scared to death

[okiemamachick]

Ok this is my first hatch I'm so nervous yesterday was day 18 they are in lock down but without them being raised in the turner my thermometer is reading 98 my humidity is reading 70 and there is condensation on the windows. I have been candling to check progress and everything seemed good on day 18 I compared them to other day 18 pics and they seemed a bit small but they were moving. I can only candle 4 of my 13 eggs because the others are too dark for my Candler (an actual candler not homemade) so I'm not sure on the dark eggs though none smell at all. I guess I'm just freaking out that none may hatch I know this is a possibility in any incubation but I'm still freaking out maybe I should have waited a day or two extra before lock down? To make sure they were big enough? I did dry incubating and the humidity was about 30 got most of the incubation though the air cells look smallish to me as well when I look at the diagram of air cell growth gah! What if none make it!?!?!??

 

[KelseyBoxer]

Deep breath. Relax. Is your incubator forced air? That temp should be fine if you have a fan. Humidity sounds good. Are you saying the air cell seems small? If you did not add water during the first 17 days, then the humidity wasn't too high. I do dry hatch and only add water at lock-down. I also have blue eggs that are impossible to see through. If the egg is full and there are no open or clear areas, then trust mother nature to do her thing. As you get closer to day 21, watch to see the eggs move and rock as the chicks move into position. Then maybe you'll hear peeps coming from the eggs. This is an internal pip. Please don't open the incubator to candle. That is the hard part.

 

[okiemamachick]

No its a still air that's why I'm freaking out I do feel better I do need to let it just happen for goodness sake I'm always pep talking my pregnant friends about not rushing their delivery and here I am lol can't wait for the Lil peeps to pio! Yeah I haven't opened it since I raised the humidity yesterday I've been resisting the urge!

 

[KelseyBoxer]

Maybe try to get the temp up a little. Hopefully others who have hatched in still air incubators can chime in. I know when I add water to raise humidity my temp tends to drop. I also know the embroys are creating thier own heat and are able to withstand temp variables better at this stage of development. Keep us posted and hang in there!

 

[okiemamachick]

Maybe try to get the temp up a little. Hopefully others who  have hatched in still air incubators can chime in. I know when I add water to raise humidity my temp tends to drop. I also know the embroys are creating thier own heat and are able to withstand temp variables better at this stage of development. Keep us posted and hang in there!

Will do thank you!

 

[okiemamachick]

Afternoon of day 21 no pips should I candle a couple or wait a few more days?

 

[KelseyBoxer]

Are you sure today is day 21? Did you set them on Friday Feb 20? The hatch might be delayed due to the drop in temp. Can you hear any peeping or do you see the eggs move? If nothing has happened by tomorrow I would try to water candle. You said you can't see in the eggs anyway. Read up on water candling, its used to see if there is any movement in the egg. Do not water candle if the egg has pipped.

 

[okiemamachick]

Yes I set them on the 20th I'm able to candle the 4 white eggs but the rest I can't see...I candled three of the white ones just now there is still a ton of veins visible and the chicks don't seem to take up as much room as some suggest they do this far along. When shining the light through if you have one side facing you it seem the chick is large but then you spin it around and the other side is partly clear but you can see the head and veins and nd stuff i don't mean spin it upside down I mean leaving it in the same position just rotate it I guess the chicks should be one huge black blob? Two of the three I just candled are moving (internally) some I saw when I was looking. None of the eggs are rocking no pips no internal chirping. I feel they may be behind. ...

 

[seminolewind]

On a still air incubator, the temp is best at 101. With a fan at 99.5. If you candled and they are alive, they will be late since your temp is so low. If you have condensation on the window, I would bump the humidity down a bit or maybe the increase in temperature will clear it up. Good luck!

 

[okiemamachick]

Will do thank you! How long would you go before giving up on them hatching?