Day 1/2 need help!!!

[Chicken_Mommy]

So I'm new here and this is my first time incubating. I have a small 7 egg yescom brand incubator. It worked perfectly empty ran for 2 days no problem with temp or anything. So I added 7 eggs and it held for 1-2 hours before slowly losing heat according to thermometer. I don't currently have a second thermometer (ordered one that also reads humidity should be here any day) so I have to rely on the built in. So it got as low as 25 °C in the incubator. I managed to get it under control and back where it needs to be till I can move the eggs to a new home made incubator. My question is. Since it was only day 1 and they were only heated very temporarily before going back to room temp does that still count as day 1? Is my hatch already ruined? They are now at 38° C holding steady. As soon as I have the new incubator stabilized I will move them. Also they are currently upright. Can I lay them on their sides when I move them or should I leave them upright? Thanks!!

Breed is Black Copper Maran if that helps?

 

[lazy gardener]

That is normal. When putting eggs in an incubator, the temp will usually drop b/c the eggs are cold. It will almost always return to normal when the eggs get warmed up. I like to run my bator with some water bottles to approximate the egg volume while adjusting it. Your choice whether you incubate upright or flat. I keep mine upright for 14 days, then lay them flat for the remainder of their time. Since you raised your temp, be very vigilant for a temp spike. Such a spike will kill the eggs, while the lower temp at this stage is really not much of a concern. Don't stress about hatch date! They will hatch if the remainder of their incubation time is within good parameters. A day either side of 21 is not a concern.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I recently read something about how when a hen lays an egg, each time she comes back to lay another she warms up the whole nest for however long it takes that egg to come until the day she finally decides to set. And that it MIGHT actually give better hatches, but is too untested for them to recommend.

I would think you could lay them on their side or upright. I don't think it should have too much impact.

I don't think your whole hatch is ruined. But there's one way to find out!

Yay, French Black Copper Marans is one of my focus breeds.

Don't think I would count that as day 1.

But hey, I'm here to learn also!