[min200]

After walking past my incubator for the umpteenth time today I realised it hasnt moved/turned.

Upon closer inspection my wonderful teenage daughter had unplugged the cradle to plug her laptop in yesterday.

To say im furious is an understatement!  Ive candled the eggs and I can't see any movement at all now so is it worth leaving the eggs until their hatch date (Monday) or should I just bin them and start again?

Advice really needed here please peoples!

[D]

Although I've not hatched any eggs I'd still be tempted to leave them and see. It may amount to nothing or you may be in luck. I'm gutted for you, I'd like to try my luck with hatching out some chicks at some point.

[orchardlady]

I think I', inclined to agree with D. I to have never used an incubator but only hatched from under a broodie but there have been occasions when I've found eggs that have been tossed out by the broodie stone cold and when put back under produced healthy chicks. Also once many years ago before I realised you had to turf the broodie off her eggs every so often I had one do the most huge and explosive poop all over her eggs. I washed them quickly and shoved them back under and they all hatched so I think that the will to live is very strong. Worth a try it's only Monday.

OL

[GrannieAnnie]

I agree, don't waste what could be healthy chicks for another few days!  Fingers crossed Min!!

[min200]

OK then I will leave them in for now and see what happens!   Bloomin kids eh!

[Sassy]

I have only used an incubator once and that was a while ago so I may well be wrong. Should you still be turning the eggs if you expect them to hatch on Monday?

[darkbrowneggs]

I read somewhere that turning is more critical during the first 12 days, so hopefully everything will be OK

I should leave them in a bit longer than you normally would just in case it has delayed things a bit.

All the best
and good luck
Sue

[Catsmuvva]

Have you considered getting rid of the teenager??   

[min200]

I have only used an incubator once and that was a while ago so I may well be wrong. Should you still be turning the eggs if you expect them to hatch on Monday?

You stop turning them 3 days before the hatch date im told and have read!

Have you considered getting rid of the teenager??   

Not allowed to sell them on Ebay apparently!

[cluckingnuts]

I once left mine unturned for 7 days, they hatched.

[hillfooter]

I'd agree don't disturb them further.  I've done this and in fact my last batch of Orloff's, renowned as difficult to hatch, were left off twice! for 24hrs at around 5 days and 10 days and also my SIL who was looking after them while we were away let the humidifier run dry for 24hrs.  All the eggs hatched perfectly and produced healthy chicks who are laying now.  I believe it's best not to over handle them and candle just twice after 5 and 10 days and get rid of any obviously clear eggs which aren't fertile.  Turn the cradle off after 18 to 19 days and raise the humidity to greater than 60% and resist the temptation to raise the lid after the 2nd candle, until half the eggs have hatched at around 21 days.  Then transfer the hatchlings to a brooder and close the incubator quickly ensuring the humidity remains high (60 - 70%ish a light misting is OK but don't wet the eggs) and give the rest around 2 days more to show signs of pipping.

If you follow this advice and you do forget to turn the cradle back on after candling it will occur in the early stages of incubation when things aren't so critical.

I think you can probably sell teenages on ebay if they aren't for human consumption.

HF

HF

[min200]

Thanks Hillfooter you have answered many a question there including one I was asking about the humidity.

If I cant sell teenagers for human consumption its going to half the market!

[Pertelotte]

If I cant sell teenagers for human consumption its going to half the market!

What market? Who in their right mind would swap good coin for something that thinks scratching and grunting at the same time is multi-tasking?

Fingers crossed for your eggs. Tell us how they get on.

[Kathie]

Sorry to say but I agree get rid of the teenagers!!! But seriously good luck, keep us posted

[Tigerwren]

Keeping everything crossed for you for tomorrow Min200!  Let us know how it all turns out and best of luck!