New member, 1st chicken hatch, Day 18...Lockdown!

[Darlene415]

I'm at 18 days, egg turner was removed and eggs candled for the last time, I'm not to sure about 2 of them, the 2 really really dark brown ones, they seemed very porous looking every time they were candled yet they're impossible to see thru...I'm pretty sure they are duds but lef them in just in case as this is my 1st hatch ever with chickens, I have only done one other hatch 15 years ago with 3 duck eggs, 2 hatched. I'm now trying 1 dozen mixed eggs that I purchased locally. I'm also pretty sure I smell a rotten egg but can't tell which it is, pretty sure it's gonna be one of the darks, hope it doesn't explode in the next 3 days, and hope it won't effect the chicks that are alive. My question to y'all is that I was hearing pipping when I candled them and removed egg turner...is this normal? I do remember hearing my ducklings a few days prior to hatching, I really hope they hatch ok I have read all I could read for months prior to this and have been following a few chicken pages faithfully reading all your stories to learn more. I'm using a Hovabator still air, i used an egg turner and maintained my humidity at approx 35% or so until today when we increased it to 70ish and have been maintaining 101-102 temp throughout, as per everyones recommendations on a still air not as per the directions which I don't have since it's 15 yrs old. Is there anything else I need to watch for at this point? I have my brooder supplies, using a big box or large rubbermaid well vented but warm and safe from other animals, i have a lamp, not using a heat bulb as I am in florida and it's still 90 here and have my shavings, starter chick feed (i chose non medicated), water and food dishes...is there anything I missed? I'm at lockdown so I gues for now I will hope whatever I smell doen't explode all over the rest of them! I looked over all the eggtopsy photos last night in horror and am so scared my babies will drown oe get stuck inside now after reading and seeing the pictures...but we wanted bonded chicks and figured they will be bonded to us more if we hatch them versus ordering from a hatchery.

Thanks in advance and good luck to all in Florence's Path...praying for everyone safety and the safety of their animals!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have to stand in a dark closet high intense light to look to candle the real dark drop humidity 50 to 65 in lock down and do not touch till something breaks out that is hardest thing

 

[Darlene415]

Ok Thank you. I have been trying to maintain the humidity at upward of 70% based on all that I have read, but I know ther is no right answer and everyones situation is different, I am at 66% right now, I'm in northern Florida (outside still over 90 most days)and our indoor temp is 72 with humidity at normal range I forget exactly what it is cause my humidity thingy is in with the chicks, i had it running in the house for a week first to be sure it was accurate and did the salt method to calibrate it, if that even works, but it seems to be working as I definetly feel I have atleast 9-10 viable chicks as of now, if I candled them correctly, which I'm pretty sure I did as I used the candleing pics on this site and my lines pretty much matched up with all others on the air sack growth...I know it's a risk I have to take to hatch our own but I sooo do NOT want to kill these babies by accident by not doing the right thing, so many opinions but I have pretty much stuck with what I have read on here as well as a few books I purchased by Gail Damerow and following The Chicken Chicks webpage which also has some awesome info! Fingers crossed...i think I did my homework (literally...for months prior) but I feel so helpless and inadequate right now...lol thanks for letting me rant

 

[L1sa]

but I feel so helpless and inadequate right now...lol thanks for letting me rant

Its the hardest feeling to deal with, i also feel those things. My broody is sitting on 4 eggs (was 6) and i can't even see through the shells when I candle so i don't know at what stage they're at, im just going to have to wait until hatch day, then +1 then +2 then possibly +3. I have a feeling they'll be late if at all!!

Good luck with your hatch

 

[pennyJo1960]

Ranting is allowed growing up on farm we used broody hens so never had used a incubator can explain them better than using one

 

[oregonkat]

You are doing just fine. Your numbers are good, the only thing that I am a little concerned about is the smelly egg. Find it. Pull each one out and give it a good sniff. You dont have to worry about the humidity level right now until you have your first external pip but you need to get rid of the stinker. Your humidity level will return to where it needs to be quite quickly. If the stinker blows while your chicks are hatching, you could have a nasty situation on your hands. Keep posting through the hatch if you feel like it and please post pics. of the babies!!

 

[oregonkat]

Oh, and btw, . Good luck with your hatch and I hope that Florence doesn't give you to much of a hard time.

 

[Darlene415]

Oh, and btw, . Good luck with your hatch and I hope that Florence doesn't give you to much of a hard time.

You are doing just fine. Your numbers are good, the only thing that I am a little concerned about is the smelly egg. Find it. Pull each one out and give it a good sniff. You dont have to worry about the humidity level right now until you have your first external pip but you need to get rid of the stinker. Your humidity level will return to where it needs to be quite quickly. If the stinker blows while your chicks are hatching, you could have a nasty situation on your hands. Keep posting through the hatch if you feel like it and please post pics. of the babies!!

Yes i may do this shortly i am contemplating moving the chicks to brooder today while i wait for the others...i can't hear any other eggs with them chirping...lol i posted a thread in raising chicks forum with a few brooder location questions if u happen to be there at any point today!

 

[ariri30]

Yes i may do this shortly i am contemplating moving the chicks to brooder today while i wait for the others...i can't hear any other eggs with them chirping...lol i posted a thread in raising chicks forum with a few brooder location questions if u happen to be there at any point today!

Today is my day 18. First time homemade incubator. I see people who bought expensive incubators having trouble hatching their eggs. What are my chances?

 

[oregonkat]

Today is my day 18. First time homemade incubator. I see people who bought expensive incubators having trouble hatching their eggs. What are my chances?

It looks like your eggs are doing fine! Your temp might be a hair low if it has held around 101 so your hatch might be a little later but if your humidity is good you should be fine. Please post your hatch results as this is a good learning experience for folks using home made incubators.