Please help! Do I need to put coconut oil on pip?

[MGG]

No I haven't used the turner at all since my eggs have been in such bad shape. I left it in because it helped keep the eggs from rolling or anything like that. You leave it in during hatching? I was so worried their foot would get stuck and break their legs

I've left it in during my quail hatching. I haven't left it in for any chickens yet, all I've done lately is quail. I think it would be fine as long as there is room. It seems to keep the eggs from rolling too much.

 

[MGG]

It's from multiple sellers. The first 11 came from a Seller here on BYC. They assured me that the eggs would be delivered by that Saturday but I guess they didn't notice that USPS had added 1 to 2 days to their priority shipping. So the eggs sat over a holiday weekend and I didn't get them until the eggs were about 16 days old. I believe one or two out of 11 developed a little bit but were early quitters. All rolling/detached aircells that never corrected, even in spite of incubating upright with the pointy end down. They did have to travel a long ways MO to NC. The next order was 12 Dutch Bantams coming from Florida to NC. I believe 2 had saddled air cells and the others had rolling and saddled. I gave my broody silkie 5 and I incubated 7. She got 2 to hatch, 2 never developed and one quit very early on. I had 2 to make it to lockdown but only 1 hatched. Then I had an order of 6 eggs that were rolling/detached/HUGE aircells and 2 broken eggs. 2 developed and made it to lockdown but after careful inspection, one was a quitter maybe midway and the other just didn't hatch. I have a hygrometer and thermometer in all of the incubators so I don't depend on the bators readings.

Wow. Idk. Have you calibrated your thermometer? I use 3 different calibrated thermometers in mine.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Yes it is looking dry. At 2 am whenever I noticed the first one pipped, I also noticed a small crack (pip) in the side of this egg. So I should just try to peel away tiny bits at a time and if I see blood, stop immediately and place back in bator?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I've left it in during my quail hatching. I haven't left it in for any chickens yet, all I've done lately is quail. I think it would be fine as long as there is room. It seems to keep the eggs from rolling too much.

That's my exact reason for leaving it in while I hand turn

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Wow. Idk. Have you calibrated your thermometer? I use 3 different calibrated thermometers in mine.

Yes I have 2 to 3 thermometers/hygrometers in each bator

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Yes I have 2 to 3 thermometers/hygrometers in each bator

I am working on calibrating. They're all very close, so that's why I am still trying to figure out how to calibrate. I am going to figure it out and calibrate tonight though because this is heart wrenching! I ordered a thermometer suggested by a member here. It's a thermoworks super fast pocket thermometer and was supposed to be very accurate but I need to check for accuracy anyway.

 

[MGG]

Incubating now, I have 6 dwarf breeds that came from TX to NC. Air cells were detached/rolling. All started to develop but I believe 2 were early quitters but I'm not 100% sure so they're still incubating. I also have 11 showgirls incubating and on Day 10. They didn't look promising when I candled but I didn't pick them up to candle. I always incubate upright at least until Day 10/11, or the entire time if necessary. All depending on the aircells. I keep humidity low since it can get extremely humid here in NC and greatly vary day to day. I have recently moved everything into a spare room with AC vents closed because I feel like location temp fluctuations could be part of my problem. I noticed the red light blinking to notify you of the NR 360 heating an awful lot before I moved it.
What are your thoughts. I am extremely grateful for your help. Also I know it's best to trace the air cells, and I have tried that but when the air cells move all over the egg, anytime the egg is moved, I hate to move it unless I'm "turning" (my turning consist of leaning to one side or the other for the eggs sitting upright in the cartons). I hand turn at least 3 times a day, more if possible, but always an odd amount of times. I've started moving the eggs around in the incubator just in case there are cool spots, daily.

How far open do you have your ventilation slot on top? Just trying to cover all bases. I wonder if maybe incubating upright could be affecting things. Maybe try incubating some on their sides. I incubate all shipped eggs regardless of air cell quality on their sides. I've never had a problem. Incubating upright just sounded like too much of a hassle to me, lol. Is your flock laying any fertile eggs? You could incubate a test batch to rule out and environmental problems. It could just be the eggs. Is your PO rough on them? Have you contacted any of the sellers?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

How far open do you have your ventilation slot on top? Just trying to cover all bases. I wonder if maybe incubating upright could be affecting things. Maybe try incubating some on their sides. I incubate all shipped eggs regardless of air cell quality on their sides. I've never had a problem. Incubating upright just sounded like too much of a hassle to me, lol. Is your flock laying any fertile eggs? You could incubate a test batch to rule out and environmental problems. It could just be the eggs. Is your PO rough on them? Have you contacted any of the sellers?

Ventilation is fully open now but before it was between 1/2 to 3/4 open while incubating

 

[MGG]

I am working on calibrating. They're all very close, so that's why I am still trying to figure out how to calibrate. I am going to figure it out and calibrate tonight though because this is heart wrenching

Definitely calibrate. I put mine insealed Ziploc bags, and submerge them in a tall cup mostly full of crushed ice and a bit of cold water. Not much water though. Give them at least 10 minutes, check, and if at 32 you can take them out. If not, leave them longer. 30 minutes at most. If tgey won't go down to 32 try the ice bath again. If it won't go to 32 I'd discontinue using it. Only use ones that go down to 32.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

How far open do you have your ventilation slot on top? Just trying to cover all bases. I wonder if maybe incubating upright could be affecting things. Maybe try incubating some on their sides. I incubate all shipped eggs regardless of air cell quality on their sides. I've never had a problem. Incubating upright just sounded like too much of a hassle to me, lol. Is your flock laying any fertile eggs? You could incubate a test batch to rule out and environmental problems. It could just be the eggs. Is your PO rough on them? Have you contacted any of the sellers?

I have thought about the cartons causing some problems, even though I cut the sides way down low and cut out the bottom. The incubator isn't designed to properly incubate like this, so I am so happy to hear you mention this