96 degrees? Advice please!

[Cavendish Chickens]

Okay, today is day 22 and just for the heck of it I checked the temperature in the homemade incubator I made. The humidity seems fine, nice and humid... but not too much. (Enough to make me sweat.) But the temperature read 96 degrees. Is that too cool for the eggs? They have been progressing just fine in the matter of fetus' developing and ready to hatch. But they haven't hatched yet. Should I do something to make it a little warmer? You can see a picture of the eggs by my name to the left. Thanks!

 

[tammyd57]

Quote:
Have you been monitoring the temp/humidity all along? Because 96 IS too cool for incubating. They should be 99.5 degrees for a forced air incubator and higher for a still air one. You say they have been 'progressing just fine', does that mean you have candled and you see proper development?

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

Yes I have candled and have seen proper development. They are ready to hatch. I have seen the eggs wiggle and there is a little spot in one of them from the inside out, but not all the way out. Was first noticed on day 20. It's a still air incubator. No fan. Has holes for air circulation, and two windows so we can see in. I was thinking of adding a second light, but afraid it would then get too hot?

 

[tammyd57]

Has the temperature been low throughout the incubation? This can cause delayed hatching by a day or two, maybe even 3. If you have a pip, then it is trying to hatch. After pipping, the chick will usually rest for up to 24 hours before zipping.

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

I'm sure the temp has been the same the whole way through. I've never changed anything in there. I hope it will be soon that they hatch. I can't wait to see them! Do you think I should add more heat, or leave it as it is?

 

[bahamas]

add more heat so that it can be up to 100 degrees.

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

Update on Incubator temp. I got it up to 100 degrees! Hopefully that will help the chicks to come out. It is towards the end of day number 22, and I will be giving them plenty more time. I just hate the waiting and anticipation! lol (Next time, no homemade incubator... though this one's not bad. lol) I will post again when we have pips, zips, or chicks!

 

[tammyd57]

Home made incubators can work very well if you can get the correct temperature constantly and good humidity. I'm using an incubator I made myself using a plastic cooler with a water heater thermostat, 40 watt light bulb & pc fan. I fiddled around with it for a few days to get it stabilized before setting eggs in it and it has worked great.
What kind of chicks are you waiting on? I just have some of my own eggs from my Buff Orpingtons and some mixed breeds in mine right now. I hatched 4 about a week ago and decided I wanted more, so I'm doing it again.

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

We bought 3 fertilized Orpington eggs from a chicken farm not too far from us. He was really nice, and we are thinking of hatching some silkies too. But we're buying a real incubator for those. lol I don't want to risk too much of a delay again. Today is day 23 and still nothing. That same little pip spot is there. It isn't all the way through. There's no sign of zipping. I don't know if I should candle them again to check on them, or just leave them be.