New at Hatching and need some Tempature advice

[AngelaPenny]

Okay, so I locked down with 9 viable eggs.

They started pipping on day 21, I had 3 pip, one was at the wrong end. After 16 hours of no progress from the one at the wrong end I make the decision to help.

The second pipped egg hatched with no issues. You can watch it here,

Here's where it got difficult. I had one zipping, when one of the previously hatched sat on the pipped hole, and smothered it. I had a 4th pip and not make it any further. I believe that openening the incubator to help had resulted in a shrinkwrapped chick.

It was a terrible hatch, only 2 survived.

I did some eggtopsies, and discovered that 2 eggs stopped forming after lockdown, they had small air cells .

I had 3 that I float tested on Day 22, they were all fully formed but didn't pip and hatch, and one of those was a bad egg. You can read about those eggs here: http://eggcartonlabels.blogspot.com/2012/02/bad-egg-in-incubator-ticking-time-bomb.html

I am trying again with a dry incubation this time. And I will not open the incubator, at all, until hatching is complete. By saving one, I believe I compromised the others. It was a tough lesson to learn, but I fully understand now.

Here are my beautiful little twins at about 11 and 12 hours old

 

[Wjeffgriggs]

Very cool video, thanks for sharing and congratulations. This is not easy. This started with me telling my wife I am going to try and hatch a few of the eggs what happens happens no big deal. About day 5 it all changed, I will feel bad about any that do not make it on the account of me. This is totally stressful and I do not think I will be doing it again.

Hopefully mine hatch while I am at work. I am sure if they don't I will be watching stressed and wanting to intervene also.