Okay I'm ready to be yelled at lol what did I do wrong?

[FowlWitch]

Glad to see there's still hope for the little one

Yeah, this seller sounds sketchy. I wouldn't buy from him again. We already saw that poor little external gut chick, and these ones that aren't even fully developed at day 21. I'm not sure how much a 12 hr lack of heat would stunt them, but still...

Yeah, I agree. I've had nothing but issues from this guy poor babies. I think this one might make it if I'm very careful.

 

[LittleMaiden]

Hoping for the best for your little chicks

 

[DancingCrow]

What kind of chicks were these, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Ah yeah Little Giant incubator is still, then, because it doesn't have a fan in it. That would make sense why I have to turn it up so high to get the right temps; I thought it was a flaw in the heater

I wouldn't turn it up in the Little Giant incubator since it's used during lockdown only, at that stage in their development they can handle lower temps and I wouldn't risk raising the temp even if it's a still air knowing that Little Giant is prone to heat spikes! Don't worry too much about raising the temp up to where a still air should be, like I said they are fine with lower temps when nearing hatch date.

 

[FowlWitch]

I wouldn't turn it up in the Little Giant incubator since it's used during lockdown only, at that stage in their development they can handle lower temps and I wouldn't risk raising the temp even if it's a still air knowing that Little Giant is prone to heat spikes! Don't worry too much about raising the temp up to where a still air should be, like I said they are fine with lower temps when nearing hatch date.

See, that's what I thought. I saw somebody on BYC (a veteran, but I forget who or where) said they lower to 98F during lockdown. I can't imagine a difference of 1.5 degrees would have stunted these guys so badly.

 

[FowlWitch]

What kind of chicks were these, if you don't mind me asking?

One is a blue laced red wyandottes and the other is a Svart Hona. The only other Svart Hona from this batch that made it past day 14 failed a few days ago. I did an eggtopsy and it had a severe birth defect. I'm not having the best time with these eggs tbh.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

One is a blue laced red wyandottes and the other is a Svart Hona. The only other Svart Hona from this batch that made it past day 14 failed a few days ago. I did an eggtopsy and it had a severe birth defect. I'm not having the best time with these eggs tbh.

Sorry it’s been so difficult! I think that you are actually using common BYC practices of incubation (aside from the power outage), but it took a few posts to get all of the info... I’ve only tried shipped eggs once and that didn’t go very well - there seems to be a lot of luck and skill combined in successful incubation of shipped eggs. Hope that your chick makes it!

 

[Chickassan]

Oh god no, that thing comes preset.
You only have to position the probe correctly and remove that stupid plastic sheet. Once you do all that you get a comparison thermometer/hydrometer set in on the same level as your probe "it should be at the higest point of your eggs". You compare both readings and then fiddle with the LG if you have to.
They aren't bad incubators they just need proper first time setup..
And in anybody's defense, the stuff you need to do to make it work right isn't in the manual nor do they mention that plastic sheet is pretty much a guarenteed poor hatch if you leave it on.

See, that's what I thought. I saw somebody on BYC (a veteran, but I forget who or where) said they lower to 98F during lockdown. I can't imagine a difference of 1.5 degrees would have stunted these guys so badly.

 

[FowlWitch]

Oh god no, that thing comes preset.
You only have to position the probe correctly and remove that stupid plastic sheet. Once you do all that you get a comparison thermometer/hydrometer set in on the same level as your probe "it should be at the higest point of your eggs". You compare both readings and then fiddle with the LG if you have to.
They aren't bad incubators they just need proper first time setup..
And in anybody's defense, the stuff you need to do to make it work right isn't in the manual nor do they mention that plastic sheet is pretty much a guarenteed poor hatch if you leave it on.

I'm going to take a look at it and see if I can figure it out, then. Thank you for the advice!

 

[FowlWitch]

Update: The baby didn't make it. I'm going to go ahead and say this one was my fault. Looking at the embryo, the chick seemed to have formed correctly and just needed time to absorb its yolk. I also had tghe day wrong - yesterday was day 21, not day 20 (meaning today is day 22).

I think the power outage must have messed with their metabolisms or something, because they should have already absorbed the yolk and moved into position by yesterday. If I had been more patient and not messed with the egg, it probably would have hatched, just a day or 2 late.

I will say, though, that chick did appear fairly weak. It was moving at 5am today and seemed like it was getting into position. I opened the egg the rest of the way right now when I saw it had stopped moving entirely. It's head was still on the pointy end of the shell. I don't know if leaving it alone would have affected anything, but I can say this was definitely a learning experience.

Thanks everybody for your well wishes! I have more eggs that start lockdown today. I might post pics or videos in a few days if things go well.