[funkyfish]

I put 18 eggs in he incubator 22 days ago today. Temp 37.5 filled one of the water thingies (brinsea Eco 20). Stopped the cradle 2 days before hatching and filled the other water thingy. Candler the eggs at ten days and all but one had something in it. Nothing has hatched so far... I'm sure some of the eggs have been movin a bit and I candled them again yesterday and all had something large I them.

The cockerel is young, just under a year old but he has been treading the girls, crowing and doing usual boy things. The eggs were all clean and normal looking.

What's gone wrong? Will keep them in the incubator till the end of the week then give up I think.

Any ideas how to get it right next time?

[colliewoman]

I was always taught that the first day in the incy doesn't count. You only start counting the days after they have been in 24 hours?
Can you hear tapping if you hold one to your ear?
I would wait and see, don't give up yet x

[in the hills]

Can you hear the chicks cheeping? Hold the eggs close to your ear.

We did have one hatch last year when the chicks were alive but stuck in their shells. Guess the humidity was not correct despite having done exactly as we had done on previous occasions. I have heard that outside humidity can affect things. We took a chance and hubbie picked them out of their shells. The chicks were healthy and we still have them now. Grew well and are fine. The membranes had become very dry inside the shells. The eggs had pipped on their own. I know that not everyone would recommend helping them out because chicks could be deformed or weak. It worked on this occasion. I would not do this if eggs were under a broodie but an incubator is an artificial environment afterall.

If they pip but make no progress it maybe worth a try. We also sprayed them with warm water.

[in the hills]

Just read Colliewomans reply. Yes, dont be too hasty. Our RIRs tend to hatch just after 21 days whereas our peekins, under a broodie hatched at 19 days last year. Are they from a large breed?

[chrismahon]

As Colliewoman says, the day the eggs go in is day zero, day 1 starts 24 hours later. The humidity is raised to keep the membrane soft otherwise they can't break out as they stick to it. Sounds as though you have done everything right but have you checked the temperature with another thermometer. We used a clinical one.

But could be it will all happen tomorrow. Keep the incubator closed as loss of humidity when you open it will cause problems. As In the Hills says a spray with lukewarm water may help if they are struggling to get out. A lot depends on the humidity outside the incubator so if the room is very dry the water troughs may not give enough and a sponge/ J cloth dipped in one would help to increase the surface area for evaporation.

[funkyfish]

Thanks for the info! Will wait and see what happens!!
Do I dare lift the lid to check the water levels and get one out to see if it's cheeping etc? Or wait a few days? They are Indian game cross light Sussex and cross Faverol mostly.

[funkyfish]

Yay chicks! Added some wet j cloth and one is out and some are jumping beans!!

[jaykay]

Hurray, hurray 
If you put your mouth right near the vent and 'cheep' at the eggs, they will cheep back 

[in the hills]

Well done. Easter chicks.

Try not to open the incie too much. Spray eggs if they look like they are drying and keep the cloth moist.

Let us know how many you get. 

[funkyfish]

God the buggers are noisy!! Incy in bedroom to keep cats off it. Thanks for the advice everyone!! First time hatching in an incubator. One out and running around, 3 more with cracks and cheeping. 7 to hatch in total.
Thanks to Sylvia for my lovely IG boy!!

[aaronsundin]

That's fantastic news ! Well done you .

[Sylvia]

I'm so glad the boy has done his work I've been aiming for years to increase fertility as I.G.s have a tendency towards low fertility. Warning!!!! You'll be hooked on hatching now! What is the boy's temperament like?

[funkyfish]

He is fab. A real sweet heart- looks after is ladies and finds them yummy things to eat. Easy to handle etc. Next batch in the inch will be cream legbars, would love some girl IG at some point.