My humidity took a drastic dive. :0( Just want some thoughts.

My humidity had been at a steady 65% and my eggs had been in the incubator for 5 days. When I came in that morning to turn them the humidity had dropped to 22%. I don't know when it happened in the night or for how long. Once I found it I got it back up asap and it has been up ever since and we are on about day 7 or 8 now.

I have never had my humidity drop like that before I have never had a significant drop in humidity while incubating. What do you think my chances are for my babies? Do you think this probably wiped everyone out. I hope not these were special eggs I had purchased and shipped from breeders. I am gonna see it through no matter what but, just wanted opinions from people who have been through this before.


Sorry I have to cry these little buggers weren't cheap.
Eggs purchased and mailed in from 3 different breeders over the US. I have never purchased eggs from that many breeders at once, I guess just my luck.

Also for anyone wanting to know how this goes I will update at the end.

Thanks,
MIchelle

It's happened to me before, I hadn't realized that the water tray was empty and it didn't seem to affect them at all. Your humidity sounds a bit high though. I would say to aim for 50% during the first 18 days and then increase to about 70 - 75% for the last 3. I've also had one chick hatch from outrages humidity levels. Its a long story of why, but he ended being at 70% humidity for nearing all of his development and then for the last 5 days, he had 20% humidity, how he hacthed, I still don't know. I was sure he was dead and we went camping and totally forgot about him, but Ieft the incubator on. I came home and went down to unplug it and there he was chirping away defeating all odds.

I agree that humidity is way to high. I keep mine under 40% and don't let it drop too far down in the 20's. Your eggs are fine.... unless the 65% did them in. Chicks can drown at that humidity. I do dry incubation and it works great. I have nearly 100% hatch with most of my eggs. I just had a humidity spike to over 50 and had less than 35% to hatch. You have to do what works for you, but that humidity is what I shoot for as a min for lockdown.

I too keep my humidity between 32-40% first 18 days and then no more than 60=65% at lockdown. I have drowned chicks at 70%, ones that have externally pipped--so be careful!

I too have drown chicks with too high of humidity (days1-18). I now "dry incubate" which works out for me 30-40% with excellent results.

cochins1088 said:

It's happened to me before, I hadn't realized that the water tray was empty and it didn't seem to affect them at all. Your humidity sounds a bit high though. I would say to aim for 50% during the first 18 days and then increase to about 70 - 75% for the last 3. I've also had one chick hatch from outrages humidity levels. Its a long story of why, but he ended being at 70% humidity for nearing all of his development and then for the last 5 days, he had 20% humidity, how he hacthed, I still don't know. I was sure he was dead and we went camping and totally forgot about him, but Ieft the incubator on. I came home and went down to unplug it and there he was chirping away defeating all odds.

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Too cute!!!!

Yeah, I have had some that have beat some really crazy odds. I guess a lot depends on their will to live.

I will try to bring the humidity down just a little bit cause, when I candled the air sacs seemed very small. Then again I have never candled at 7 days before. So they can drowned at this point? I thought they couldn't drowned until they break through the internal membrane?

Can anyone answer this one for me????

they wont drown just yet

drop humidity to 30 to catch up and them on lockdown to 65 and it should go ok

dandydoodle said:

I will try to bring the humidity down just a little bit cause, when I candled the air sacs seemed very small. Then again I have never candled at 7 days before. So they can drowned at this point? I thought they couldn't drowned until they break through the internal membrane?

Can anyone answer this one for me????

Click to expand...

Yes and no.... they will not drown till they pip internally. If the humidity stays high that will cause condensation in the air cell and down the road when they pip that will cause them to drown. They will also not dry out like they should. If they do hatch it would be a WET hatch and they would be a big mess.