Day 20

[mandi plus five]

I candled the 8 Orpington eggs at day 18 and all were moving well, we are now at day 20 and no sign of anything, do LF take longer to hatch and what should I be expecting, I have run the inc dry and now filled the water pots but do not know the humidity its a Brinsea Mini.

 

[Philcott]

Both bantam and large fowl can take 21 days to hatch - I'm not surprised you haven't seen much yet - Did you count from the day you put them in, or the day after? It takes nearly five hours for them to really get up to temperature once they go into the incubator, so you really should only start counting from the day after they go in.

I am sure that they will be fine - Brinsea mini's are excellent machines, and I've had great success with them - don't worry about the humidity - the two pots being full will be just fine. Leave the cover on and don't be tempted to fiddle you'll upset the humidity and temps. You've switched the turner off haven't you?

 

[mandi plus five]

Thanks Philcot, I had counted as day one, so more like day 19.5...
I have stopped turning and have not fiddled, fingers crossed, I have five very impatient children

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Mandi. As Philcott says, the day they go in is day zero and they don't start until the core temperature is 37.5 degrees. They don't stop until the core temperature drops either so they can stand a short power cut or two. We have had them hatch a day early if the temperature is very slightly high. We've had them hatch two days late as well.

 

[Marigold]

And you have put a non-slip liner under the eggs and over the floor of the incubator as well?

 

[mandi plus five]

Yes I have put non slip under them, when I got up this morning I heard cheeping and now one of the eggs has a pip in it! I have no idea how you experienced hatchers manage to keep sane, I am a nervous wreck!! Worse than waiting for labour to start with my six children!!

 

[rita]

hope they all have hatched ok, i am now waiting for mine, also really nervous hope all goes well.