Today is Day 21, and not a single pip (internal or otherwise), but all is NOT lost, and I'll tell you why. But first, a rant on natural humidity.
I live in SE Texas where water is apparently born. It is SO HUMID here, even in the winter, that even a "Dry Incubation" method is difficult to manage. This year we decided to do another hatch after taking a long break from chicks. We started when the humidity finally let up a bit (it's been a really wet year for us) and that was about 3 weeks ago. Shortly after setting the eggs, rain set in again. Days have been in the upper 50-60% range, except when it's raining...when it's 80-100%. Nights have been above 80%. That's not quite as bad as Florida, but it's yuck-fest humid.
We did the dry method with a stryrofoam incubator, fully automated except for water, and the humidity in the incubator never went below 33% after Day 4...not a single drop of water in the incubator during that time. By lockdown, the air cells on almost ALL of the eggs were right about where I'd expect them on Day 7. DAY 7 air cells at lockdown!! In other words, I figured that, out of 21 eggs with active and living embryos, we'd get maybe 5 chicks to hatch because the rest would be pipping into water.
So, we counted our losses and decided to manage the rest of the hatch for the 5 that we figured would make it.
Now, our normal experience has been (this is our 5th 'bator hatch, and 8th overall) internal pips Days 19-20, with audible chirps and rocking eggs, and external pips between Days 20-21, hatching from Day 21-22. Tonight was the end of a long Day 21, and not a chirp to be heard, no rocking...nothing.
Well, I threw caution to the wind and pulled a few to candle. I figured with humidity as high as it is (now 69% in the bator and at least 30-50% in the house) I could take the risk. I pulled some of the tiny air cell eggs, and a couple larger ones that I thought would make it. ALL had 1) kicking embryos and 2) major air cell development.
Somehow, nature took control in the worst of circumstances, the chicks knew not to pip just yet, and now things are just about right for a successful hatch. It may still be a couple of days because there were still no internal pips that I saw (and we hear nothing), but I think most of these chicks will end up making it after all.
So, for all you who, at some point in the future, will be getting anxious about not getting a hatch on Day 21 and smaller air cells at lockdown despite your best efforts for a dry hatch: don't worry. It may not turn out the best, but be patient and nature will run its course.
I live in SE Texas where water is apparently born. It is SO HUMID here, even in the winter, that even a "Dry Incubation" method is difficult to manage. This year we decided to do another hatch after taking a long break from chicks. We started when the humidity finally let up a bit (it's been a really wet year for us) and that was about 3 weeks ago. Shortly after setting the eggs, rain set in again. Days have been in the upper 50-60% range, except when it's raining...when it's 80-100%. Nights have been above 80%. That's not quite as bad as Florida, but it's yuck-fest humid.
We did the dry method with a stryrofoam incubator, fully automated except for water, and the humidity in the incubator never went below 33% after Day 4...not a single drop of water in the incubator during that time. By lockdown, the air cells on almost ALL of the eggs were right about where I'd expect them on Day 7. DAY 7 air cells at lockdown!! In other words, I figured that, out of 21 eggs with active and living embryos, we'd get maybe 5 chicks to hatch because the rest would be pipping into water.
So, we counted our losses and decided to manage the rest of the hatch for the 5 that we figured would make it.
Now, our normal experience has been (this is our 5th 'bator hatch, and 8th overall) internal pips Days 19-20, with audible chirps and rocking eggs, and external pips between Days 20-21, hatching from Day 21-22. Tonight was the end of a long Day 21, and not a chirp to be heard, no rocking...nothing.
Well, I threw caution to the wind and pulled a few to candle. I figured with humidity as high as it is (now 69% in the bator and at least 30-50% in the house) I could take the risk. I pulled some of the tiny air cell eggs, and a couple larger ones that I thought would make it. ALL had 1) kicking embryos and 2) major air cell development.
Somehow, nature took control in the worst of circumstances, the chicks knew not to pip just yet, and now things are just about right for a successful hatch. It may still be a couple of days because there were still no internal pips that I saw (and we hear nothing), but I think most of these chicks will end up making it after all.
So, for all you who, at some point in the future, will be getting anxious about not getting a hatch on Day 21 and smaller air cells at lockdown despite your best efforts for a dry hatch: don't worry. It may not turn out the best, but be patient and nature will run its course.
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