be around 70%. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT open the lid for at least 4 days. Sometimes you will want to help or can't wait but please do. If there is a pip with a healthy chick and the correct humidity he will make it out. Wait until all of the chicks have come out before you open the lid. They can go the first 24 or so hours without food and water so there is no need to rush them out for a drink and risk shrinkwrapping the others because the humidity level dipped too low. Hope some of this helps.

 

[Backyardmummy]

Thank you for your replies... Shrinkwrapped is exactly what it looked like when i opened them up on day 25.

Day 4 now, bought $17 (aussie dollar) thermometre/hygrometer with probe off ebay and the temp reads 25f less than what the mercury thermometre one that lays on top of the eggs. Also the humidity is ready at 65%, so i thought the digital thermometre would be more accurate so i spiked the temp up to a point where it would not turn up anymore and the digital one only got to 92f, i thought this is not right so i turned it back down. Meanwhile the mercury was reading 110 at this point!! So today i went and bought an expensive one from a National Geographic Shop and it's reading is pretty much inline with the mercury themometre! I hope that 1/2 or so hour of 110F didn't kill them!

Just wait and see now.