I had 14 Spitzhauben and 10 Brabanter eggs that were on day 12 in my LG incubator. I had well over 2 dozen Spitzhauben eggs in my old reliable Hova Bator that were on the same day.
I keep the incubators tucked away in a spare bathroom-that we never use. I have hatched out many, many chicks and ducklings in these two bators. They were set spot on for temperature and humidity.
I had candled a number of the eggs and saw nice healthy veins and was deliriously happy with how the process was going. I had high hopes for a great hatch!
I got up this morning to go and check on the eggs, when to my horror the digital temp and humidity display for the hova showed 104! (I keep the display in the kitchen so I can keep an eye on it.)
I ran to the bathroom and was too sick to even cry when I saw that the LG was reading 120 degrees. All of those little babies in the LG absolutely fried.
I knew immediately that it had to be the 2 year old, who has been showing an increasing interest in the "Chippie's catching". (Chickies hatching)
I keep an eagle eye on that bathroom to make sure no unauthorized persons (children under the age of 7 in my house) ever go in there.
When I queried my DH and the older kids, my 11 year old told me he had found the least one in there and shoo'ed him out last night. When I asked the little man if he had been in there he told me he was "helping the chippies."
Hubby, God Bless him, had no clue and was sure the baby "Couldn't Have!" (He hates when things happen on HIS watch.)
This was the one night I decided to let Papa put the kids to bed without me and took a bubble bath....which I rarely ever take the time to do, and what happens? The 2 year old flies under the radar.
Here is the culprit-refusing to "lose the 'tude" in spite of his sibling's best efforts.
There are about a hundred different "If Only's" and "I Should Haves".
I couldn't believe how sad and sick I was about the whole thing. My DH opened them all up to see how many had developed and if things were going along as great as I thought they had been.
All but one was developing!
(I couldn't open them myself, I would have bawled all day.)
Besides the digital read thermometers, I have one that I keep inside the incubators too. For the Hova, the thermometer inside the bator showed 102 at the top of the eggs......so I am hoping with the hope of the foolish or deranged, that some of these eggs make it. I candled one egg and I "thought" I could see movement along with tons of good veins.
Fortunately, the Hovabator takes a strong hand when adjusting it, compared to the infinitesimal, micro-movements that the LG takes.
That's why the Hova only changed by 4 degrees at the top of the eggs and the LG jumped up to 120.
DH installed a kid proof gate in the bathroom doorway and made it a permanent barrier for the time being. He screwed it in place!
I am consoling myself with the fact that eggs are replaceable, people are not. It wasn't something bad that happened to my sweet husband or any of my kids.
We almost lost my 11 year old son two years ago to a myocardial infection-he was hospitalized in the ICU for 2 months and we were told there was a good chance he wouldn't make it....so comparably this is nothing more than a minor irritation, you know?
Still, I love my baby chicks and am already making arrangements to fill my empty incubator!
Deb
I keep the incubators tucked away in a spare bathroom-that we never use. I have hatched out many, many chicks and ducklings in these two bators. They were set spot on for temperature and humidity.
I had candled a number of the eggs and saw nice healthy veins and was deliriously happy with how the process was going. I had high hopes for a great hatch!
I got up this morning to go and check on the eggs, when to my horror the digital temp and humidity display for the hova showed 104! (I keep the display in the kitchen so I can keep an eye on it.)
I ran to the bathroom and was too sick to even cry when I saw that the LG was reading 120 degrees. All of those little babies in the LG absolutely fried.
I knew immediately that it had to be the 2 year old, who has been showing an increasing interest in the "Chippie's catching". (Chickies hatching)
I keep an eagle eye on that bathroom to make sure no unauthorized persons (children under the age of 7 in my house) ever go in there.
When I queried my DH and the older kids, my 11 year old told me he had found the least one in there and shoo'ed him out last night. When I asked the little man if he had been in there he told me he was "helping the chippies."
Hubby, God Bless him, had no clue and was sure the baby "Couldn't Have!" (He hates when things happen on HIS watch.)
This was the one night I decided to let Papa put the kids to bed without me and took a bubble bath....which I rarely ever take the time to do, and what happens? The 2 year old flies under the radar.
Here is the culprit-refusing to "lose the 'tude" in spite of his sibling's best efforts.
There are about a hundred different "If Only's" and "I Should Haves".
I couldn't believe how sad and sick I was about the whole thing. My DH opened them all up to see how many had developed and if things were going along as great as I thought they had been.
All but one was developing!
(I couldn't open them myself, I would have bawled all day.)
Besides the digital read thermometers, I have one that I keep inside the incubators too. For the Hova, the thermometer inside the bator showed 102 at the top of the eggs......so I am hoping with the hope of the foolish or deranged, that some of these eggs make it. I candled one egg and I "thought" I could see movement along with tons of good veins.
Fortunately, the Hovabator takes a strong hand when adjusting it, compared to the infinitesimal, micro-movements that the LG takes.
That's why the Hova only changed by 4 degrees at the top of the eggs and the LG jumped up to 120.
DH installed a kid proof gate in the bathroom doorway and made it a permanent barrier for the time being. He screwed it in place!
I am consoling myself with the fact that eggs are replaceable, people are not. It wasn't something bad that happened to my sweet husband or any of my kids.
We almost lost my 11 year old son two years ago to a myocardial infection-he was hospitalized in the ICU for 2 months and we were told there was a good chance he wouldn't make it....so comparably this is nothing more than a minor irritation, you know?
Still, I love my baby chicks and am already making arrangements to fill my empty incubator!
Deb
