our first time

[Rooster'swife]

This is the first time we have attempted to hatch eggs using incubator so I am at total loss. We have bantam hens and rooster that we usually use to raise more biddies but I thought it would be fun to get incubator and let grandaughter hatch her own babies. We are using hova mator incubator and have followed instructions to the tee. They say bantams hatch in 20 days and regular chicks hatch in 21 days. Today is exactally 21 days from the day we sat them and see no sign of any biddie activity. How long do we wait before giving up and how can we tell if there were ever any biddies in the eggs without breaking them all open? Tootiebell going to be so dissappointed if she gets here Monday after school and no babies.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Maybe the temp was off? Do you have a good hydrometer? Temp and humidity steady throughout? Sometimes they take a while longer if the temp was too low at any point, or if the bator was opened frequently and the eggs cooled. I'd give them a couple more days, if you did it correctly and the eggs were fertile you should have a few at the very least. Have you checked fertility in your eggs?

 

[Rooster'swife]

Thanks, we are still waiting patiently and hopefully have at least a few chicks. When we first set the eggs we had a really cold spell and the room where the incubator is got really cold and the temp dropped to 95 at one point but quickly went back to 100. We did have a hard time keeping the temp consistant until we figured out where the best place to set the temp was. At a couple of points it went over 100. We do have plenty moisture in the incubator but don't have a hydrometer but moisture is forming in the glass on top. Thanks for the response. If this fails we will just keep trying I guess now that we have the incubator figured out.

Oh yea the eggs are fertile I'm sure. We used the eggs from hens that are always hatching with no problem and the rooster is smiling.

 

[nivtup]

"They" say that temps over 103 deg will kill the eggs.

 

[ModernGameGrl]

I wouldn't worry just yet. I have a clutch of 9 that were due yesterday and I was sure they were not going to hatch because people are always talking about hearing them and seeing them move even before the hatch date and when my uncle incubates eggs you can always hear them calling at least 24hrs before they hatch. It wasn't till last night at 11:30 pm that I had any eggs pip and they're just now really starting to hatch.

I was told that you should let the eggs sit for up to 25 days before you give up on them.

 

[Rooster'swife]

I don't think it got up to 103 still patiently waiting and praying over eggs lol. I am going to give it a few more days.

 

[Rooster'swife]

I just candled all 49 eggs and 25 are dark on the bottom with air pocket but shows no sign of peeping or anything. Does that mean the babies are dead? The other eggs weren't developed at all. I can't believe I am obsessing over these eggs like a mother hen. I would be happy just for one to hatch for Tootiebell. They are due to hatch today.

 

[littledirtlanefarms]

I hatch silkie eggs all of the time...I have found that the hydrometer is your BEST friend...you will definitely need one. My last hatch was 100% - every egg hatched. I keep my temp at 100.4 and I keep my humidity level between 28% - 35% until day 18 - on day 18 I bump my humidity level up to 40%-45% - if the humidity level is too high, the chicks will form and then drown trying to get out. If you had moisture forming I am thinking your humidity level was too high. I have never had moisture form. I got my hydrometer on ebay for $9 - it was the best decision I ever made. I hope this helps. I know how frustrating it is waiting for 21 days and then nothing happens

Jess
Littledirtlane.com

 

[Rooster'swife]

I am now a biddie murderer!!

Curosity got the best of me!! I had candled my eggs and what looked like an egg with no baby had a baby in it. I cracked it open gently to see if my incubator was working and now so sad because now one little biddie is dead. He was breathing is what makes me feel so bad. I am going to leave it alone and pray more eggs hatch. Maybe I am rushing it.