Water ran out in Hovabator -- is there hope?

[JenniferK]

We are using a Hovabator with fan and auto-turner to try to hatch some eggs, and in spite of the fact that I went out to look at the eggs and check the temperature multiple times each day, I forgot to check the water in the bottom. When I rememembered about six days into this, I checked and the tray was completely dry. Is there any hope for these eggs to hatch?

 

[TerrasCritters]

Of course!
Lots of people use the dry incubation method and only add water during the hatching process!

(I myself am going to try it with my next batch as everyone who uses it seem to have better hatch rates!)

Good luck!

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! There's always hope

You started with water in the troughs, right?
Here, I have to refill the troughs every 3rd day (fill on Day 1, refill on Day 3 or 4).

I've been guilty of the same thing myself (letting it run dry for a couple of days before I remember to add more water).
I'd just add water and carry on

Do you have anything to measure humidity in the bator? A hygrometer will help you get an idea of how much water you need to keep in the troughs.

Good luck with the hatch!
Lisa

 

[ZuniBee]

I started with water at 50% humidity and let it dry out and after four days it has been 20% humidity. I'm not going to add water until day 18 when I go to 65 - 70% for hatching. I am trying it to see if my results are better.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[JenniferK]

I feel so much better!! Thank you all for the replies. I was trying to figure out if I should tell my 5-year-old ahead of time that I killed all of our unhatched chickens...

 

[TerrasCritters]

Aww No way, but it would be a good idea, to talk with her that sometimes something's can happen and to be happy for the ones that do hatch, and if none don't its still ok and that maybe it was something with the eggs and you could try again.
At least for me I like my kids to know about it all and that its just the way of life sometimes.This way they expect the worst but hope for the best and don't get let down if it doesn't turn out the way we want it too.

Good luck and please let us know what happens!

How long have they been incubating? Have you candled? This would be a sure way of telling if they are still alive! If they are over a week old you can candle if a little longer you could for sure see movement when candling, my kids LOVE to see the babies moving inside, someone once told me, we are addicted to hatching these eggs and we don't know why, maybe its because its like a little womb, we can hold this little womb in our hands and see it when we candle! Much cheaper then a ultra sound!

Good Luck

 

[silkiechicken]

Don't worry about it. All bators are different and all areas are different so in your house you have to figure out what works for you. I know here I just run bator full of water for the first 10 days and then let it dry up, and dust it out after the hatch. Good luck!

 

[JenniferK]

I did prep the kids with the knowledge that a 50% hatch rate is good, so I think if we get any out of our dozen we will all be happy. And our current four hens laid their first eggs today (3!) so everybody's excited about that.

I wanted to ask about the candling though. I've been trying to look with a bright LED flashlight in a dim room, and I see nothing. The eggs have a nice glow though... Any suggestions?

 

[TerrasCritters]

How far along are they? I go to a pitch dark room at the early stage in the incubation. I hold the egg in the palm of my hand with my pointer and thumb finger tips touching making sort of a circle, I place the large end at the circle and roll the egg to its side and around with the flashlight on the opposite side of the egg.
I hope that makes since.

If your egg is over a week old you will see spider like veins in the egg. If there are no veins, there is a good chance that egg was damaged in shipping or was not fertile. If there is a red ring around the inside of the egg, then it began to develope but died early, probably from an issue within the egg its self.

Hope this helps you!

When are they due? What breed?