I have a genesis 1588(the new type). I incubated according to the instructions that came with it. It was preset to 100 degrees ad I kept one well filled(stayed around 50-55% humidity). For lockdown I removed the automatic turner and filled the 2nd well(was up to 65-70% humidity so a little higher then the instructions recommended so I cracked the lid slightly which brought it down to 60-65% steadily). On day 20 I had 1 hatch fine on its own. Woke up on day 21 to 5 more that had hatched just fine. I hadn't once opened the bator during this time. Humidity was up to 74% when i woke up that morning. Then I started to get nervous about a chick that hadn't made much progress from its pip. The outer white membrane was looking very white and papery. Everything I've read made me think it was shrink wrapping so I took the other 6 chicks out(humidity dropped to 56% then got back up within a couple minutes). I ended up helping that chick out and it was fine. Then I had 1 that had pipped and had bubbles coming out(indicating drowning, correct?). Sadly, I didn't see that in time to save the chick. I went to bed last night with 3 more that had pipped. I figured I would help them out in the morning if they hadn't made progress(they all had clear breathing holes). I woke up to one that had died(looked sticky and had cemented). The other 2 hadn't changed so I helped them both out and they are looking good now. I went ahead and candled the rest of the eggs. I began making pips in the eggs and discovered 7 died in their shells and were clearly shrink wrapped! I had set 32 eggs. 11 were infertile, 3 had died towards the end of incubation, 9 died during lockdown and 9 are alive and well!
My question is what the heck could have happened? And what should I do differently next time? This is my first hatch and the incubator stayed pretty steady with temp and humidity. Also, during lockdown humidity never went below 56%. I did have a second thermometer in there that stayed right at 100 degrees. I'm guessing I should buy a hydrometer before next batch.
My question is what the heck could have happened? And what should I do differently next time? This is my first hatch and the incubator stayed pretty steady with temp and humidity. Also, during lockdown humidity never went below 56%. I did have a second thermometer in there that stayed right at 100 degrees. I'm guessing I should buy a hydrometer before next batch.
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