Silkie thread!

[NNYchick]

Good luck on hatch day. I use that same incubator and have had great success with it. I found the best way to keep humidity up during lock down is put a damp sponge on the side.

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

Good luck on hatch day. I use that same incubator and have had great success with it. I found the best way to keep humidity up during lock down is put a damp sponge on the side.

I bought that incubator as well. So far it's been doing a good job keeping the temperature steady and turning the eggs. I just find I have to watch the humidity (at least in the early stages) because it gets too damp easily. I'm not sure if my eggs are fertile but I should know within the next few days. I like the adjustable egg turner because I'm hoping to hatch some quail eggs eventually.

 

[NNYchick]

My ambient humidity in the house is really low but I found if I add 1/4 cup water every other day I keep my humidity between 35-45%. Saturday’s hatch was a nightmare, I couldn’t get the humidity up high enough at lockdown so I kept lifting the corner and adding water. Well i ended up flooding the hatched chick and piped eggs. I still ended up with 6/7 eggs hatching. I lost 2 but i believe it was totally my fault as I assisted because I thought they were shrink wrapped because of the flood ordeal. I should have left them alone, they just weren’t ready to hatch. I learned my lesson about assisting.

 

[Silkies4Life1216]

My ambient humidity in the house is really low but I found if I add 1/4 cup water every other day I keep my humidity between 35-45%. Saturday’s hatch was a nightmare, I couldn’t get the humidity up high enough at lockdown so I kept lifting the corner and adding water. Well i ended up flooding the hatched chick and piped eggs. I still ended up with 6/7 eggs hatching. I lost 2 but i believe it was totally my fault as I assisted because I thought they were shrink wrapped because of the flood ordeal. I should have left them alone, they just weren’t ready to hatch. I learned my lesson about assisting.

I’m sorry about your loss! My chickens are due to hatch today and I am worried because none have even popped yet. I candles them on the 16 day and the egg was 3/4 full but the air bubble looked huge! This is my first hatch ever so I am not that familiar with this. I am so anxious just for them to hatch already!!
Any reason why they are this late? I know my humidity had been at 90 and is now at 70. Is that the problem?

 

[Hinotori]

I’m sorry about your loss! My chickens are due to hatch today and I am worried because none have even popped yet. I candles them on the 16 day and the egg was 3/4 full but the air bubble looked huge! This is my first hatch ever so I am not that familiar with this. I am so anxious just for them to hatch already!!
Any reason why they are this late? I know my humidity had been at 90 and is now at 70. Is that the problem?

Could be that the incubator temp is off slightly. Took me a few tries to get mine perfect so the chicks weren't early or late

 

[NNYchick]

This sounds like things are good. What has your temperature been during incubation. Sometimes lower temperatures for awhile during incubation stalls hatch alittle. I know it’s hard but your setup, your humidity is good now walk away. The best hatch I had so far was while I was at work, probably because I wasn’t there to mess with things.

 

[NNYchick]

Oh I forgot to mention that they are not late, hatch date is an estimate just like a woman’s due date. I have heard of hatches anywhere from 19-24 days.

 

[FishMtFarm]

I had a hatch at 26 days before.

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

I'm just wondering, how old does a cockerel have to be to fertilize eggs?
With Silkies is it necessary to trim the feathers around their vent so the roo can mate successfully?

 

[FishMtFarm]

I'm just wondering, how old does a cockerel have to be to fertilize eggs?
With Silkies is it necessary to trim the feathers around their vent so the roo can mate successfully?

My Roos are about 7 months when they figure out how and I have never had to trim butt feathers to make babies happen, thankfully!