Wow I got a 85 % hatch rate the first time ! Update/Pics

[lovemychicks9]

Hey guys I have been gone forever and finally I am back here . I had a multitude of family problems last fall and we had to cut the internet but now we have moved to South Carolina and I am back on with all of you. So here is my question - I have never hatched before , I am a first time hatch a holic in the making . I have a Hova 1602 bator that has been extremely dependable with heat at 100 for 19 days and the humidity at 50 also. I have 7 EE eggs in there now at day 19 . I boosted the humidity to 70 yesterday and it has been pretty consistant perhaps dipping to 67 or 68 a couple times but then goes back up , so is this about where it should be now ? Here is the big question now --- i have one egg that pipped about 3 hours ago but has done nothing else no hole in the shell just a small pip so far. It was peeping alot a little while ago but now is pretty silent and I am worried , how long should or does it take before it makes any progress? And if I do not hear any more peeping should I assume the worst ? One more question the bator is in my walk in closet in the bedroom and I have had the light on most of the day so should I leave it on all night for the pip or if I turn it off will it stop any progress or can they hatch in the dark ? Yep that's right I am a newbie and have lots of dumb questions so please be gentle when you answer ! Thanks for all your help ! Trudy

Okay an update for everyone. Out of 7 eggs and a first hatch i got 6 beautiful chicks . They are all eating and peeping and raising a ruckus in the brooder ! I was very lucky as this was my very first hatch in a brand new bator . I can not wait to do it again either and I am so hooked on this hatching thing !

 

[patyrdz]

The one that has peeped is probably just resting, it will take a while for it to hatch. Sometimes mine will go for 10 hours with nothing happening! Then others will hatch with lightning speed!
As far as the light, I just turn mine on when I am watching them.(alot) But under the hen there is no light, so I don't think it matters. Maybe I'm wrong, I dunno!!

Good luck!! OH don't open the bator!!!!!

 

[old mill poultry]

I would keep my humidity a tad lower. I prefer a humidity of around 60-65%, don't open the hatch unless it goes up past 70%. So glad you are back here and good luck with your hatch.

 

[lovemychicks9]

Thanks for the replies and it is good to be back . I now have 2 pips and I can hear faint peeping so i guess they are okay still , and no I will not open the bator at all I promise . Wish me luck .

 

[lovemychicks9]

Okay so now I have 3 pips going but no one is making any progress so maybe I will get up in the morning ( yeah like I am going to sleep tonight ha ha ) and have a bator full of chicks !

 

[mommahento5]

I am also a newbie so I was re-reading my chicken books tonight on incubating and hatching eggs and according to them, after a pip it could take anywhere from 3-8 hours for the chick to zip. So I would give it more time before helping.

Good luck on getting rest tonight!

I am on day 19 and can't wait!!

 

[juliachick]

I am on day 19 of my second hatch (first one had 3 of 6 hatch) and have 7 black jersey giant eggs in the bator. One pipped probably 4-5 hrs ago and only rocking back and forth every now and then. I have to go to bed...got no sleep last night. I hope to wake up to lots of little chickies!!! Good luck w/your hatch...we'll have to give updates in the morning

Jen

 

[Mahlzeit]

The chicks should be just fine. It's tiring work getting through that shell. I like to keep my incubators dark unless I am looking at them. It keeps the chicks that hatched from moving around too much and knocking other eggs around. Good Luck

 

[lovemychicks9]

Okay so now with almost no sleep last night I got up to 2 live chicks and 4 more pips out of 5 eggs left to hatch !!! I had to help one a bit but they both look good now and are making lots of noise too! Within the next couple hours I should have one more out I see him zipping now and see his beak peeking out ! Wish me luck! Come on fuzzy butts !

Updated to add -- Okay now I have 3 live chicks hatched and 2 more eggs are starting to zip. Yeah !!!

 

[lovin'mychicks]

Congrats!! There is nothing like waking up to a bator full! With the next hatch it will be easier to be patient! On my last hatch, I left home and returned home 4 hrs later to 27 quail and 8 chicks!!! How exciting!