ChickaChicka1
Songster
Hi there! This is my first time incubating eggs, so I don't really know what to be looking for. On March 2nd, I set 7 Barred Plymouth Rock eggs (they are shipped eggs I got from Meyer Hatchery) in the incubator around 1pm, which makes today day 21. 5 eggs made it to lockdown.
The temperature has been 99.5°F and no more than 100.5°F the whole time, and the humidity around 43% to 55% the first 18 days. Since lockdown, the humidity has been 62% to 68%. (I have been just relying on the incubators temperature and humidity though... I never calibrated it so maybe that's the problem??) I candled them on days 7, 14, and 18. Two were not developing, so I tossed them right before lockdown. The rest seemed to be developing fine though.
I think I heard a couple faint peeps this morning, but there's been no pipping. I've been trying to "candle" them as best as I can through the plastic of the incubator with a bright headlamp today since I don't want to take them out of the incubator. It seems like there's an intact large air sac in all of the ones I can see inside of, but on the side instead of the end. I'm not sure what that means though, besides that they haven't internally pipped yet. (Pics attached)
I'm also *slightly* stressed since we're leaving on a trip for a week on Tuesday, so I'm hoping they'll hatch before then. (AHHH I know it's bad timing, but the egg order was postponed a week, and I didn't want to throw them away once I got them so I set them anyways.) I have someone to watch the future chicks while we're gone, but if they haven't hatched before then...
Anyways, thank you so much for your help!! I'm hoping they'll all hatch soon into healthy, strong chicks.
PICTURES BELOW - Edited photos: Contrast 100%
The temperature has been 99.5°F and no more than 100.5°F the whole time, and the humidity around 43% to 55% the first 18 days. Since lockdown, the humidity has been 62% to 68%. (I have been just relying on the incubators temperature and humidity though... I never calibrated it so maybe that's the problem??) I candled them on days 7, 14, and 18. Two were not developing, so I tossed them right before lockdown. The rest seemed to be developing fine though.
I think I heard a couple faint peeps this morning, but there's been no pipping. I've been trying to "candle" them as best as I can through the plastic of the incubator with a bright headlamp today since I don't want to take them out of the incubator. It seems like there's an intact large air sac in all of the ones I can see inside of, but on the side instead of the end. I'm not sure what that means though, besides that they haven't internally pipped yet. (Pics attached)
I'm also *slightly* stressed since we're leaving on a trip for a week on Tuesday, so I'm hoping they'll hatch before then. (AHHH I know it's bad timing, but the egg order was postponed a week, and I didn't want to throw them away once I got them so I set them anyways.) I have someone to watch the future chicks while we're gone, but if they haven't hatched before then...
Anyways, thank you so much for your help!! I'm hoping they'll all hatch soon into healthy, strong chicks.
PICTURES BELOW - Edited photos: Contrast 100%