air cells too small day 17?? what to do??

[OCchickens]

I just candled my day 17 eggs & it looks to me like the air cells are more like day 14 size. How screwed am I?

Humidity has been running around 50% I just decreased the amount of water in there. Is it too late to try to dry them out? Ordinarily I would increase the humidity tomorrow on day 18.

How worried should I be & what should I do?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Not sure what I would do? I think I would keep the humidity where is at till they hatch an cross my fingers.

 

[Chicken Woman]

I usually run at 30 to 35 first 18 days and up tp 55 to 65 after day 18. Anyway thats what works for me.

I would leave hum at 50 till the end without anymore increase and see what happens.

Good luck I think they are more resilant than we think sometimes.

 

[OCchickens]

Thanks for the suggestions! I sure do hope they're a little bit resilient! I wish I had known to go 30-40% humidity. Why do all the instructions say 50-60%??

 

[hinkjc]

Your hygrometer was probably not reading accurately and showing a lower % than it actually was. I agree, I would not increase humidity either. Good luck with the hatch and please let us know how it goes.

eta - I wouldn't decrease it either. Leave it consistent. Consistent is better than major changes this far in the game.

 

[BawGock]

Don't worry too much Ochicken,
I went into day 18 with my air cells looking more like day 14 than day 18.
All 11 eggs hatched with no problems.
I started without a hygrometer until the 3rd day and found my humidity was 80%. I believe that cost me some drying time.
Good luck on you hatch!
Carolyn

 

[Sissy]

My humidity is a 55-57
should i take the plug out to lower it to 30-40-

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
What day are you on?

 

[Chicken Woman]

If your in the first 18 days you should take the plugs out to lower it a bit.

 

[Chicken Woman]

To make sure your hygrometer is correct before next hatch do this.
Olace 1/2 cup salt with enough water to make it pasty. Put the cup or small bowl of salt mixture in a zip lock baggie. Put the hyfrometer in and zip it up. Keep at about 70 degrees for 12 hours.
It should read 75. If it is low or high then you can just make a note to yourself to adjust for it's inaccuracy whether it is a few degree to high or to low.