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

[ariri30]

Thank you. That’s a auto timer that I ordered in amazon to control the temperature. It’s st up at 102 and when it goes down to 101 the light goes on to bring the temperature to 102. Is that the way it’s supposed to work?

 

[oregonkat]

Thank you. That’s a auto timer that I ordered in amazon to control the temperature. It’s st up at 102 and when it goes down to 101 the light goes on to bring the temperature to 102. Is that the way it’s supposed to work?

I would think so as it seems to be doing the job. Are you monitoring your humidity also? How are you maintaining the humidity? This is going to be important as you start your hatch. You are going to need to be able to keep it up around 60%. This may mean using wet sponges or some kind of vessel for the water. Remember that humidity relies on surface area not volume which is why the sponges work quite well.

 

[ariri30]

I would think so as it seems to be doing the job. Are you monitoring your humidity also? How are you maintaining the humidity? This is going to be important as you start your hatch. You are going to need to be able to keep it up around 60%. This may mean using wet sponges or some kind of vessel for the water. Remember that humidity relies on surface area not volume which is why the sponges work quite well.

Yes I have a separate one that measure the humidity. I added sponges and it’s around 68 percent right now. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have a crazy chicken that kept braking the eggs but refuses to leave the nest. I’m hoping to give her at least one baby. It breaks my heart to see her so determine to hatch some babies.

 

[ariri30]

I would think so as it seems to be doing the job. Are you monitoring your humidity also? How are you maintaining the humidity? This is going to be important as you start your hatch. You are going to need to be able to keep it up around 60%. This may mean using wet sponges or some kind of vessel for the water. Remember that humidity relies on surface area not volume which is why the sponges work quite well.

 

[ariri30]

Oh I didn’t know why the sponges. That makes sense. I will keep you posted.

 

[oregonkat]

Yes I have a separate one that measure the humidity. I added sponges and it’s around 68 percent right now. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have a crazy chicken that kept braking the eggs but refuses to leave the nest. I’m hoping to give her at least one baby. It breaks my heart to see her so determine to hatch some babies.

Great, and yes, please keep posting as you head into hatch mode!

 

[ariri30]

Great, and yes, please keep posting as you head into hatch mode!

While I was checking the humidity I just noticed one egg has a hair line crack at the bottom going up. I put liquid bandage on it. I hope I’m doing the right thing

 

[oregonkat]

While I was checking the humidity I just noticed one egg has a hair line crack at the bottom going up. I put liquid bandage on it. I hope I’m doing the right thing

Was there liquid of any kind oozing out of the crack? Did you notice any bad smell?

 

[ariri30]

No smell and nothing coming out of it. I candle it a couple hours before noticing the crack, to trace the air cell and I didn’t see it until later. It was moving inside and it looked ok when I candled it. Should I leave it alone or should I check it to see if it’s still alive when I get home? I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it. I just looked at it through the window at 1:30 am. I’m so tired

 

[oregonkat]

No smell and nothing coming out of it. I candle it a couple hours before noticing the crack, to trace the air cell and I didn’t see it until later. It was moving inside and it looked ok when I candled it. Should I leave it alone or should I check it to see if it’s still alive when I get home? I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it. I just looked at it through the window at 1:30 am. I’m so tired

Don't worry about it too much then. Get some rest and relax. Everything is going to be OK. You are on day 19 now so there is nothing more to be done except to wait. Keep an eye on the temp and humidity every now and then and with luck you should have some activity in the next couple of days.