[pepsi100]

Which day did you stop turning the eggs?

2 days before the hatch date

The chick who'se egg I open has survived, I did have to wet the membrane quite a bit and peel it off, I left it in the incubator over night, this morning cheeping quite well, I have holes in 2 eggs as well

[Casey76]

Hi Pepsi, one more question... do you have central heating?

Central heating can be very drying, even if you don't have the heat on in the room you are incubating in.  I would highly recommend buying a hygrometer (you can buy a simple one for about £5 for a terranium in a good pet store)

If you are starting to pip now on day 25/26, I'd suggest that your temperature has been a little low (even if your thermometers were reading 37.5C).  Even half a degree can make a big difference!

What kind of incubator do you have?  I'm guessing it is a manual or semi-manual tun?  Just for future reference, it is better tu turn the eggs a odd number of times, rather than even

Good luck with your pips!

[pepsi100]

I got a hygometer today, (as I still got eggs in here, what should it read?)

The combined thermometer and hygrometer reads 38.0 C and 80% humidity

Even using a conventional thermometer has read the same thing  , but in F


Havent had the central heating on (even had windows open, hasnt been that cold really)

(the council/gas board was giving away loft insulation and cavity wall insulation for free, so I took them up on their offer)

Not actually getting any pipping, just a hole in the shell, then it just gets bigger

I have had to help them get out of the shell, the membrane seems very tough

This is the incubator, it is fan assisted, there is a hole in the top for a thermometer, it came with a cup which should be full (and refilled with warm water)

I have put a peice of kitchen towel in the bottom, just for a bit of grip, if any hatch out

[Poultry Pioneer]

If the membraine was dry it probably means that there wasn't enough water in the icubator. It also isn't the best time of year for hatching.

[pepsi100]

I had 2 small cups in there, that I topped up each time I turned them, I have usually hatched eggs this time of the year,

I have 2 cups in there now, and a small sponge, the hygrometer reads 42%, so how can I increase the humidity ?

Temerature is reading 99.5.F

6 more due to hatch tomorrow, hopefully  :blink:

[kegs]

I had 2 small cups in there, that I topped up each time I turned them, I have usually hatched eggs this time of the year,

I have 2 cups in there now, and a small sponge, the hygrometer reads 42%, so how can I increase the humidity ?

Temerature is reading 99.5.F

6 more due to hatch tomorrow, hopefully  :blink:

Your temperature translates to 37.5 which is fine.  The humidity needs to be 65%+ but I'm not familiar with your incubator so don't know where the cups are sited.  You somehow need to increase the surface area of water which you know, as I'd normally suggest putting in a sponge or j-cloth and you say you've already done this.  Have you put in hot water as that will increase the humidity although if you have to lift the lid on your incubator in order to do this it will reduce the temperature and humidity at a stage where you should be leaving everything alone.  Can you email the manufacturer of your incubator as they may be able to offer further advice?

[pepsi100]

I've had this incubator for years, I dont know who makes them

When I turn the eggs, I keep the top off for a minimum, Yes I do use hot water to top up the cups and wet the sponge

I have the cups at each end of the incubator, sponge in the middle

Apart from using a spray bottle every few hours I dont know there is much else I can do to increase the humidity

The single egg I cracked and helped the chick out is doing well in the brooder, seems a little lonely though, but is lively, pecking about and sleeping 

[pepsi100]

  I have just had another chick hatch out, I think its about 5 days late though

All these eggs have gone in at the same time, I know that a incubation time is 21 days or there abouts, but these eggs have been in longer, but still hatching chicks

I am going nuts or something, I really dont think these chicks should be hatching this far apart

Anyone any ideas why this is happening (I'm not complaining though

[joyfull]

sometimes these things just happen even when using a broody hen. 21 days is really just a guide and not something set in stone (pretty much like human babies - their due time is classed as 40 weeks but really normal full term is anything from 38 - 42 weeks  ). Nature likes to keep us guessing  :blink:

[pepsi100]

I've never had eggs hatch out with such a long interval between hatches

I suppose I was sort of lucky I didnt turn off the incubator when I was going to

The first chick that hatched out is quite a bit bigger than this new one, got another hopefully, just wait and see now

[Sassy]

The best way of increasing the humidity is to have conatiners with warm water with a large surface area of water. So a saucer or soup plate would be better than a small cup where the surface are is only small. A wet sponge type dishcloth is probably your best option.

Good luck with the rest of your hatch.

[pepsi100]

I now have 4 chicks, the last hatched today, so I now have 4 chicks and 6 days seperate the first chick from the last 

I'm leaving the remainer in the incubator, there might be other late arrival's 

I have never had this happen before, they usually all hatch within a few hours of each other

I have 3 golden/light coloured chicks and 1 little black/brownish one

Any guesses which are going to turn out a cockerel ?

[Sassy]

Well done for persevering

[pepsi100]

I suppose the next step is giving them some kind of wormer or medicine, try and give them a decent start in life, has any one any suggestions ?

(I have never bothered in the past, they all seem healthy enough)

[Sassy]

This is a difficult one and down to the individual. Personally I wouldd only give medicine if there was a reason to. If you have them on a good quality chick crumb, with fresh water and they are kept clean, personally, I feel this is the best start for them. Oh and their heat is kepr right.