The Incubating has begun...Update *Bad News*

[bangor777]

oooh, did you open the bator gator????? Sorry, I couldn't resist!

 

[turtle1173]

Hey Gator, I put the eggs in at 5pm on July 14th. I counted the 15th as day 1 and that puts us on day 21 today.

I did hear a very quiet "peep peep" as I was putting a little more water in the bator. This was via a straw through the vent. I haven't opened the bator since the evening of the 17th day.

It just seems strange to me that yesterday I heard "peeps" several times and today virtually nothing. That coupled with no pips, has me quite anxious.

If all continues as is, I might just leave them be through day 22 and wait till 23 to open the bator to candle. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that though.

Shane

 

[turtle1173]

Hey Gator, I did decide this morning to go ahead and candle the eggs.

3 eggs were virtually clear. These were eggs I had misgivings about keeping in the bator anyway.

4 eggs were still very dark and had a large aircell. However, I did not see any movement at all. Nothing.

The last egg was very quietly peeping occassionally. I could see movement and also what looked like a heart beat. I don't know if that's normal or not.

Anyway, I'm certainly disappointed but I do hope the one at least makes it. Although I'm not sure what he or she's waiting for.

I hope he does something today or tomorrow.

Shane

 

[turtle1173]

Bad News

I had to be gone Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, so I was axious to get home to see my eggs.

Nothing had changed. I candled and there was no movement. I decided then to open the eggs to see what happened.

The one egg that had previously peeped had a fully developed chick inside with a full yoke. It had died for some reason though. The other 4 eggs looked like they had developed until day 14 or so. They were fully feathered but I didn't look much closer than that.

What a sad day... a very depressing first incubating experience.

Shane

 

[chickenfanatic]

better luck next time keep faith and try again it willll get better with experience for sure good luck hope all goes well with ur next batch

 

[Joy1]

Two Polish out of five hatched .The second was a day later than the other and I had to help him out of his shell, seems fine though.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Too bad, Turtle...we've all had that kind of thing happen. It defies reason sometimes. Well a little 'hair of the dog' is all that will cure this....jump back on in.

 

[Melilem]

Im sorry about your eggs ): I wanted to mention that I tried using an egg carton during the last 3 days of hatching, to prevent them from being kicked around by the hatched ones. All those chicks died, Im not sure what happened. And also-I adjusted the temp of my hovabator and killed all my chicks too. When I bought my dickey incubator, it was set on 102F. The chicks hatched fine, though on rare occasion Id get a crossbeaked one. Ive lowered the temp to 100, my humidity is nearly always above 70 because I'd need a dehumidifeir to do otherwise /:. I havent lost a fertile egg in the Dickey yet though. I <3 that incubator.

 

[turtle1173]

I wanted to ask you all something about the nearly fully developed chick that I cracked open. It's beak was kind of twisted. The top went to the right and the bottom went to the left. It was a terrible sight. Melilem, is this what you meant by a "crossbeaked" chick?

Whatever it was, I am guessing that this is why it was unable to pip the shell. It makes me feel terrible that it died in the shell. However, I believe I read in another post by Melilem, it would be worse to have helped only to have to put the chick down because of such a terrible deformity.

On a postive note, the seller I bought the eggs from is shipping me another dozen just for the cost of shipping. Hopefully this time things will go better!

Thanks for all of your input everyone!!

Shane

 

[Melilem]

Yes, that's a crossbeak alright. Good luck on your next batch! Im sure it will go better this time.