Our first hatch - CPQ

[ShazUK]

Day 0 is here.

All twelve eggs are numbered, marked on each side, and in the incubator.

Apon testing the automatic turner, we've noticed that the eggs can bunch up and sit upside down (pointed end up). Is this okay, or should I remove the automatic turner and turn by hand?
The small glass jars of water are sealed, they just help to keep the temperature stable inside the incubator.

I plan to come back here periodically and update with candling pictures etc. please feel free to follow along and share your wisdom, I'm brand new to all this and welcome any hints or tips you guys might have.

 

[Nabiki]

Can you reduce the number of eggs per rail? That should keep them from ending pointy end up since they will naturally turn round end up if they have enough room. They shouldn't spend much time pointy end up or the chick might end up malpositioned in the egg when it comes time to hatch.

 

[ShazUK]

Can you reduce the number of eggs per rail? That should keep them from ending pointy end up since they will naturally turn round end up if they have enough room. They shouldn't spend much time pointy end up or the chick might end up malpositioned in the egg when it comes time to hatch.

I have made a third row, giving them more space, but they still seem to be rolling towards the edges and bunching when turning.

 

[CliftonQuail]

I have made a third row, giving them more space, but they still seem to be rolling towards the edges and bunching when turning.

If the eggs are all rolling in the same direction, is it possible that the incubator isn't level? Maybe you could put a shim under that side to try to keep the eggs from bunching?

 

[ShazUK]

It's level, they are bunching to opposit edges. I've put the rails closer to keep them rolling left to right instead of turning round little circles.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I used a chicken rail for my first batch and the eggs in the outer ring had issues. The second batch I ended up hand turning (my juryrigged turner didn’t work, the second incubator I was given was hitting 107F, and I received 32 intact eggs in the mail instead of 24 with some broken). I was a little leery with the hand turning (3 or 5 times daily) but the hatch rate was excellent and I felt like I had more ‘control’ or ‘involvement’ in the whole process rather than just watching it happen. If you’ve got the time or are worried about the turner, it isn’t a bad option.

 

[ThatOnePotato]

Day 0 is here.

All twelve eggs are numbered, marked on each side, and in the incubator.

Apon testing the automatic turner, we've noticed that the eggs can bunch up and sit upside down (pointed end up). Is this okay, or should I remove the automatic turner and turn by hand?
The small glass jars of water are sealed, they just help to keep the temperature stable inside the incubator.

I plan to come back here periodically and update with candling pictures etc. please feel free to follow along and share your wisdom, I'm brand new to all this and welcome any hints or tips you guys might have.

Back when i was hatching my ducklings we had the tip up because that leaves an air pocket for the hatchlings while still in the egg so its not something to worry about. but the eggs shouldn't be super bunched together because that can cause uneven heating to eggs. i used little dividers in my incubator and it kept the eggs from bunching together and kept them in place as they turned.

 

[Nabiki]

Back when i was hatching my ducklings we had the tip up because that leaves an air pocket for the hatchlings while still in the egg so its not something to worry about. but the eggs shouldn't be super bunched together because that can cause uneven heating to eggs. i used little dividers in my incubator and it kept the eggs from bunching together and kept them in place as they turned.

Ummm... I'm not sure what you're saying here. There should always be an air cell at the top of the egg. If it's at the round end, the chick will position itself to zip properly. If it's at the pointy end, the chick will position itself to zip but may not have enough space to get out of the egg.

 

[ShazUK]

Day 1

Adjusting the rails seems to have done the trick, all eggs are turning on their sides properly.

I've decided not to add water to the incubator as humidity is sitting at around 55% with the vent open. Room humidity is around 59%

 

[Nabiki]

Day 1

Adjusting the rails seems to have done the trick, all eggs are turning on their sides properly.

I've decided not to add water to the incubator as humidity is sitting at around 55% with the vent open. Room humidity is around 59%

See if you can get that humidity down. You will get better results at about 30% during incubation and up to 50-60% at lockdown.