We have eggs that are supposed to hatch in 5 days in an incubator. Someone turned off the power, and they have been at 70 degrees all day. I turned it back on this evening, but it must have been 70 for at least 10 hours. Will the eggs still hatch, or are they dead? I tried to see thru them by candling, but the chicks are so big that it is just darkness. Thanks Maylene

-- Maylene (zedanka@aol.com), May 07, 2001

Answers

Don't give up, you have a chance. Just keep on as usual and see what happens. Even though the power was off that long, the incubator may have held heat for quite a while. And that near hatching, they would create some body heat of their own. We have had power off for a while and they made it with a reduced number. Let us know how it goes. God Bless. Cora-Vee

-- Cora-Vee Caswell (coravee@locl.net), May 08, 2001.

I say don't give up; we hatched out some eggs and the thermostat wafer was old, so the temperature really fluctuated for the whole 21 days. I didn't really expect any eggs to hatch but doggedly kept turning them every day, and lo and behold got 18 strong healthy chicks out of 46 eggs! Lots better than giving up and losing them all. Good luck!

Elizabeth

-- Elizabeth in e tx (kimprice@peoplescom.net), May 08, 2001.

Maylene, I hope you let them go the distance and let us know what happens. I'd like to know if they hatch. Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), May 09, 2001.

Maylene--

Did your eggs hatch?

-- Lynn (ljbixler@dtgnet.com), May 14, 2001.

Well, we had some success. 15 of 29 chicks hatched successfully. I am going to open some of the other 14 eggs to see how far along in development they are. Today is the 24th day, and there is no sign of any pecking or life, so I am assuming they are gonners. 70% hatch rate is average, I am told, so considering the circumstances, 50% isn't terrible. Thanks for all your input.

Blessings, Maylene

-- Maylene (zedanka@aol.com), May 15, 2001.