Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[LilyD]

Removed three more eggs from my shipped eggs down to 15 now out of 24. These three were moving but sluggish when I candled so I wondered if they were going to quit and they did. between day 10 and now day 13. The rest were moving well and other than the saddle shaped air cells they have lots of good veining and look good. I think I am going to keep the humidity around 30 in the incubator if possible until I switch them to the hatcher. Worried some of the air cells are just too odd shaped for the babies to pip right. Question for those who do shipped eggs a lot do you hatch upright or lay them down for hatching?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Okay my next three are in lockdown but not raising the humidity right now it's at 26 that's with about 1/2 cup of water in the coffee cup not high enough to engage the sponge but giving off humidity from the cup itself. Does that sound okay or should I raise it higher? Humidity in the regular incubator is only around 18-20%

That sounds super low to me, I don't think I could do lower than 50% for hatch day but if you're trying to encourage some more weight loss then I don't see a need to increase it until there are pips.

 

[FortCluck]

That sounds super low to me, I don't think I could do lower than 50% for hatch day but if you're trying to encourage some more weight loss then I don't see a need to increase it until there are pips.

I do 30% throughout chicken hatches. The humidity goes to 45% by itself when I get external pips. I find better success this way

 

[igorsMistress]

Thanks I’ll be checking that out. I have a still air incubator and I heard someone once say they switch their eggs around in case there’s a cold spot at least they all get a turn somewhere in the incubator. Not sure if it has made a difference since this is my first time and I’ve been changing them around and they’re all developing well so can’t really say, but it makes me feel better

Edited to add: FortCluck explained it perfectly

Ah, that makes sense! I have a fan so I've never done that. Good to know in case something happens, thanks!

 

[gmjarvi]

D10 candling complete. Pulled a total of 6 unfertilized eggs, making for a grand total of 7 unfertilized out of 22. Movement in 13 out of 15 remaining eggs. I didn't pull the 2 non-movers...one is a Marans egg so it's hard to see through and the other is an Ameraucana egg that I just don't want to give up on yet. I'll probably check those ones again in a couple of days. Lots of activity in the weird 2 spot, side air cell egg!

Edit: not going to post the video as BYC doesn't support mp4 files and I don't do YouTube . Only one of the spots was moving...the mystery thickens.

 

[LilyD]

I do 30% throughout chicken hatches. The humidity goes to 45% by itself when I get external pips. I find better success this way

Yeah going to try with this set. They are home eggs so if they don't hatch well I will be home and can help this weekend. Looks like it went up to 40% but will try and run it around there rather than going higher. I do know usually once they start pipping that I get humidity up in the high 70's low 80's which seems super high to me and then I'm a little leary after that to let it fall down below 70 after getting so high.

 

[FortCluck]

Yeah going to try with this set. They are home eggs so if they don't hatch well I will be home and can help this weekend. Looks like it went up to 40% but will try and run it around there rather than going higher. I do know usually once they start pipping that I get humidity up in the high 70's low 80's which seems super high to me and then I'm a little leary after that to let it fall down below 70 after getting so high.
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Mine got that high and I got condensation. Then I had a lot of drowned chicks. It was so sad. I'll never forget my first hatch. It was awful.

 

[julskinka]

Question for those who do shipped eggs a lot do you hatch upright or lay them down for hatching?

I just lay them down. But I also stop turning them at day 14 so they've got plenty of time to get into position.

 

[FortCluck]

Thanks I’ll be checking that out. I have a still air incubator and I heard someone once say they switch their eggs around in case there’s a cold spot at least they all get a turn somewhere in the incubator. Not sure if it has made a difference since this is my first time and I’ve been changing them around and they’re all developing well so can’t really say, but it makes me feel better

Edited to add: FortCluck explained it perfectly

I have a fan in mine and there's still cold spots. My eggs do better when I move them around.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Your welcome! I hope it works for you. Don't forget to sanitize in between eggs! (Hands and Tupperware.)

No luck with finding Tupperware large enough for emu eggs. Mixing bowl and Saran Wrap it is!