Tell me what to do PLEASE ?

[Unicorns and Satyrs]

Ok so, I thought I had about a week till first hatch day and my calendar just informed me that I have 2 days.
Honestly, I didnt even think the embryos would grow-(first time, home made incubator that shouldnt work at all , wrong temp, and so on.
I have been turning them daily though, a quarter turn each evening.)Ill get to the point though. My egg I put under the heat lamp on 2-9-19 is actually alive and growing, and the other day I bought a cheap incubator from tractor supply, and I haven’t even set it up yet..
The egg has survived this far, What should i do?!??
Should I set the incubator up and put him in it and put him through the big temperature difference, Or should I leave him where he is, in a ten gallon aquarium, under a heat lamp, with only the top partially covered, and six other eggs that have at least two weeks to go still.?
Can anyone tell me what to do from experience and also does the incubator need to be running for 24 hrs before I can put any eggs in it? Its the styrofoam “still air incubator” model 9300. Thankyou in advance.
*next time im using protection*

 

[PouleChick]

Eek sorry not sure what to suggest as not done much incubating. Hopefully someone will be a long to help you soon! Are the other eggs developing - have you candled them?

 

[Lanceaalot]

First thing is don't panic. Second you don't HAVE to wait 24 hours to use it, that's to make sure your temp and humidity is maintained. I have a little giant and it has always been off by 3 degrees. If you have a proven thermometer to check against the little giant, use it. Make sure that you are maintaining a good 99.5 and a humidity between 45 and 50. Once you are sure of that, I would put the eggs in it.

 

[GotCoop]

Your biggest issue may be humidity.

If it was me. I would do my best to increase the humidity in the aquarium...while getting the new incubator running. Once you feel the new incubator is holding a better temp and humidity than the aquarium I'd move the other younger eggs over, that may be less than 24 hours. Then leave the oldest egg for lock down in the aquarium, trying to get humidity up to 65% or so.

A developing egg doesn't always translate into a chick (especially with issues with temp and humidity)...I would try to save the other six as the priority while still giving the oldest a chance.

Also, for me, without an auto egg turner I'd turn them half turn 3 times a day.

Good luck

 

[Unicorns and Satyrs]

Thankyou so much. I really appreciate your advice and knowledge.
How am I supposed to create humidity in the aquarium though? Will putting a saucer with water in there work? Or should i mist the inside glass walls with water?

 

[Unicorns and Satyrs]

Thankyou so much. I really appreciate your advice and knowledge.
How am I supposed to create humidity in the aquarium though? Will putting a saucer with water in there work? Or should i mist the inside glass walls with water?

Eek sorry not sure what to suggest as not done much incubating. Hopefully someone will be a long to help you soon! Are the other eggs developing - have you candled them?

Yes ive candled the other eggs. They all seem to be growing embryos , the only ones without veins yet are the three I put in yesterday.
I did have to flush one lastnight because yuck (blood ring) I dont know what in the hay Im doing right i really just heat lamped them as an experiment because I knew the eggs were fertile for sure. Low and behold. Ol fertile mertyl and her three husbands must have pretty tough dna. So far.

 

[GotCoop]

Use some small plastic containers with water, place a sponge in the water to create more damp surface area. This in combination of the right heat will generate humidity...may have to adjust size of the container to get right humidity level (around 65%). Cover the top of the aquarium, with a single egg there will be enough air in there.

Hopefully you are marking the eggs with dates. Because with the different eggs being added over time you will have to manage your calendar for lock-down. At lock down the humidity has to stay high and there is no longer rotation, the vessel needs to stay closed until the eggs hatch in lock-down (thus the name). You can't easily do lock down on the eggs over 18 days while still turning younger eggs in the same container.

If you find a good way to control temp and higher humidity in the aquarium...I would use that as my "hatching" or lock-down box for the first eggs to reach 18 days. They will not be interfered with while tending to the younger eggs. Then, when the others hit 18 days (depending on how many sets of different age eggs you have) just do lockdown in the new incubator. Hope that makes sense...

 

[Unicorns and Satyrs]

Hi, thankyou. Yes it makes sense and yes Ive been dating them. The first day of incubator dates are one egg feb 9, one egg feb 16, and three eggs feb 27, this morning.