Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[mnwickens]

I got 6 chickens about 3 months ago. About a month ago I added one more. Then I figured it was worth trying to hatch my own.

 

So, I built my own incubator and am on day 5 trying to hatch 12 eggs. An unknown mixture I bought online and 6 Leghorns from a local supplier, Absolute Chickens.

 

My incubator allows me to control the temperature and humidity quite well and I am keeping it at 38.5c and 55-60% humidity.

 

I'm wondering how forgiving eggs are if there is much variance? I have read as much as I can online but still am not 100% sure.

 

Have others found the hatching process quite unforgiving or is there room for error? Do changes at the beginning cause more problems than changes at the end or in-between? I'd appreciate any feedback.

[Redwing]

Does your incubator have a fan? if so the temp would be better at 37.5, if its 'still air' then the temp should be higher than 37.5 so your figure would probably be ok. Also the humidity is pretty high if its day 0-18, it should be lower for the first 18 days

 

Some interesting questions in your post, I've found eggs to be pretty forgiving really, they seem to thrive on a bit of neglect rather than obsession

 

changes in temp in the first 4 days seem to have the most effect so a too hot or too cold early on will often kill off the embryo whereas a raise in temp or a power cut has much less effect at 10 days. the older the developing chick is the longer the eggs will hold temperature if there is a power cut - thats worth knowing

 

Changes in humidity seem to have most effect in the last 4 days, too high humidity too early means that the airsac fills with water and when the chick pips through the internal membrane in to the airsac it is met by water and drowns - this is a common cause of DIS (dead in shell - where the chick is fully formed but fails to hatch)

 

Low humidity is preferable to too high, I dont add any water to the incubator until day 18 then only raise it to 52% or thereabouts, one of my incubators doesnt have a humidity read-out so with that one I am not very scientific about it and just add a splash of water really.

 

Since I have stopped worrying so much about the humidity, raising it high and fiddling with it and the eggs my hatch rates have been much better

 

A chick will actually pip and frequently hatch with no water added so sometimes people wait for the first pip then raise it as opposed to raising it regardless at day 18, others dont ever add water

 

I've actually forgotten about a hatch several times and come home to a chick hatched and riding on the autoturn each time that happens the egg was held in by the rods point downwards with eggs around it and no extra water so it just burst out through the top

 

I'm not advising that people should be blase about the whole thing I'm just trying to point out that there is some room for error and that a healthy strong chick will normally make it out ok regardless

[mnwickens]

That's great information, thank you! I have an old computer fan in there and it seems to be working well. I have two thermometers in there, one with a humidity reading as well, and the temp all round is the same.

 

I did have a spike in temperature on the second day and if there are problems I think they will stem from there. The humidity and temperature have been very stable since then though.

 

I have a candler that seems to be working well and from what I can tell things are okay with a few of the eggs. I'll leave them until day ten or so now and check then.

 

Thanks again for that help. I appreciate it.