Update: they're alive! (was: I candled and left the 'bator off...)

[buckeye lady]

Don't give up. Turn that Bator back on, candle in a few days and see if any changes/progress.

 

[McGoo]

I sure hope they hatch out for you. don't get upset with yourself - stuff happens

 

[HappyHatch'en]

I'll keep my fingers crossed, perhaps the eggs don't know and think the hen just left for awhile to long.....you could be lucky.

 

[Akane]

That's what I'm wondering.. Why turn it off? What reason could there be to turn a bator off when doing anything? If there is I think there's a flaw in your design that needs fixed or other problems are likely possible. Half the time I leave my styrofoam incubators running when I'm not incubating anything so I don't have to spend a few days bringing them to temp and checking them before adding eggs.

 

[Brick243]

Don't be so hard on yourself. We all do things like that.

 

[BeardedChick]

If you use a lightbulb for heat, and you use a turner, you turn off the light so you can see inside the eggs without taking them all out.

 

[Bock_Bock]

so you use a light for heat? and you also candle insidethe bator?

 

[onthespot]

I candle iside the bator, inside the turner. I don't even touch the eggs. I just position the candler on the top of the egg for a split secod, and move on if everything looks normal. Less light equals less stress I think. Seeing them swim is cool, except I always think they are just in agony from blinding light like a knife in each underdeveloped eye... just my way of thinking, didn't read it anywhere.

 

[Bock_Bock]

i see what you are saying i just figured the turner would black the view of half the egg but if it works for you then it works well good luck on bringing these chicks back, there names should be like miracle and survivor

 

[what was i thinking]

i just did the same thing this weekend. i turned off my hova because of the red light. i found it 24 hours later. cried..... opened one, the yoke was even cold. i plugged it back in with the eggs in it. just wanted to get it back up to temp.... candled the next morning, thinking what the heck.... o my god....they were moving.... DO NOT THROW OUT THE EGGS> give them a chance to warm back up. all of mine except two are moving.