Temp dropped overnight to 59!

[AmyLang]

I'm interested to see how yours are doing! Any chicks yet???

I'm on day 17/18 right now...just candled for the last time...and I have a few that also look 75% darkened with good air pockets...but they are darker eggs, so it should be interesting! I have been wondering about those...if they are alive or not... I'm super bummed though...I dropped one while candling...air sack end...put it back in the incubator as no fluids leaked out...so I'm hoping that there might still be a slim, small chance of survival.

 

[genesis1verse1]

It's worth a shot. So far one has hatched and one has zipped. I started with 15 originally, but since this is my first time I have done almost everything you are not supposed to ever do and amazingly have had one to hatch and one on the way. I was candling without washing my hands (then I read on here about the importance of washing your hands first), I dropped one or two (not on the ground but into my arm) the lightbulb went out and the temp dropped to 59, I don't think I had them with the big end up at first. I wanted an automatic turner so I made my own and it was so bulky it was blocking air flow and my temps were fluctuating wildly a few times. I'm disappointed with my effort overall but I'm still thankful to have anything after the temp dropping so low and other problems I mentioned.

I have six more that have not pipped but I'm allowing them a few more days before I give up on them. They were only due today but I candled them earlier and they are looking the same way they did a couple of days ago (75% darkened). A couple of them I really wanted to hatch bad. They were a cross between a really good rooster mix and a RIR hen I've had for two years(the last of my original first ever hens) that lays consistently through winter and molting! The rooster has had an eye incident recently where it got pecked out and he hasn't been as active with the hens. Now I'm afraid that if I try to incubate some more of those eggs they may not be fertile. I really would love a miracle to happen and those two eggs from my RIR hen hatch. But I was saddened by the candling. We'll see. I put them back in there and am hoping for the best.

I hope your hatch goes well. This is a learning process. We all have to start somewhere, and looks like I only have one way to go from here

 

[AmyLang]

update? I've been curious! I have made lots of "mistakes" also, as this is my first attempt. We are entering day 21 here in a few hours...and I am NERVOUS! lol. Hoping that yours are doing well!

 

[genesis1verse1]

Update: I only got two chicks out of the 15 I started with and they had to have help. They both had shrink wrap issues and couldn't make it out of the shell. I got them out but one has a sore navel where the yolk sack wasn't finished absorbing. I have to keep it separated from some store bought chicks I got so they won't peck it to death because they love to peck at sores. The other one is doing fine. I bought a couple of bantams and I'm hoping for a mother hen out of them. I may incubate eggs again, but if I can hatch them naturally it would be great. Hope everything goes well with your hatch.

Please let me know how it goes.

 

[AmyLang]

I have some Mexican game hens/cross that tend to go broody. I had one Momma hatch an egg (she started sitting right after we introduced the roo...so most were not fertilized...but she hatched one at least...and I added store bought chicks that she took under wing immediately. It was SO much less work than the incubator. I believe that from here on out, I will go broody hen method, as it is much easier it seems...but part of me says that I am going to make the incubator a success...just so that I can say that I CAN do it....we shall see how it goes...still nothing yet . We have been on lockdown, humidity pretty consistent at 65 during lockdown and temp around 100...so we shall see...

 

[genesis1verse1]

Well, how is it going or how did it go? Here is a pic of the two of mine that survived the 59 degree cooldown on day 14:

 

[AmyLang]

JUST saw the first pip. I'm guessing that the cracked egg won't make it... but, exactly 21 days to the hour from placing eggs in incubator...we have our first pip. I'm SO excited and nervous!!! I need to take pics of the progress!!!!

 

[blzzrdqueen]

JUST saw the first pip. I'm guessing that the cracked egg won't make it... but, exactly 21 days to the hour from placing eggs in incubator...we have our first pip. I'm SO excited and nervous!!! I need to take pics of the progress!!!!

Please do! The more pics the better! I love pics of the hatching! Sorry about the one that cracked That is what I am afraid will happen to me...

 

[AmyLang]

I am "injured" right now on my right hand - sliced the corner of my thumb completely off, nail and all ...and I'm right handed, so I'm a bit of a klutz right now...so it probably won't happen to you... I'm just so happy that I at least have viable eggs that might hatch! Another egg right next to the one that has pipped is quite active right now... This is nerve-wracking!!!

 

[AmyLang]

and, I love the pics of your chicks...do you know if they are pullets or cockerels?