QUICK! Ice storm and five dozen in the bator!

[newtwinmom]

Any idea how long these eggs will hold? My youngest were set in the 26th, and a few are on day 17-18. I've been in the dark since about 7pm last night. We still have nearly an inch of ice in the trees and I don't see power being restored any time soon. Are they a loss or can I get them somewhere now that its daylight and have some chance of a hatch?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Can you boil water? Or do you have a wood stove? Does anyone you know have electric?
How long has the power been out?

 

[newtwinmom]

Can you boil water? Or do you have a wood stove? Does anyone you know have electric?
How long has the power been out?

I have a wood burning fireplace and have had them parked in front of it all night but the internal temps have only been in the upper 80s. I tried moving it closer this am to get better temps and melted my bator the in laws have electricity but I'm not getting out if there's no hope for these eggs. They've been cold since 730 last night.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They may not all be lost.
This may give you peace of mind.
http://www.brinsea.com/customerservice/poweroff.html

Separate the younger ones from those close to hatch.
Let those under 7 days cool completely. Down to 50 degrees or put in the fridge. Keep them cool till the incubator is back in business.
Try to get the older eggs up into the 90s.
That should make management easier.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Let any eggs under 14 days cool completely.
Take eggs within 7 days of hatching and keep them together in a closed container. The embryo metabolism will help keep them warm but keep them close to the fireplace. Just make sure they don't go over 100 F.

If you melted the incubator, they were certainly too hot.