Unsure what to do!

[kgresham]

This is my first time incubating eggs (as a grown up). My daddy and I did it one Summer in a very primitive cardboard box. I was in charge of turning the eggs and water and temperature. We set 3 eggs and low and behold one little stinker hatched. A Rooster named Hazel. He followed me everywhere. SOOO I decided it would be a great idea to try with my kids this Summer. Well today or yesterday was day 21. I started with 8 eggs. I locked down 5. All moving when candled. I started seeing 1 RIR egg wiggle almost 2 days ago. Then about 24 hours ago I saw another RIR egg wiggle. I have 2 Buff eggs and 1 barred Rock that I haven't seen any movement from. BUT I am not hearing any peeping, and the wiggling has seemed to slow down. I did a still air incubator, Styrofoam cooler...humidity ran about 45 percent through 1-18. Been about 60-64 since lock down. I thought I saw a little tiny "x" in the top of one RIR about 24 hours ago. But it has not changed so I am not sure if I was just fooling myself. My temp was a booger to keep regulated but considering I still had 5 at lock down I know they survived it. It ran b/t 99 and 100 most days with about 10 or so that spiked to 102. On day 3 of lockdown I got up and it was 104...could that have done it? Killed em? Just needing some guidance. I am getting nervous that I got 5 of them this far and now I have killed them. I have grown kinda attached. I feel terrible because I know it was my fault! I know you experience ones answer this same question from us newbies all the time. I thank you for your patience!!

 

[kgresham]

I went home for lunch...about 40 minutes after I posted. I can hear one peeping. Not sure which one and still don't see anymore rocking but there is definitely a peeper in there. How long before he runs out of air?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Did you calibrate your thermometer(s) before starting your hatch? You're obviously running a bit late, which makes me think your temp was running lower than what you think it was (and your heat spikes likely aren't as bad as you thought either if that's the case).
Your chick can still take up to 24 hours before it externally pips, and then another 24-48 hours after that to hatch.

Good luck, I hope you end up with some fluffies!

 

[RubyNala97]

This is my first time incubating eggs (as a grown up).  My daddy and I did it one Summer in a very primitive cardboard box.  I was in charge of turning the eggs and water and temperature.  We set 3 eggs and low and behold one little stinker hatched.  A Rooster named Hazel.  He followed me everywhere.  SOOO I decided it would be a great idea to try with my kids this Summer.  Well today or yesterday was day 21.  I started with 8 eggs.  I locked down 5.  All moving when candled.  I started seeing 1 RIR egg wiggle almost 2 days ago.  Then about 24 hours ago I saw another RIR egg wiggle.  I have 2 Buff eggs and 1 barred Rock that I haven't seen any movement from.  BUT I am not hearing any peeping, and the wiggling has seemed to slow down.  I did a still air incubator, Styrofoam cooler...humidity ran about 45 percent through 1-18.  Been about 60-64 since lock down.  I thought I saw a little tiny "x" in the top of one RIR about 24 hours ago.  But it has not changed so I am not sure if I was just fooling myself.  My temp was a booger to keep regulated but considering I still had 5 at lock down I know they survived it.  It ran b/t 99 and 100 most days with about 10 or so that spiked to 102.  On day 3 of lockdown I got up and it was 104...could that have done it?  Killed em?  Just needing some guidance.  I am getting nervous that I got 5 of them this far and now I have killed them.  I have grown kinda attached.  I feel terrible because I know it was my fault!  I know you experience ones answer this same question from us newbies all the time.  I thank you for your patience!!

As previous poster stated, you need a calibrated thermometer. If you were running 99-100 for still air, that is low. 101-102 is recommended for still air. It will just delay hatch by a day or two. And the chick will internally pip, start breathing and absorbing yoke before it externally pips. After external pip, it can take another 24 hrs for them to finish absorbing the yoke and start progressing. Just keep an eye on them. Do you have each egg labeled? I put a number on each egg and then come hatch time I write down times of each pip so I know how long each egg is taking.

 

[kgresham]

We foung him at 4 this morning. This pic was taken at 6:30 and hes fluffing up nicely. We named him Wrecking Ball because that is what he isacting like in there. I currently have one more with a tiny pip.