May hatch-a-long

[Zinjifrah]

End of day three resting undisturbed in the incubator, and I just candled to check air pockets. I've got a lot of saddles, but none that looked fully broken loose. Tomorrow morning I start turning. I'll be doing a moderate turn for those that have saddled pockets, but I do an upright turn on all my eggs anyway, so now it's just a wait for day ten to see if there's any activity.


Biggest problem I have is trying to keep humidity down. Using an incubator designed for reptiles, it holds in humidity very well - having 22 eggs inside means high humidity. I'm running it completely dry, with a dry sponge inside to soak up moisture, and still have to open the door every so often to pull moist air out.

 

[chantels1]

End of day three resting undisturbed in the incubator, and I just candled to check air pockets. I've got a lot of saddles, but none that looked fully broken loose. Tomorrow morning I start turning. I'll be doing a moderate turn for those that have saddled pockets, but I do an upright turn on all my eggs anyway, so now it's just a wait for day ten to see if there's any activity.


Biggest problem I have is trying to keep humidity down. Using an incubator designed for reptiles, it holds in humidity very well - having 22 eggs inside means high humidity. I'm running it completely dry, with a dry sponge inside to soak up moisture, and still have to open the door every so often to pull moist air out.

Can you use a small prncil or a nail to keep a crack in the lid to release humidity, up temp a tad if you do.

 

[chantels1]

Update: Went to an awards banquet for my kids, and came home to 2 external pips plus the one I made a safety hole is still breathing. I think we are on track. 6 eggs and 3 with external pips now. At least 1 with internal and the other two were the last 2 added to the bator a day late, so they are not quite due to pip yet. . I doubt I will sleep tonight!. Didn't sleep much last night, so there is a chance I sleep through... Doubtful though. I am too excited!

I think the chick I created the safety hole with us trying to zip. It has changed position in the egg. Beak was in 2o'clock position when I helped it, but it's now near the 11 o'clock position. .

 

[Zinjifrah]

Can you use a small prncil or a nail to keep a crack in the lid to release humidity, up temp a tad if you do.

Unfortunately, no. It's a cabinet incubator, with a latching door - which is very nice, in that the door isn't coming open by accident, but there's no way to prop it open a little without losing all of the heat as well. it does have other benefits - like an LED light inside that provides an excellent view of the contents, and shelves that are perfect for keeping eggs upright during turning, however! I've added another dry sponge, and it seems to be maintaining about 45% now.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Well... The pip I saw @ 9:30 this morning hasn't changed....
Another one pipped around 1:30 this afternoon and hatched by 6:30! Woo hoo! My first ever hatch. View attachment 1373096 Here's hoping that there's brothers and sisters tomorrow.

CONGRATS ON YOUR FIRST HATCHLING!!!

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

The baby is still. I think s/he's gone. :'( I see yolk so I am not opening further in the off chance the baby is still resting. Either the baby progresses from this point, or not...but I think they are gone...the vessels have receded from the membrane and there is no movement. I see a leg, yolk and can't make out the rest...I think they are malpositioned... So so sad!

UPDATE: The little one didn't make it. I did an eggtopsy and sure enough, the poor little one's head was under her leg. It was a little blue female, just as I had hoped for. Poor little girl. She had drank her albumin and was set to begin yolk resorption but just couldn't get her beak positioned against the membrane. So sad.

Now, I am trying to focus onward and forward. My half-dozen Jubilee Orpingtons are going into lockdown in 4 days! They are doing beautifully so far!

 

[chickenmama109]

Maybe make a 'foal pen' for her? I'm not sure what it would be called for chickens. The concept is a way to give foal feed to young horses - or calves. A pen with a small door, that they can fit through to get inside, but the adults can't get into. That way, the larger animals don't eat all the foal's food. If the others are pushing her off the nest, I was thinking - put a board across the top of the nest, so that she, being smaller, can get in just fine, but the larger birds won't fit easily and are more likely to go find another nest to use. Kind of like the 'safety area' for chicks, where there's a hole small enough they can get through but an adult can't, in case they need to escape being picked on.

Thanks I will try that

 

[chickenmama109]

So since my d,uccle is broody I think I might just put the chicks I just hatched under her and let her raise them how long do I wait before putting the chicks under her and I’m going to be putting her in the garage in a broody should I take her out and let the flock see her and stuff or will that break her

 

[Guido]

Lesson of the day, not all candled movement is equal...
One egg leaked last night, abnormal coloured liquid, smelt bad. Out it came, looks like a saw black liquid sloshing around in the egg and not actual movement. Although i did have my suspicions about this one.

I have 3 left, in work at the moment so can't wait to get home to check.

 

[Mraya]

The baby is still. I think s/he's gone. :'( I see yolk so I am not opening further in the off chance the baby is still resting. Either the baby progresses from this point, or not...but I think they are gone...the vessels have receded from the membrane and there is no movement. I see a leg, yolk and can't make out the rest...I think they are malpositioned... So so sad!

UPDATE: The little one didn't make it. I did an eggtopsy and sure enough, the poor little one's head was under her leg. It was a little blue female, just as I had hoped for. Poor little girl. She had drank her albumin and was set to begin yolk resorption but just couldn't get her beak positioned against the membrane. So sad.

Now, I am trying to focus onward and forward. My half-dozen Jubilee Orpingtons are going into lockdown in 4 days! They are doing beautifully so far!

Sorry you lost you little chick.