5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[ESofVA]

I need help!!
With 11 newly hatched chicks in the already incubator the humidity went way up and and there were droplets of water on the window, viewer My previously hatched chicks were wet again after having dried out. A few hours. I took the chicks out and opened the vents to lower the humidity. I opened 5 late eggs. 3 contained chicks that appeared to be mature but they were dead.
My question is: Can high humidity drown chicks in their shells and do you think the other eggs that aren't due for another week will be dead, too? Now I am really worried about getting a couple of Frizzled bantam Cochin chicks!!!
TY for any help!!!!!

 

[ronott1]

I need help!!
With 11 newly hatched chicks in the already incubator the humidity went way up and and there were droplets of water on the window, viewer My previously hatched chicks were wet again after having dried out. A few hours. I took the chicks out and opened the vents to lower the humidity. I opened 5 late eggs. 3 contained chicks that appeared to be mature but they were dead.
My question is: Can high humidity drown chicks in their shells and do you think the other eggs that aren't due for another week will be dead, too? Now I am really worried about getting a couple of Frizzled bantam Cochin chicks!!!
TY for any help!!!!!

I think you are fine. Humidity goes up like that as they hatch. If you see water droplets and your reading are over 90%, it is ok to open the incubator and let some humidity out.

They do not drown, they suffocate. The O2 level goes too low for them when the Humidity level goes up.

 

[JLaw]

Man I wish I had more eggs to hatch only have 23 so far. Getting 4-6 a day wish that dog didn't take out some of my girls at end of summer.

Ok so I'm new to chickens started this year and have hatched like 5 different times with only one real good hatch rate. I've been hatching in my living room with bator (gen 1588 auto turner) in corner of room. The best hatch I had was when I had the bator loaded with 40 eggs any time I do like 6-12 I get like a 50% hatch rate. It seems the humidity drops faster with less eggs but not sure if that's causing my lower hatch rate or not.

So does anyone else notice a better hatch rate if they have more eggs. Cause of those 40 eggs one turned out to be dud and one didn't hatch so I had 38 eggs of the 40 actually hatch.

I'm going to hatch in a different room this time but was thinking if bator aint full to buy store eggs and place in there to help slow the humidity fluxing down some. Has anyone else done this? I've tried running a humidifier in the room to help keep the out side air higher but didn't seem to help this last time I tried 7 eggs I think it was and only got 3 chicks.

 

[Pozees]

Ron suggested a humidifier earlier, which made me do one of those, "Doh!" slap my forehead things LOL - my incubators are in a small room which would not be that hard to humidify, so tomorrow I'm going to buy a humidifier.

If you have anyone nearby selling fresh eggs you might be able to get some there that would be fertile, if they run cock birds with the flock, check out craigslist. Sometimes they even put ads up at the feed store or garden supply. Failing that, I can't think of any reason not to fill the empty spots with store eggs. Just let them come to room temp first like any other egg you would set. Someone else might know of a reason not to try it, I just can't think of any myself.

Are you getting excited?! I know I am!

 

[fosterson]

Is it the 11th yet?

No?

How bout now?

No?

Now?

AUGH! WHY ISN"T IT THE 11th YET???

 

[Threedog]

I might not be able to participate after all. Turns out I'm going to be going out of town for Christmas. Just for a few days, but I won't be home to turn the eggs. Will they be ok if they go three or four days without turning?

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Is it the 11th yet?

No?

How bout now?

No?

Now?

AUGH! WHY ISN"T IT THE 11th YET???

Bwahahaha! It was the '11th' here on Friday... I still can't get my temp over 99....

 

[ronott1]

Man I wish I had more eggs to hatch only have 23 so far. Getting 4-6 a day wish that dog didn't take out some of my girls at end of summer.

Ok so I'm new to chickens started this year and have hatched like 5 different times with only one real good hatch rate. I've been hatching in my living room with bator (gen 1588 auto turner) in corner of room. The best hatch I had was when I had the bator loaded with 40 eggs any time I do like 6-12 I get like a 50% hatch rate. It seems the humidity drops faster with less eggs but not sure if that's causing my lower hatch rate or not.

So does anyone else notice a better hatch rate if they have more eggs. Cause of those 40 eggs one turned out to be dud and one didn't hatch so I had 38 eggs of the 40 actually hatch.

I'm going to hatch in a different room this time but was thinking if bator aint full to buy store eggs and place in there to help slow the humidity fluxing down some. Has anyone else done this? I've tried running a humidifier in the room to help keep the out side air higher but didn't seem to help this last time I tried 7 eggs I think it was and only got 3 chicks.

50% hatch rate is not bad for shipped eggs.

What day did they hatch on?
Were they sticky?
How many pipped and did not hatch?
How many did not absorb the egg sack?

These are trouble shooting questions.

 

[ESofVA]

Waiting is going to make me fat!! I pulled two eggs this am from our maybe 6 eggs/day which we collect for eating. They are waiting on the guest bathroom vanity. I figure I can get 6-8 by the 11th to set depending on how many eggs we get a day.

 

[JLaw]

50% hatch rate is not bad for shipped eggs.

What day did they hatch on?
Were they sticky?
How many pipped and did not hatch?
How many did not absorb the egg sack?

These are trouble shooting questions.

Not shipped eggs. Seems my chicks come out a little wet I hatch at like 65% it jumps to 80% and I have to open it sometimes to vent more. Normaly they hatch day 21-23. I've had some that pip then stop I've helped a few of these out due to looking like they was string to shrink wrap but humity was 60+ so don't see how they was doing that. As for egg sack I don't know I don't open then if they aint pipping at all, I just toss them guess i'll have to open them. I do know the first few hatches I was using a hygrometer that was 5% low so during set it would say it droped to 30% but was really 24-25%. I've learned how to check them to see how they are off and now have one that works correctly.