NOTHING ON DAY 21

[KEarthman]

We have 10 BCM eggs that have been on a dry incubation for 18 days. This is end if Day 21 and there has been no peeps, pips, or movement. The humidity was increased properly for lockdown, etc. We have had 3 very successful hatches with the dry hatch method in this incubator prior to this. The only thing we did differently this time is lower the temp to 99 degrees F. Is it possible this destroyed the hatch? We know several people who have been hatching this way with a lot of success. These eggs are very dark and too hard to see into. Any input would be appreciated. We have another batch of BCM and CL set to hatch in 8 days with this method. Those CL eggs could be candled tomorrow.

 

[Coops Dad]

Long story short, 3 healthy babies!

It's customary to post pics of the chicks. If you don't, you can be banned.

 

[KEarthman]

How'd you do here?

Long story short, 3 healthy babies!

 

[nuthatched]

Eggs really aren't that sensitive to that slight of change but what were your readings thus far and are you certain your sensor is right?
Did you skip the first day in counting the days.

 

[nuthatched]

We warmed up the incubator for a few hours to test everything. Then reset the timer to 21 days and the temp to 99 degrees F instead of 99.5 when we put the eggs in. It says 99 degrees and 65% humidity for a dry hatch.

Is your incubator forced or still air? What model? 65% is too high for a dry hatch or a normal hatch, that is usually the humidity most folks lock down with.
Most people do between 40%-45% to 55% humidity for the incubation and boost to 65%-70% for hatch. Here's some reading to help you next hatch.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...hatching-chicken-eggs-aka-hatching-101.64195/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...h-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method.47694/

 

[MysteryChicken]

OK.
I know. We only did it because we were going to toss later. And we made sure there were no cracks first. It's just so weird because the entire batch has been like this and we know the incubator and eggs were fine and were checked prior to incubation. All of our other hatches were smooth.

Just give them longer.

Are you using separate calibrated thermometers, & hygrometers to keep an eye on conditions in your incubator?

It's a common mistake made by newbs, relying on built in incubator thermometers, & Hygrometers which are often times inaccurate.(Not calling you a newb), just an example.

 

[Coops Dad]

The slightly lower temp could have caused a slightly delayed hatch. Our incubator suffered temp creep from its calibration and we were actually incubating at 100.5* F. We started having chicks hatch on day 19.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Sometimes chicks don't hatch until days 24, or 25. I've had a few hatches like this. Don't want to toss the eggs out too soon, otherwise you may end up killing unhatched chicks if they're still alive.

We don't recommend float testing, there's a chance at drowning the chicks if there happens to be a crack in the shell.

 

[KEarthman]

OK.
I know. We only did it because we were going to toss later. And we made sure there were no cracks first. It's just so weird because the entire batch has been like this and we know the incubator and eggs were fine and were checked prior to incubation. All of our other hatches were smooth.

 

[KEarthman]

It's customary to post pics of the chicks. If you don't, you can be banned.

If you can explain to me how to get them from my phone onto here, I would be more than happy to! Having problems with it. Very frustrating!