Pip! Pip! Hurray! (Update: NEED HELP!)

[livin-green]

Well, I did, but dang it if the temp didn't drop way too much. I went outside to feed the laying flock and luckily my oldest came to get me. Apparently one of the chicks was laying there shaking, so I ran in to check, and the temp was down to about 97!!!

I've bumped it back up--guess I better keep a closer eye on it! Hope this didn't just screw up my hatch.

 

[KattyKillFish]

my guess is that they will probably be fine. keep a close eye in it. usually it's a good idea to stay away from the incubator to avoid feeling like taking the chicks out, but keep a close eye on the temp.

 

[happyhens]

That much of a temp swing won't hurt them. Just make very extremely tiny temperature adjustments, especially if you are using a Little Giant! Good luck, hope you get 100% hatch ;D

 

[livin-green]

Thanks. I've always done very slight adjustments and waited at least 30 min before adjusting again...don't know what happened this time.

Anyway, the temp. has leveled out, but the humidity is higher than I'd like. I was aiming for 60-65%, and it's up to 70%, which is not awful, so I'm not going to worry too much. How high is TOO high? I haven't really come across anything saying what is too high.

Don't know about 100% hatch--I think that would be a miracle. Not that I wouldn't love it, but I'm not "counting my chickens before they hatch"

I'm just glad we've got 3 hatched and another pip!

 

[chilling in muscadine]

How many eggs did you set to start with? Isn't it a ball watching the miracle right before your eyes. You say you are addicted already but let me ask you this. Do you have yourself talking to the eggs through the window of the bator with the video camera going and you are the only person in the room at the time?

Try playing that video back an trust me you would pay big $$$$$$ for it not to get out.

I have tons of that video but please lets keep it on the down low.

I'm hatching right now, nine out already. It never does get old. I see you are in Clay Alabama. What part of the state is that? I'm in the middle of the state half way between Birmingham and Atlanta. So howdy hatching neighbor.

SARA

 

[livin-green]

Quote:
Well, I have video of me "narrating" but not actually talking to the eggs. Does that count? I set 16 Ameraucana eggs originally, but I think 4 are infertile...either that or they just never started developing. When I candled at Day 18, then looked just like they did they day I set them. Not being experienced in candling, I went ahead and left them in the bator--to be on the safe side--since they are not oozy or stinky, I figured it couldn't hurt. So far, I am so sad to say that only 4 have hatched

I really hoped to more than that out of 12 fertile eggs. This is Day 22, and so far the other 8 have no signs of life. We've discussed that we'll leave them in until Wed. morning. If they haven't even pipped by that point, we'll open them to see what we have. I just picked up 12 Marans and 3 Buff Orp hatching eggs this morning that I will need to get in the bator as soon as we can.

Clay is a little north of B'ham, so we're pretty close. What breeds do you have?

 

[livin-green]

Quote:
Quote:
GUESS WHAT!! I know I saw the air sac at the top, but low and behold after it zipped, it kicked the top of the egg off...because it was upside down!!

How could this happen?

I candled at Day 18, and the air sac at the top of every egg was the only thing that was discernible. The little "x" on the top was to make sure it stayed right side up, which ensures that I didn't turn it upside down by accident when moving from turner tray to egg carton. So, was it just a fluke that the chick got turned around? I didn't think that could happen. I can't believe it didn't drown or something!

EDITED TO ADD PICS

Poor little thing:

But, it did get turned over and is now doing just fine!