Please learn from my horrible mistake!

[AnniesEggFarm]

I had a serious ant invasion... and I mean TONS, from nowhere.... I am in Vermont, still have snow on ground.... But a trillion ants made their home in my incubator .... Truly no idea where they came from or what they wanted (no bad eggs, super clean incubator....) Decided since I was nearing the end of the road with these eggs, (day 16) I should tackle the ants and prepare the eggs for last mile.... Well I came up with the brainy idea of blowing my hair drier over the eggs wrapped up in a towel... I had the drier on low/low... It took me less than 5 minutes to fight the ant war... Came back to find the eggs so hot that I couldn't hold them.... hit Candled to see no movement... recandled ... nothing... decided to open a bantam egg, I thought if the little ones made it, then the big ones did too... The yolk and whites were cooked .... I knew it was over, cracked them all, dead....

Reasons I was so stupid to use a hair dryer
1. thought it would take me a while to battle ants & I would have to let incubator regulate again...
2. I had it on low just blowing warm air over them, NOT ON THEM
3. It was freezing in my house this morning...
4. In my stupid thinking I thought I was making a dry air incubator with a fan... I will state it again.. It was on LOW just blowing over eggs, completely dumbfounded that they got that hot that quick!!!

I am kicking myself for doing such a stupid stupid stupid thing

I haven't seen an ant since

Jenn

 

[Peaguy]

If you were on day 16 and wound up with cooked yolks and whites I would think you weren't going to get a hatch anyway...By day 16 you should have had embryos in those shells
Just my inexperienced with hatching opinion from what I have learned by reading BYC.
It sounds like the eggs never developed. Don't be too hard on yourself, It doesn't sound to me like you messed upanything they weren't going to hatch anyway.

 

[AnniesEggFarm]

There where fully formed chicks, feathers and all... They white & yolk surrounding them were cooked!

Jenn

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Many good hatching vibes sent your way for your next batch of eggs.

 

[Guitartists]

 

[DeeThomas]

sorry for your loss

 

[mmtillman]

Your next hatch will be better!