Well I have officially 3 more days until hatch time. Eggs start to darken up right now, cause'n they are filled with little babies now. I candled them again a few nights ago and found another dud, but that's ok, there's bound to be some.
(some more info. I'm using a Forced air, which has a fan, and temp control on it, just a styrofoam incubator. i have 3 thermometers, 1 stick, 2 digitals, sometimes the sticks are off 1-3 degrees. Forced air keeps a more consistent temp inside with no hot/cold spots)
Took pics of what I can see now. Tomorrow will lay them flat on the mesh grate inside, i have found that putting a liner of shelving/drawer liner that's holey and has some grip holds the eggs, while the chicks move around and also makes for easier clean up. My first 2 attempts at hatching the poor incubator looked like battle fields.
Also noticing that the humidity is raising slightly which is a good sign. I have kept the eggs at a steady 99.5 F with 50-60% humidity the entire time, the humidity is raising because they are beginning to move alot more and have gained their own body heat. The humidity in it now is at 70%.
It's important that the humidity stays at 70-80% during hatching, as the chicks will pip in one spot, breaking the air sac area or side of the egg, they can remain this way for 12-20 hours, sometimes less. Then after all that work, they begin 'zipping' as I call it, breaking the egg all the way around. The way their legs are positioned in the egg, will help that last little KICK needed to pop the top. During zipping they move around in the egg to get to the next spot to break. If the humidity is low, they will sometimes get shrink wrapped by the membrane that they are in. Humidity helps them slide around in the egg.
I just bought a new incubator, a still air (no fan), which I will use for when they pop out. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I have lost chicks in the egg, due to the popped chicks running around flipping pipped eggs over. The fluid in the egg will drown them, especially if the humidity is too high.
Well enough rambling for tonight... Here's the pics.
(stay tuned this weekend, I always have some that come early)
Veins are very important, chick moving around great and a few look like they will pip soon.
They will absorb the rest of the yolk inside of the bellies and the veins on the inside of the egg will drain the rest of blood into their bodies. Helping them out, I have learned isn't an option. if they are not strong enough to do it themselves it's better off. They will never grow right and will have more problems developing. I helped one out that was not progressing after 25 hours, it's stomach didn't absorb all the stuff yet, and the veins were still full. A horrid learning experience, didn't live past the 4 day.
My set up. Temp is low cause i just took pics. Very happy with the double decker bobwhite egg holders i made.
