New to hatching - Incubator Question

[Khelms829]

@Khelms829, how are your eggs doing? Do you by chance have one of thse that you could measure the shell temp with?
View attachment 2814345View attachment 2814344

Came home from my son’s high school wrestling tournament this evening and found this . Day 20 started at 5:00 pm tonight so it’s a little early but seems fine. I’ve got 1 more that’s already pipping and the others are rolling like crazy but nothing happening yet!

 

[Khelms829]

I would try to keep temp around 99 degrees, 60% humidity should be fine looks like I can see condensation on window of incubator so your humidity should be high enough. I like it around 65% to 75%. To get it higher if needed I use wet sponges in incubator.

Day 20 started at 5:00 pm and this little fellow was born between 7:00 and 7:45 pm… he’s drying out nice and teetering around in there! I’ve got 1 more that’s already pipping!!

 

[Huntmaster]

Day 20 started at 5:00 pm and this little fellow was born between 7:00 and 7:45 pm… he’s drying out nice and teetering around in there! I’ve got 1 more that’s already pipping!!

Glad to see things are going well. Do you have a brooder ready?

 

[Khelms829]

Glad to see things are going well. Do you have a brooder ready?

Yep and it’s perfectly heated to 92 degrees!!! I’ve now got 2 babies… and 3 have pipped…. I’ve got 3 that have not pipped yet. Day 21 starts at 5:00 pm. Do I leave these 2 in there until they have all hatched and dried? They are dried and running around bulldozing the other eggs….we’ve determined these 2 are the barred rocks.

 

[Huntmaster]

I like to remove as soon as possible mostly dry getting them in warm brooder dipping their beaks in water then feed. Sometimes high humidity for lockdown doesn't let them dry fully. As long as you move fast as to not loose all your humidity in incubator I have no problem with shrink-wrapping. I also like to start them out in brooder on towels, Paper towels, dog pea pads, on bottom for a few days before putting them on large wood chips. That way you can sprinkle some chick starter on ground around feeder to get them pecking at it sooner, plus it keeps them from pecking and eating wood chips and causing impacting. I also like to get them chick grit before putting them on wood chips so if they do eat some they can digest it without problems.

 

[Huntmaster]

Yep and it’s perfectly heated to 92 degrees!!! I’ve now got 2 babies… and 3 have pipped…. I’ve got 3 that have not pipped yet. Day 21 starts at 5:00 pm. Do I leave these 2 in there until they have all hatched and dried? They are dried and running around bulldozing the other eggs….we’ve determined these 2 are the barred rocks.

And congratulations on your first hatch and new additions to your chicken family. Incubating is a very rewarding and exciting experience.

 

[Khelms829]

And congratulations on your first hatch and new additions to your chicken family. Incubating is a very rewarding and exciting experience.

I’ve got 3 now!! Should I roll the eggs back over to air cell up when I get these babies out for the brooder?

 

[Huntmaster]

I’ve got 3 now!! Should I roll the eggs back over to air cell up when I get these babies out for the brooder?

Yes you can

 

[Khelms829]

Yes you can

Well all the babies are here!!! We started with 8 in the incubator floor for hatching and lost one of the golden comets (the one with blood coming out of its shell, it started pipping away from its air cell) but the other 7 are all out in the brooder and zooming around like banshees . THANK YOU so much for all your advice it really helped keep me calmer!!

 

[Huntmaster]

Well all the babies are here!!! We started with 8 in the incubator floor for hatching and lost one of the golden comets (the one with blood coming out of its shell, it started pipping away from its air cell) but the other 7 are all out in the brooder and zooming around like banshees . THANK YOU so much for all your advice it really helped keep me calmer!!

Glad to here all went well for you and your hatchlings, 7 of 8 is a very good hatch rate especially for your first. ENJOY YOUR BABIES.