The Middle Tennessee Thread

[Shelly_WNC]

Well Day #21 of my incubation ends at 6pm and no pips, no peeps, no cracks, no movements. Wow that temperature spike ruined 21 days and perfectly great fertile eggs ... I'm so irritated that I did that.

I'm not giving up on incubating though ... going to water test these 8 eggs in the morning. then start searching for another 8 eggs to hatch - and LEARN from my fatal mistake. But I'm still not sure how much I should depend on the 'digital' thememeter to begin with it could be off as it is, meaning if it reads 100 it might be 102 or something (which is worse) right? The mercury one (which I can just barely make out in the bator) seems to show 102 when the digital shows 100. but it's been that way the whole time and I know on day 18 those 8 looked good .

 

[HBuehler]

I wouldn't water test them yet..I would probably take them out and candle them tapping the egg if they are trying to get out you will see them moving against the air sack.I don't allow for more than 22 days.I have found after that if they do hatch they have issues.
Your temps I'm sure were fine for those first 18 days..refresh my pea brain do you have a fan in your bator? If you don't those temps would be low and would hatch late.
If you just want some eggs for practice I can give you all you want from my free range layers some would be mixes and some would be pure Rocks black and blue

 

[Jenski]

Yah Shelly, definitely candle again if you decide to take those eggs out of the bator. There would be movement in there (though very dark!) if the peeps are still viable. Keep us posted on how things go!

 

[Shelly_WNC]

argh! I can't stand it ... the not knowing .

so I float tested and candled just one at 7:20pm , the one closest to the digital thermometer. I have all the eggs spread over ,so they'd have some room to hatch.

Well the egg did not sink. Basically the part that floated was the air sac area, so what's that 10-15% floated. And I already candled at day 18 and knew there was a good air sac and dark mass with veining. So I dried the egg and candled it ... I still see the dark mass and veining. I don't smell any stinking. But I don't see movement or an 'actual looking chick'. If I had to guess I'd almost think it's got to develop some more - but that is a HUGE guess.

So if we 'assume' that I cooked them on Wednesday day 18 and it's going into day 22 now ... would a 'dead egg' smell? ... would it still have veins?

Oh boy I'm so confused. If I only 'knew' ... if I knew they were gone I'd put an end to it and move on. But I can't be certain so I'm afraid to pull the plug.

 

[HBuehler]

It's way too early to pull them out..does the bator have a fan or is it still air?
No they won't be stinking that soon if at all.If there is veins still that can mean they are alive or recently died which you already know is possible.You won't see anything that looks like a chick anyway..they are in that egg all wrapped up head under wing neck bent packed like a sardine

 

[Shelly_WNC]

It's a force fan. So the 'digital' temp has been a nice steady 100 the whole time, except lock down when I added more water to up the humidity (then the temp went down to 97 so I bumped it up - but my bump caused a 106 temp for 3 hours).

I just candled all 8. NO movement in any eggs. air sac and dark mass, two or three I see veins. the rest it's harder to tell, definitely looked wrapped up as I can see the basic outline. hmmmmmm

I put them in 6pm Jan 15th. First 18 days temp 100F and humidity around 50-55%. Now after lockdown on Wednesday temp 100 and humidity at 65% (sometimes it goes to 70% ) . air flow should be good this LG has air holes all over and two with red plugs that I have out.

 

[HBuehler]

ohh I see the possible problem..the humidity was way too high for the first 18 days..if that happens the chick will get so big they can't pip and hatch.You need to drop that to close to 30% even the mid 20's.When I get around 22-25% I add enough to just get to 30% then bump up to around 55-60% for lockdown it will go up as they hatch

 

[TNChicks]

Another "Cluck" heard from in the Middle Tennessee area...

Located between Lebanon and Mount Juliet. So glad to see such a strong and active local group.

The DW and I have sixteen hens (regular and bantam) at the moment, but are looking to restock this spring.

Looking forward to upcoming meets and egg swaps.

 

[HBuehler]

WARNING you are smack in the middle of Jenski and myself

and just a short way from City Girl...RUN RUN while you can

I'm sure we can help you restock your flock

I'm actually selling several layers and pullets..and chicks now.We have too many layers if that's possible..We have bantams and large and everything inbetween
Really we do have a lot of fun on this board and our meet ups are great...give me a yell sometime and come on out to the crazy chicken place just North of Lebanon

 

[Shelly_WNC]

Quote:
Welcome!!! I probably drive by your town on the way to work in Nashville every day.