September Hatch-A-Long!

[sweetappleacres]

Looks like the chicks already mostly hatched?  Is it just a little left of the yolk sac and stuff maybe just changed colors?  What happened when the chick finished coming out of the egg?

It's still in there. In the same position. I have the urge to get it out of the cartridge and place on the floor of the bator. I know it's tired.

 

[Heidisgran]

I ended up with 16 chicks out of 31 eggs that were set. So about 51%. Thats what I actually set. What kinda of hatch rates do some of you get? Not what you made it to lockdown with and then hatched, but actually eggs set vs eggs hatched. I went ahead and candled the rest a few minutes ago and they were no good. Surprisingly, the external light on my Samsung S3 does a great job. Do any of you notice a correlation between viable eggs being less as the laying season goes on? In other words are you hatches better in early spring when they haven't been laying all summer? Just curious. I don't think Im doing anything wrong with temp or humidity. I have not had any crippled or deformed chicks and all that hatch seem to be very healthy each time.

in my experience with my home growns I get an almost 100% hatch rate...rarely even come across one that isn't fertile...with shipped eggs hatch rate is below 50%....but there were certain birds I wanted that I couldn't find locally so I had the eggs shipped and I took my chances. I finally have a few of each of the breeds I wanted for my own breeding....it wasn't cheap! but it's been fun....with some heart break too....sometime if you don't know the health of the flock you bought from you may end up with some weak babies that die shortly after hatching...anyway it'll be worth it to start my breeding projects

 

[katie1500]

maybe in the night or sometime tomorrow!!

Exactly! I'm hoping when I'm awake bright and early tomorrow there will be a few crawling around!

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: help it!!

 

[cowmommy2001]

help it!!

I agree, unless it would mess everyone else up don't let it give up!

 

[chippysmom327]

a helpful link I bookmarked about assisting hatching/ when and how to:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

 

[dvoice]

Incubator has 48 in it. 20 hrs in and no malfunctions plus lots of added safeguards. Temp hi 37.8(100.04F) low 37.4(99.32F), That's the closest I can get to 99.5. humidifier hooked up to controller, keeping it between 43-45%(enough?)

 

[sweetappleacres]

help it!!

I did. But now it's just laying there on it's side. Hopefully just resting. I tried to get it on it's legs but it just laid back down. I'm leaving it alone now.

 

[ShayBaby]

Incubator has 48 in it. 20 hrs in and no malfunctions plus lots of added safeguards. Temp hi 37.8(100.04F) low 37.4(99.32F), That's the closest I can get to 99.5. humidifier hooked up to controller, keeping it between 43-45%(enough?)

There are many varied opinions on "correct" humidity levels. I've heard everything from teens to 70s for incubation. I'm having better luck with lower humidity (25 min - 45 max and no higher than 60 at lockdown) than higher, personally.

 

[DeannaA]

Is there a proper "area" of the egg where a chick pips? Just thought of this because I think one of mine has piped in a weird spot (1/4 from the top).

These are my last two. They both hatch ok. One near the top and the other almost half way down.

Hi All tomorrow is lockdown for us. Its our first time doing this and I didnt realize I had a broken thermometer/hydrometer till today. Got a new one and realized my temps are running low @ 97.8 all seem to be alive with tonights candling humidity is at 73% . Should I up my temps or continue with the same. Its a still air bator. I have never touched the temp but then again i thought it was reading correct. HELP! Thanks!

I have turned mine upto 101.5-102 when I have found it low for a while. It helped a lot. They grow slower in lower temps and faster in higher. I have also found the lower humidity is better 30-35. But you might want to try closer to 30 to make up the difference. It depends on the temp outside your incubator as well.

Incubator has 48 in it. 20 hrs in and no malfunctions plus lots of added safeguards. Temp hi 37.8(100.04F) low 37.4(99.32F), That's the closest I can get to 99.5. humidifier hooked up to controller, keeping it between 43-45%(enough?)

I had no eggs hatching or very few when I was keeping mine at 99.5 and 38-45%. Now I am trying 100-101' and 30-35%.