Well, looks like third time's a charm!! UPDATED!!!CHIC PICS!!!!

[Sammysmom]

Day 22: Checked 'bator this AM, nothing!

Didn't hold out much hope as my lightbulb died on day 18, temps down to 92.5, had to remove all eggs and wire to get to lightbulb to change it (homemade MP 'bator). Had to make a trip into Show Low to pick up a new generator (that's a whole other story!!). Stopped by our local feed store on the way back for hay and, wonder of wonders, they had some Buff Orp chicks!!

Couldn't resist of course, so we picked up six little pullet chicks! Got home, and while I was putting the babies in the brooder, DH went to check the 'bators. Don't you know, I'm the one that obsesses, I'm the one that makes sure temps and humidity are correct, I'm the one looking in every 5 minutes and here DH goes over to check and, not only do we have a pip, little bugger has already zipped and is peeping and rocking!!

Oh well, no matter, I have a chick hatching!!

I am soooo eggcited!!

This is my third attempt and finally one is hatching!! These are Delawares from Shortcake 1806. I know one isn't much but just knowing I've done something right is extremely rewarding!! And, who knows, maybe some more will hatch!

If they do, great. If not, I will still be extremely grateful to have this one little fluffbutt!! Now I get to obsess some more about whether or not the little guy is going to be able to make it out of it's shell!

Does the worry ever end? Please excuse me now, I must go check the 'bator!!

 

[Riocotesei]

Good luck on your babies.

I'm only on day 6 and I'm worried about everything being just right. I hope you have some more chicks hatch!

 

[Sammysmom]

Thanks for the good wishes. Even if this is the only chick to hatch, that's fine. He/She will always be special to me.

Sending good hatching vibes your way!!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Awww! Congrats on the hatch! Keep us posted!!

 

[Sammysmom]

Will do!! Hopefully this little guy will pop out soon so I can take a picture of him!

I keep talking and whistling to him and he peeps back and rocks his egg! It's soooo adorable!! I'm in love already!!

 

[Riocotesei]

Aww how cute!! Make sure you get pics of him/her! Thanks for the vibes! I think its working 31 of the 33 eggs are developing normally! Woot!

 

[Sammysmom]

That's excellent!!

Are your eggs shipped or are they your own? My first try was from my own Buff Orps but the hatch failed because my humidity was too high. It was very disappointing. My second attempt was on shipped Ebay eggs. Out of 13, one developed but failed to hatch. These eggs are from a BYC member and were packaged really well. However, they did travel from Virginia to Arizona so if I get any to make it completely out of the shell, I'll be ecstatic!

 

[Riocotesei]

They are my own chickens eggs. I'm very proud of my Roo being able to keep up with the girls lol. Like I said 31 out of 33 aint bad and the 2 that arent developing look like they weren't fertile.
Thats interesting that you had too high hum in arizona. Good luck with the current chick!

 

[pbjmaker]

Your eggs were just delayed by the temperature drop. I hope you awoke to a chick and more hatching!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Don't give up on them yet! The cool down delayed them and they should be fine. Here is some info on poweroutage (which would cause the samething).

Info on power outages during Incubation.
From- A Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow

The more valuable your hatching eggs are, the more likely it is that the electricity will go out during incubation. If you have an uninterruptable power source (UPS) for your computer or other electronic equipment, consider disconnecting the usual equipment and using the UPS to power your incubator. If the outage comtinues beyond its capacity to keep your incubator running, or you don't have an UPS, open the incubator and let the eggs cool until the power goes back on.

Trying to keep the eggs warm is likely to cause abnormal embryo development. Furthermore, if you close the vents or wrap the incubator with blankets in your attempt to keep eggs warm, a greater danger than temperature loss is oxygen deprivation. Developing embryos use up oxygen rather rapidly, and the oxygen level may soon fall below that necessary to keep them alive.

As soon as the power goes back on, close the incubator and continue operating it as usual. The effect of the outage on your hatch will depend on how long the power was out and on how long the eggs had been incubated before the outage. A power failure of up to 12 hours may not significally affect the hatch (except to delay it somewhat), especially if the outage occurred during the early incubation, when cooled embryos naturally tend to go dormant. Embryos that are close to term generate enough heat to carry them through a short-term outage.