My first incubating experience

[gingerly1983]

The larger ones didn't have any air cells? That's weird. Were they developing to begin with? Just hang in there.

First time hatches can be tough, but you learn from your mistakes, do a ton of research on here, and know what to do differently the next go-round. I hope at least your silkies make it.

 

[mlaff]

The larger ones didn't have any air cells?  That's weird.  Were they developing to begin with? Just hang in there.    First time hatches can be tough, but you learn from your mistakes, do a ton of research on here, and know what to do differently the next go-round.  I hope at least your silkies make it. 

They did have air cells and are totally dark (well before lockdown). I just checked and some of them do still have air cells. The silkie eggs are now totally dark except for the air cell. I'm giving it until day 25 and then giving up on them. I'm also going to look into a new incubator ( I have a still air farm innovator). I want at least want a circulated air one.

 

[mrshaggie810]

I would hold out until day 26, just to be sure...is there any way that you miscalculated days? What was your temp? A slightly lower temp can make your hatch late I've read.

 

[mlaff]

The temp stayed at 101 for the most part. I have still air and have read it had to be higher than circulated air. The days are right on. I put them on my calendar . We had an issue w the temp due to it spiked once. But even after that they were still moving afterwards. Ill wait until day 26 but so far it isn't looking good.

 

[mlaff]

Ok, none of my eggs hatched. Very disappointing but I'm trying again. My new eggs are coming Sat and I have a couple of questions. Is it true you if the egg starts rocking in the incubator it has internally pipped? I saw that on here somewhere. Next is I just have a farm innovators incubator that is still air. Would you recommend that I get the fan kit and the turning tray? Anymore suggestions on how to make my next one more successful would be greatly appreciated. I have 10 eggs being shipped on Thursday and debating on having more shipped just to help my odds. I have decided not to candle this time until at least day 5. I do have a different thermometer and humidity gage.

 

[salahzantout]

its a sad story , i hope mine get a better chance to live since a a day ago the temperature went wild ( 104F) i might find out on the 15th day wether things are on track or not. I do not want to wait 21 days or so for nothing !

A fan kit is ofcourse better, its even better if you direct the flow towards the lamp, i have my home made incubator and worked much better after installing a fan, it keeps the temp stable and you would not recognize any fluctuations, it would also be constant at all levels inside, recently i only worry about humidity...

 

[ogr8bearded1]

I've only done incubating twice so far. My results were 8/12 hatched (one died hatching though) and 4/12 hatched. Both times at least 3 eggs had been moving during lockdown that never hatched for some reason. The 2nd batch that gave me 4/12 was done with an autoturner. Not only did I have half as many hatch, but those 4 chicks are much much weaker than the ones I hand turned 3 times a day. It may be a pain to hand turn, but if I'm going to have half as many hatch with an autoturner I'll hand turn from now on. All my eggs are coming from 2 barred rock hens I bought as chicks last year (10 chicks yielded 7 roos and 3 pullets. lost one pullet right when the hens starting laying.)

If I'm lucky I should have 6 pullets I think, though only sure about 5 so far. Good luck with your next batch and hopefully in a few weeks you'll have a bunch of little chicks running around.

 

[mlaff]

Lol I already have chicks running around. 8 to be exact. I've been getting them from breeders. I just wish I could get some to hatch myself. My boss did it for me last year and she had 5/18 hatch. Lol she didn't check humidity or anything. Guess I just have bad luck. I will try with the fan kit this time. Turning them 3 times a day wasn't bad for me since I am just a stay at home mom and a full time student right now. I was thinking of ordering more but worry none would hatch since I have 10+ coming and adding more may just make a bigger disappointment.

 

[mlaff]

I figured out what happened to my last batch of eggs. The humidity was way too high. My gauge was way off and all of them drowned when trying to hatch. I have bought another one and learned that while it said it was 65% it was way off. I filled one water container last night for my new batch and my new one said 55% and the old one read 23%. I have also added a forced air kit to the incubator.its amazing in how much it has helped stabilize the temp without much of a fuss. Loving the forced air fan. Now is day 1 of incubating my new eggs and hopefully in 21 days I will have new frizzled naked necks

 

[ogr8bearded1]

good luck with the batch and keep us posted on the progress!