What is the best way to hatch shipped eggs????

[CrzyChknLady81]

This thread is great. I just got my shipped eggs today, 6 appear to have intact air cells and 4 seem to be rolling. I was confused as to how to set them in the incubator but I think I'll go with the trimmed egg carton method. I'll set them tomorrow and see what happens

Definitely set them upright at the start, but I would recommend waiting until Day 4 to start turning them. I just tipped mine one way or the other the first 3 days and then turned the auto turner on.
Still debating on upright in cartons or laying on their side once moved to the hatcher though...

 

[amanda802]

Definitely set them upright at the start, but I would recommend waiting until Day 4 to start turning them. I just tipped mine one way or the other the first 3 days and then turned the auto turner on.
Still debating on upright in cartons or laying on their side once moved to the hatcher though...

Thanks for the tips! I'll just tilt them for the first three days.

 

[Bryam]

Day 20 tonight! I am trying something new. I am waiting till the last minute before I remove the eggs from the turner, as it seem when I touch them to lay them on their sides, they die. So maybe if the chicks internally pip first, they will be stronger and be more able to hatch? I candled last night, day 18 they where still alive. My humidity is 65 and the temp is 100F.

Crzychicklady did your shipped eggs hatch?

 

[Torch404]

Why not leave them in the egg cartons to hatch? Lots of people hatch that way. I've done it a couple times and had no problems with the hatches. Less egg soccer by the early hatchers.

 

[CrzyChknLady81]

Day 20 tonight! I am trying something new. I am waiting till the last minute before I remove the eggs from the turner, as it seem when I touch them to lay them on their sides, they die. So maybe if the chicks internally pip first, they will be stronger and be more able to hatch? I candled last night, day 18 they where still alive. My humidity is 65 and the temp is 100F.

Crzychicklady did your shipped eggs hatch?

My Silkies are working on it now, but only one of those had an air cell that worried me and that chick I'm about 99.9% sure that it didn't make it..today is Day 21 on those..
I have 14 going into lockdown tonight and the Tolbunt in 5 days I think? The Tolbunt are the ones I'm worried about..some of their air cells were so saddled that they look like lock down size.. but there's this shadowy area in them in the lowest part of the dip..I can't tell if it's part of the cell or just so low that I'm seeing shadow from yolk sac..I've never seen it on any of my eggs before

 

[CrzyChknLady81]

Why not leave them in the egg cartons to hatch? Lots of people hatch that way. I've done it a couple times and had no problems with the hatches. Less egg soccer by the early hatchers. 

I'm debating on this or propping the entire hatcher up on one end..my biggest fear with the carton is them zipping..have you ever had them not be able to turn to zip? that's what I'm worried about..it just seems unnatural to me, but I guess no more so than them being rocked in a turner end up..

 

[Bryam]

Good point! I think tonight I will place the eggs with a normal looking air ell on its side. I have one that has a very saddle shaped air cell that is dipping very low, I am surprised it is still alive. When should expect them to externally pip? Beginning of day 20 tonight, nothing yet!

 

[RubyNala97]

So exciting guys!!! I'm on day 14 with my shipped silkie eggs. Only 3 have made it this far out of 7. But I candled today and saw movement. Air cells look good. I would lay them on their sides for hatch. If you wait for them to pip then move them, will that screw with the humidity to much? I'm gonna be a nervous wreck at lockdown. Please update on how your hatches go!! Best of luck!!

 

[Bryam]

I will. One has internally popped, I don't think any others have though. Day 18 seems to be the point when I loose a lot chicks. It is a mystery with these shipped eggs!

 

[CrzyChknLady81]

I would be worried about humidity if moving them to a separate hatcher but other than that and humidity was steady I'd be okay personally with opening it long enough to take them out..
*Usually* I'd say look for an internal pip around day 20..but if your Temps were just a hair low it could be later..my very first hatch, with all local eggs..hatched on days 23 and 24..I was a wreck..a great lady here on BYC talked me through checking one of the chicks membranes and they ending up starting on their own about 12 hours later..realized later it was my thermometer running 2 degrees low. .