Split Hatch Problem....OMG What do I do?

[featherbaby]

I'm hatching my first eggs in a borrowed incubator. I have 8 eggs that are due to be "locked down" on April 29th. I have 8 other eggs that are 3 days behind them due to be locked down on May 2.

If the first batch are locked down, how am I going to turn the second batch until it's time for them to be locked down?

What if the first batch are still hatching when it's time to lock down the second batch?

Have I seriously screwed up? I don't have another incubator.....and after this I may return this one and vow never to do it again!

What can I do?

 

[Lotsapaints]

After 15 days you really don't need to turn them if you take chicks out that's when problems start with losing humidity but worry about that when it happens not now. Good Luck

 

[featherbaby]

How critical is the humidity at lockdown/hatching time? Right now when I turn the eggs my humidity drops from 40% to 35% and returns back to 40 within 15 minutes. Would a 5 to 10% drop in humidity be critical during hatching?

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Quote:
You would rather keep the humidity than turn the others....I have had Great hatches when I have forgot them..I didnt mark down the hatch date walked past my bator and it was full of chicks,..

I think you should just leave it... Once you let the humidity out you can shrink wrap your chicks..
Hope everythink works out for you

keep us posted

 

[patyrdz]

During lock down just don't turn the other eggs. If you think you need to, just do it once a day. Try to get your humidity to 50% for the hatch. Once the chicks start hatching, the humidity will go up because of the wet chicks. When the chicks dry, you can remove them quickly so the humidity does not drop to low for the remaining egg. I have staggered hatches all the time. Don't worry, it will be fine.

 

[patyrdz]

whoops double post!

 

[bigstack]

HOT, STEAMY bathroom!!! I have used this method several times. It works GREAT! Crank the HOT shower in a small Bathroom. I use a small room heater Cranked to 100. Or HI.... When the room is full of steam and VERY warm you can take the bator in and open. I will turn off the shower but leave the heater cranked. I look like I was in the shower when I come out of the Bathroom. This will allow you to open the bator without humidity dropping. Sometimes it can actually increase the humidity! Just make sure that the steam is not condensing on the eggs. If the eggs get covered in moisture they can suffocate the chicks. The ones who spritz the eggs are only getting a small section of the eggs wet. But the steam will soak the entire egg. Thats why I turn off the shower before opening the bator. It will bring the humidity up in the room to nearly 100%. Then I turn it off but leave the heat!!!! Then once I open the bator. I can remove chicks, shells, and add water if needed. I have done this Many times and have not lost a single chick yet! But of course you are NOT supposed to open the bator period! But we live in the real world and not a perfect one. LOL sometimes it is nescery to do a NO-NO. haha

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[featherbaby]

Thanks so much for all the help.....can you tell I'm a nervous first mother??????HA!

Any advice is welcome here.....Any encouragement is coveted!

Sandi

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Well how did your hatch go???

 

[featherbaby]

Out of 8 splash silkie eggs, three were not fertile, two didn't hatch......and THREE made ADORABLE babies that are running around in the brooder cheeping and eating.

I still have 8 buff silkie eggs in the incubator. One has pipped, even though tomorrow is their official hatch day. I wonder how many I'll get? They were shipped to me from NY by Sundown Silkies. They made the trip beautifully, but I don't know what the trip might have done to them. 7 of them. when candled, looked full. I'll report tomorrow night what came out.