Setting a new batch of eggs with an old

[Proud E Z]

So I borrowed an incubator and had it running a few days before I set a batch of eggs. I candled the eggs today at day 10/11 and found all but one egg alive. A few infertile, several with blood rings, and many with blood rings and dead, partly developed embryos. Is that a temperature problem usually?
Also, I'm obviously going to root for the little guy and try to hatch him. But I would like more chicks so would like to get another batch and set them. Should I wait till after the one, little guy has hatched or go ahead and set a batch whenever I can obtain them?

 

[JaeG]

It generally is a temperature issue when you get a lot of blood rings. Often the temperature shown on the incubator isn't correct and you need an independent thermometer that you have calibrated against a medical grade one. That just means using body temperature water, using the medical thermometer to read that temperature and seeing what the probe on your thermometer reads it as. Whatever the difference is you know how far your thermometer is off by.

Incubators generally have warmer and cooler spots in them so your survivor must be sitting in just the right spot. You can move the eggs around the incubator every day or so, so that those spots are evened out, but I'd leave your egg exactly where its sitting.

I'd get a thermometer and figure out what's happening with the temperature before starting another batch. Measure the temperature at the point where the embryo would be sitting on top of the yolk. It always rises to the upper most part of the egg (and that is different depending on if you are incubating upright or on their side).

Some people won't add more eggs before the first batch hatch. One issue is that when the chicks hatch it can get very messy in there and must be cleaned, otherwise bacteria will grow and can poison the new batch of eggs. Another is too much humidity for the eggs that go in later, preventing them losing enough moisture while the first batch are in lock down.

I have, a number of times, done split hatches. The ones due to hatch are put in a vented container to contain any mess and I wait until there are internal pips before raising the humidity so as not to affect the later batch.

Can you find at least one chick as a friend when your one egg hatches (fingers crossed it does)? A lone chick relies on you for company and chicks hate being by themselves. It's really hard work having one chick to care for. With a friend it will be a lot more settled and happy.

 

[Proud E Z]

Yes, so it came with an independent thermometer that I presumed was accurate (I don't believe so now). It reads 99.5 and the bator reads 92. I got a humidity and temp, digital and gauge-style and am checking to see what's accurate in the morning.

Ah, yes. That's what I was getting at. I know that a hatching chick also has to go into lock down at day 18, but the others wouldn't. This bator has an automatic egg turning tray that sets them upsidedown. I thought maybe I could just set the little guy to the side to hatch on his side on day 18-21 while the others turn. But I would be adding water for the other guys so it wouldn't be total lockdown. I guess I'll just wait it out. Rather be safe then sorry.

Yes, I'm going to get a Bucheit, day-old chick if he hatches. Then the two of them can make friends while they wait for my next batch

 

[JaeG]

My incubator doesn't have a turner (I hand turn) but I think they can be a bit of a hazard to chicks if they are left in. Chicks are good at getting where they shouldn't given half a chance.

Do try again - it's always a bit of a learning curve when you are using a new incubator but once you figure out what works for that set-up you'll be a hatching addict.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your little survivor hatching.

 

[Proud E Z]

Wait, are you saying to take the tray out at day 18? Sorry if I'm misreading that. If I take that out there is a wire grate just below the egg turning tray.

Yes! I will update to see what happens to the little fella, he was so cute last night - he was dancing and kicking up a fuss in his egg! It was amazing to watch!

 

[JaeG]

Wait, are you saying to take the tray out at day 18? Sorry if I'm misreading that. If I take that out there is a wire grate just below the egg turning tray.

Yes! I will update to see what happens to the little fella, he was so cute last night - he was dancing and kicking up a fuss in his egg! It was amazing to watch!

I think you are supposed to remove the turners at lock down (but my incubator isn't that fancy so I'm not much help really). You can put down some of that non slip shelf liner stuff over the wire grate which is soft and grippy for the chicks to hatch out on but also holey enough to let the air circulate.

Candling is so much fun.

 

[Proud E Z]

Ohhh, I thought it held them upright and in place as they hatched. Good thing you said something I would have left it in! The shelf liner stuff is a great idea too, thank you! You've been really great, I really appreciate it - thank you!!!

 

[Mellowmalt]

hey proud, I'd wait for this egg to hatch. You will learn how to get it right for the next one and if you mix them lockdown will be too much hassle. Keeping the eggs at different humidities is impossible even if we think it should be no problem so then once lockdown comes do you keep the humidity right for the majority of eggs but the one strong egg that made it so far won't or other way round.. for 3 whole days which is a long time.

A few days apart is still acceptable but otherwise I would not risk it. Doing one first will give you a chance to get the brooder set up right too, the first one will be the tester.

The only disadvantage is that one chick by itself will feel very lonely and it will affect its development. It is doable. I give lonely chicks light 24 hours a day. They really freak being alone when it goes dark. A mirror helps but it is not ideal, they really benefit from company.
The problem is once the new lot is born 3 weeks later the first one will be too big to mix straight away so it will be a long lonely upbringing for the first chick to start with.

 

[Proud E Z]

So I candled for the last time today, day 17. The little guy isn't moving!! There is a lot of space on the bottom and the top, he's in the middle. I can can see his beak, neck, and head clearly and his giant eye. But when I gently tap he doesn't move or anything, did he die??

 

[JaeG]

So I candled for the last time today, day 17. The little guy isn't moving!! There is a lot of space on the bottom and the top, he's in the middle. I can can see his beak, neck, and head clearly and his giant eye. But when I gently tap he doesn't move or anything, did he die??

Unfortunately it sounds like it. At day 17 the egg should look almost full under the air cell. Can you see any veins at all?