Redinator's First Hatch-Along

[ChickenChick46]

Everyone else is eating drinking and active. Cookie almost blends in w the washable run they're on. . . she's so stinkin cute

Oh my goodness! So precious!

 

[redinator]

Yesterday was day 21, a few of Sweety's eggs hatched early, so it seems longer than it really is. I'm worried the two that piped might ne sealed in. There still trying, but might need some help. The humidity been pretty steady 65-70% once I added the sponge.

My mistake, Saturday was day 21. I didn't sleep much last night.

 

[redinator]

I just checked a few of the unpiped eggs, no movement, no noise

 

[ChickenChick46]

I just checked a few of the unpiped eggs, no movement, no noise

I'm sorry. Maybe the power outage affected them.

 

[redinator]

I'm sorry. Maybe the power outage affected them.

The Ayams were already teetering then they were on the perimeter and got chilled. I'll definitely have separate batches for eggs of different sizes the next time. Opening the incubator to move the chicks that hatched probably caused issues too.

 

[Slothinc]

The Ayams were already teetering then they were on the perimeter and got chilled. I'll definitely have separate batches for eggs of different sizes the next time. Opening the incubator to move the chicks that hatched probably caused issues too.

I wouldn’t blame yourself for opening the incubator. If you quickly remove chicks from the incubator, it won’t cause others not to hatch. Shrink wrapping is a thing, but not as common and easy to do as everyone makes it seem.

Also, I don’t think the power outage would have affected them too much (they were without heat for an hour or less right?) And it happened towards the end of incubation when the babies generate a little heat of their own. Think of broody mamas getting of their nests for over half an hour at a time, with no issues in the babies.

My guess is that the incubator having cold spots inside of it is the main issue - as being incubated long term at a lower temperature is not good. Also the humidity could have been an issue. The next time you incubate, you could wrap the incubator in a sweater or towel/whatever to try and keep the temp and humidity more stable (just don’t cover the air vents.) One other thing to check is to make sure they are getting enough oxygen as well (vents wide open, while maintaining high humidity at lockdown.)

Congrats on all of your beautiful babies. They are so lovely!!!

 

[ChickenChick46]

Whatever happened, I agree with @Slothinc that you shouldn't blame yourself at all. You did a great job with these babies. I also agree in that I don't think opening the incubator briefly hurt anything. Please don't feel guilty because you did an amazing job, and the chicks are precious!

 

[redinator]

I was just taking to a friend about it and mentioned the hatching baskets. He asked if the bottom of the basket was vented . . .which they aren't . . . that might have caused issues with airflow.

Edit: I removed the baskets and crossing my fingers . . .i haven't checked all the eggs and there are still the two that pipped

 

[Slothinc]

I was just taking to a friend about it and mentioned the hatching baskets. He asked if the bottom of the basket was vented . . .which they aren't . . . that might have caused issues with airflow.

Edit: I removed the baskets and crossing my fingers . . .i haven't checked all the eggs and there are still the two that pipped

I would honestly candle all the remaining eggs right now, if you are curious. Anyone that hasn’t internally pipped by this point will likely not hatch. If you have any interest in doing eggtopsies, you could do them in the ones that haven’t internally pipped. If any are still alive, make sure to pull their beak out of the membrane. But any that have pipped internally and not externally you can place a safety hole. Then can continue to assist the hatch this afternoon and evening! If you don’t want to assist or do eggtopsies, I would leave them in overnight and candle then toss any without movement tomorrow morning.

 

[redinator]

I would honestly candle all the remaining eggs right now, if you are curious. Anyone that hasn’t internally pipped by this point will likely not hatch. If you have any interest in doing eggtopsies, you could do them in the ones that haven’t internally pipped. If any are still alive, make sure to pull their beak out of the membrane. But any that have pipped internally and not externally you can place a safety hole. Then can continue to assist the hatch this afternoon and evening! If you don’t want to assist or do eggtopsies, I would leave them in overnight and candle then toss any without movement tomorrow morning.

Do you have a picture of what an internal pip looks like?