My first eggs are incubating!!!

[birdnoob]

Congratulations!

It's okay to open the incubator as long as it's reasonably quick. I keep a paper towel under the shelf liner that I hatch my chicks on. When I open the incubator, I put a pipette of water on the paper towel so the humidity bumps right back up very quickly.

In all of my hatches, the first to pip has been the first to hatch once. Don't worry that it's not out yet. Keep an eye on the one that has created a hole, but not zipped further. It might be having problems hatching. If it has problems, it's up to you whether or not to try to help. Usually if they have problems hatching there are reasons.

For the last 4, try candling them. You will get a good idea if they're still alive at that point, so you'll know whether to wait or not. I know someone who unplugged her incubator on day 21, came back a couple of hours later to a really late hatcher. It was even healthy.

Thanks for the reassurance. Here's a pic of the partially unzipped one, and all five in the brooder.

 

[Nabiki]

If that partially zipped one isn't out by now, it's probably safe to pop the top off of the shell. The progress it's made shows that it's ready to hatch. Be aware that if you do help, you might have to cull later if it has problems.

 

[birdnoob]

If that partially zipped one isn't out by now, it's probably safe to pop the top off of the shell. The progress it's made shows that it's ready to hatch. Be aware that if you do help, you might have to cull later if it has problems.

Yeah, no change in either egg. I can't see any movement at all in the poopy one, so I'm worried it may be gone already. The partially unzipped one is still moving it's beak like a snorkel but hasn't made any more progress.

Of the 4 duds, it looks like 2 quit a while ago, one I can't see anything, and one is opaque except for the air cell but no visible body parts or anything.

 

[FloorCandy]

If that partially zipped one isn't out by now, it's probably safe to pop the top off of the shell. The progress it's made shows that it's ready to hatch. Be aware that if you do help, you might have to cull later if it has problems.

Agreed, it looks like it zipped around the center part of the egg, and it probably can’t position itself to continue.

 

[birdnoob]

Agreed, it looks like it zipped around the center part of the egg, and it probably can’t position itself to continue.

I'll take care of it as soon as I eat breakfast. Do you have an opinion on the poopy egg as well? I moved them right next to each other when I took out the 4 to candle.

 

[Nabiki]

I'll take care of it as soon as I eat breakfast. Do you have an opinion on the poopy egg as well? I moved them right next to each other when I took out the 4 to candle.

All three of those look like they need help.

 

[FloorCandy]

I'll take care of it as soon as I eat breakfast. Do you have an opinion on the poopy egg as well? I moved them right next to each other when I took out the 4 to candle.

I’m not sure which one is poopy, but they all look pipped in the wrong spot, so they probably need help. If there’s goo coming out of one, they probably burst their yolk sac and that is what is coming out. Magellan was the same way. If it’s still alive you should get some nutridrench or sugar water in it as soon as it hatches, as it won’t have internal yolk reserves like the rest. Tbh I’ve tried the nutridrench and I think sugar water, a bit of nutridrench, and some feed dust lightly sprinkled in (but not enough to thicken it) is the best formula for success I’ve had with weak chicks.

 

[FloorCandy]

I’m not sure which one is poopy, but they all look pipped in the wrong spot, so they probably need help. If there’s goo coming out of one, they probably burst their yolk sac and that is what is coming out. Magellan was the same way. If it’s still alive you should get some nutridrench or sugar water in it as soon as it hatches, as it won’t have internal yolk reserves like the rest. Tbh I’ve tried the nutridrench and I think sugar water, a bit of nutridrench, and some feed dust lightly sprinkled in (but not enough to thicken it) is the best formula for success I’ve had with weak chicks.

If you keep this bator, I would lock down on day 14 next time, I think the eggs moved as they were positioning. I rarely have this issue in the brinsea, which rocks the eggs, but the nr360 has it more often, I assume because it rolls the eggs. You get some of this with chicks kicking the eggs, but not to the extent I’m seeing with yours. I’ll hatch 60 chicks in the brinsea, and get maybe one, but I’ll hatch 30 in the nr360 and have at least 1 if not 2. 3 in so few eggs is concerning.

 

[birdnoob]

All three of those look like they need help.

I really don't think #3 needs any help, as it's already empty. I haven't taken any shells out of the incubator because I don't want to leave it open longer, nor do I care to open it just to take out shells.

@FloorCandy Unless yolk turns black, its definitely poop that I circled. The goo around it is also the same color as the non-black portions of the ones in the brooder.

 

[Ravenlover]

I really don't think #3 needs any help, as it's already empty. I haven't taken any shells out of the incubator because I don't want to leave it open longer, nor do I care to open it just to take out shells.

@FloorCandy Unless yolk turns black, its definitely poop that I circled. The goo around it is also the same color as the non-black portions of the ones in the brooder.

First poops can be black or green