My first Hatch!

[Zunigorilla]

I have a few concerns, this is my first hatch and I'm using an incubator. I had two eggs pip and zip right out and I left them in the bator for about 12 hours and removed them. I removed them because I had a rotten egg burst on day 15 and I was reading that they can develop bacteria from that so I thought it was a safe way to go. Now I have about 30 eggs that have not pipped yet. today is day 22, should I start freaking out? I'm so anxious and worried I hurt them by opening the bator.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have a few concerns, this is my first hatch and I'm using an incubator. I had two eggs pip and zip right out and I left them in the bator for about 12 hours and removed them. I removed them because I had a rotten egg burst on day 15 and I was reading that they can develop bacteria from that so I thought it was a safe way to go. Now I have about 30 eggs that have not pipped yet. today is day 22, should I start freaking out? I'm so anxious and worried I hurt them by opening the bator.

First if they aren't even pipped opening the bator isn't going to do a darn thing to them. Second even when they are pipped, if you have your humidity up 65%+ ( I use 75%) the chance that opening the bator is going to be their demise is still slim. I open my bator frequently during hatch, (I remove my chicks as they hatch, I remove shells and I'll even flip over an egg that has pipped but been knocked where I can't see it. And I assist IF it is neccessary.) I have never lost a chick that has pipped. NEVER. I'm not saying it's not possible...it is. More likely you'll end up with a stuck glued chick by opening when there's pipping and not enough humidity. So, if there is a problem, you can be at ease that you did not do it by opening the bator. Especially 30 eggs. Like I said, it's possible, during a pip, but slim.

Now, the two that hatched. If they were bantams or smaller eggs, there's a possibility that's why they have hatched first. There's also a possibliity that they might have been sitting in a "hot spot" during incubation. There's a possibility that there is something wrong. But I wouldn't get oto upset just yet.
If your temps in the majority of the bator were lower (and the two happened to be in a warmer spot) it could mean the others would be delayed.

The two that hatched-were they wet and sticky or the normal wet/damp easy to fluff chicks? What was your humidity during the first 17 days and what is your humidity now?

 

[Zunigorilla]

They were damp easy to dry. My humidity was between 60-75. Its at 70 right now

 

[AmyLynn2374]

They were damp easy to dry. My humidity was between 60-75. Its at 70 right now

Your humidity was 60-75% during the first 17 days?

 

[Zunigorilla]

Yes.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Yes.

Oh my!!!! What kind of incubator are you using? 60-75% during the first 17 days is extremely high.

 

[Zunigorilla]

10300 curculated air incubator by little giant

 

[AmyLynn2374]

10300 curculated air incubator by little giant

I don't want to alarm you. But, humidity levels at that high days 1-17 (if your hygrometer is accurate) are known to compromise hatches. When humidity is that high it doesn't let the egg loose a proper amount of moisture. In turn the air cells do not grow like they need to for a successful hatch. This leaves extra room for the chicks to grow and they become too big and are unable to turn at hatch time to actually hatch. It also can drown chicks because that extra moisture in the egg can flood the air cell when the chick internally pips.

I'm still

for you, but if they do not hatch I encourage you to do the eggtopsies so that you can determine if that is the case.

I have a blog post for you that will help explain the humidity thing if you are interested. I use this method and swear by it especially for the styrofoam bators. It's my belief that if you have accurate thermometers/hygrometers and a bator that hold a steady temp, this method is the way to go. It assures that you are working with your eggs to monitor their humidity needs.
http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

 

[Zunigorilla]

Thank you for all your help Amy.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you for all your help Amy.

You're welcome. I still hope you see more.