Air sacs look ok for Day 16??

[whoa_nelly96]

Hi there!

Long time lurker, and first time hatching eggs...newbie in total regard!! Would love your input...

We were on Day 16 last night and we marked the air cells for the first time. (I know we should have marked them early on as well, but didn't know that information until a couple of days ago.) I've looked at so many egg pictures, that now, I'm unsure if ours look ok? I attached several pics of what we took last night for your review...(some pics may have posted in the wrong direction.) We have two Janoel 12 egg incubators - keeping humidity consistent has been an issue since we are away from home almost 12 hrs a day, that's been up (65%) and down (28%) the entire time. Temp has been pretty consistent at 100 degrees. Originally started off with 20 chickens eggs (bantams, astralorp, and golden wyandotte), only 12 were fertile, and 5 were quitters. I have no idea which breeds survived. So now...we only have 7 thriving! However, I'm concerned about their air sac and development. Your thoughts??

 

[Chicken Whisperers]

I wouldn't fret too much. The air sac is only so they can have a couple breaths before cracking the shell for some fresh air. We hatched eggs this past summer (2/3 hatched) on one of them I could not tell if the air sac was big enough. But that egg hatched along with another egg and they are probably out playing in my backyard right now!

 

[chuckachucka]

They look very good. I see nothing abnormal or anything to be worried about. The air cells are a good size. Too high humidity for the first 18 days is actually more of a problem than too low humidity so try to keep it stable around 40-45 if you can. Then increase for lock down. How do you plan to maintain a steady humidity for the hatch?

 

[oregonkat]

Your cells look pretty good. Try not to hold the egg with the fat end down though, best to candle through the fat end at the top or, as you did on some, through the side!

 

[whoa_nelly96]

They look very good. I see nothing abnormal or anything to be worried about. The air cells are a good size. Too high humidity for the first 18 days is actually more of a problem than too low humidity so try to keep it stable around 40-45 if you can. Then increase for lock down. How do you plan to maintain a steady humidity for the hatch?

I recently found the ventilation hole of the incubator (silly me!) - it can easily fit a straw! Our schedules starting on Day 18 ease up a bit for about a week...should be able to monitor much closer during lockdown/hatch. During lockdown...increase humidity to 65%?? Or should I wait until the first external pip to increase??

 

[oregonkat]

I always wait till first external pip, but lots of people raise the humidity on day 18. As your cells are looking good, you could wait. Totally up to you!

 

[whoa_nelly96]

I always wait till first external pip, but lots of people raise the humidity on day 18. As your cells are looking good, you could wait. Totally up to you!

Ok. Another question about lockdown... we started incubation on Sept 18th at 5:00pm. Does that mean I start lockdown on Oct 6th at 5pm??

 

[WVduckchick]

Ok. Another question about lockdown... we started incubation on Sept 18th at 5:00pm. Does that mean I start lockdown on Oct 6th at 5pm??

Personally, I think the air cells look a little small, and from looking at development, I'd wait till Sunday (Oct 7th) morning, or even Sunday evening.

 

[oregonkat]

I would go with WVduckchick's recommendation. Do not increase humidity if the air cells are on the small side. Wait for the first external pip!

 

[whoa_nelly96]

I would go with WVduckchick's recommendation. Do not increase humidity if the air cells are on the small side. Wait for the first external pip!

I do feel as if some of them are on the small side while the others look just ALMOST about right. Should I try to reduce the humidity until lockdown??