3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[steveprice]

I have 18 eggs in my incubator that are due to hatch on Tuesday.

 

My problem is i am not sure if they are going to as i came down one morning to find the top of the incubator had come off over night so the temp had dropped this was a few weeks ago and they have been in the incubator at the correct temp at all other times.

 

I am hoping they still hatch, but this is my first time.

 

What do you all think? there also seems to be no movment in the incubator, but then do eggs even move before they hatch. We are currently on day 19.

 

Any advice anyone can give would be good

 

Thanks

 

Steve

[Lewis]

Have you stopped turning and upped the humidity?

 

If it wasn't for too long then they should be ok - did you candle them at any stage?

 

My incy power supply broke when we were out so they were cold for a couple of hours until we got back and then had to fix a new one ... we still got chicks

[steveprice]

No i have not candled them only because i did not want to take the eggs out but like i said the heat was lost for sometime over night. but this did only happen the once.

 

Stoped turning on day 18 but there seems to be nothing going on but then not sure what if anything should be going on untill day 21.

[Lewis]

You might find because of all the cold weather and the heat being off they'll be a couple of days late

A few people on here have thought their eggs weren't going to hatch because of not seeing/hearing anything, recently - have always had a couple of chicks though

 

Good luck

[steveprice]

if they maybe late sould i still trn them. I did stop on day 18

[Redwing]

no Steve, you did right by stopping turning at day 18, if you turn them after this point they may pip underneath

 

The humidity should be upped to the incubator manfacturers guideline level on day 18 when you stop turning

 

You will probably get some chicks

 

For now resist all temptation to open the inccy or candle the eggs (unless you need to open it to raise humidity by adding water to a resevoir)

[steveprice]

Due to hatch tomorrow and i am not very hopefull that any will hatch....

 

Are the ends ment to move at all on there own at this stage, or hear anything.

 

There seems to be nothing going on inside at all.

 

Any guidence would be good.

[Redwing]

Dont panic Steve

 

I have had very few eggs that have moved or made any noise before hatching

 

I have been on here and also seen other posts on here worrying that something wont hatch but inevitably something does!

 

Fingers crossed and sit on your hands for now

[steveprice]

I cant watch them anymore i am going to try and take my mind off it and go and muck some of my horses out down the yard.

 

Regards

 

Steve

[chick wiggle]

I was in exactly your position Steve and i got 2 out of 6 hatch, and i didnt see or hear anything until they actually pipped! So bide your time, give them an extra couple of days due to the temp falling and we will keep our fingers crossed for you

let us know what happens though wont you?

[steveprice]

sorry more questions from a newbe....

 

As i do not want many boys what do i do with any extra's as dont think i could bring myself to destroy them?

[Lewis]

Should really have thought about that before hatching

 

You can try and re-home them at a rescue centre, breeder, farm, petting zoo etc.

The other option is to raise them as meat birds, but you might not want to do that.

 

What breed are they? - You may have to raise them until you can tell the difference between the sexes, if they aren't autosexing.

[steveprice]

The breeds that i am hatching are

 

Light Sussex

Marans

Buff Orpington

 

I am looking to keep must and would like some breeding stock, but do not want to get over run.

[Lewis]

They are all good dual purpose birds if you did want to rear them for meat, or ask someone else to do it

I think the Buff Orps may take a lot of plucking though!

[steveprice]

We are now on day 21 no movment, sound or anything yet from any of the 18 eggs in the iccy, i am getting very worried now

[Cooks]

I think from earlier posts you;ve been told to give them extra time due to the temperature drop, so just bear with it a while longer.

[Lewis]

Yep, its always best to give them a couple of extra days even if you think they aren't going to hatch

[Redwing]

as the others have said stick with it and absolutely resist the temptation to open the inccy at this stage, if nothing has happened by day 24 then whip them out for a candling

 

Also the first day they go in should be day 0 - did you take that in to account?

 

sit on your hands!!!

[steveprice]

yes the had been in for 24 hours before i counted that as 1 etc.

 

There was a lot more movement from the two eggs for some of the day but nothing more and all is still in the iccy now.

 

Dont worry i am not opening the iccy at all (i do want to but i will not promise)

[steveprice]

We at last have a crack in one of the 18 eggs so things are starting to happen....

 

It is not even one of the eggs that was moving LOL

 

We keep you all posted on the progress.

[Lewis]

Good news

 

We all expect photos, you understand

[Cooks]

yup as Lewis says Photos are a MUST, we only survive the day on photos.. :lol:

[steveprice]

I now have two hatch and two more on the way.

 

Thank you every one on here that has help and supported.

 

If you let me know how to post picture i will post ASAP

 

Thanks again

 

Steve

[Cooks]

Theres a guide to putting pictures in your post HERE!

[Redwing]

Well done Steve that is great news!