Analysis on the eggs that did not hatch *8 out update

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

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Keep willing I will try that with my chicks also.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

The way I understand it is you had 8 that hatched out of 16 that you thinks should have.

They didnt pip the air cell so nothing you did the last 3 days would matter to those that didnt pip the air cell. Ether the air cell was to small for them to reach(high humidity 1-18) or bad health of the egg.

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

Oh my gosh you are exactly right. I bought a new digital reader at Lowe's and was using it wrong. When I figured out how to use it, I put the digital part inside the bator and the humidity was 70%. That was on day 5 looking back at my notes. I did not think that for the short amount of time (about 20 hours) would make that big a diffrence that early on. I took that meter back already, because I bought it for the 10 ft cord feature and when I discovered it had to be in the bator it was of no use to me. So this was my fault, had it not been for you I would have never known. Thank you so much. I feel really bad now, I am sad becaue I did kill those babies. Still learning very stupid mistake! Had I not wanted 2 in there this would have never happened. That is why I went and bought the old school kind that looks like a watch face but still got different reading from both.

Any suggestions for a good consistant Hydrometer?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I dont think being high for 20 hours would do it. It was probably consistently high for your environment. It may even have been lower than other people run but high for what you need. If you had ran it at 40% most of the first 18 days I would try 30 or 35% next time. If it was showing 50% try 40% next time. Having a accurate humidity gauge helps but you mainly need a reference so you can go up or down. I know its a steep learning curve but it does take a few hatches to figure out what works for you. It also helps to think of them only as eggs till they do hatch. You didn't kill chicks, you just failed to hatch a few eggs. But you did hatch what? 8? I try to think of it this way. If i put 16 eggs in an get 8 chicks out I helped bring 8 to life. The other 8 wouldn't have been alive anyway if I hadn't tried.

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

I have a hatch log for refrence. I will study that thing a try and come up with something else. I was happy thinking I had, well you had, figured it out. Now I am just as confussed as I was to begin with. Looking for a more accurate meter now.

 

[featherbaby]

I feel your pain. REALLY! I have had 2 bad silkie hatches (one in incubator and one under broodies) and was crushed when the only two that hatched out of 12 were found dead the next day. No visible reason, perhaps the broodies smothered them, I just don't know. I swore I wouldn't buy shipped eggs again and gave up. Then a kind breeder sent me replacement eggs for the last batch and I am trying one more time. They are under a broody hen now and today is day 21. One pipped last night and hatched almost 18 hours later. The others (4) that candled "full" have not hatched yet. So, I'm hitting the wine tonight! HA! I'm hoping for 5 babies out of the 12, but who knows. Last time when I lost them all I cried for 2 days. The let down after the joyful anticipation was just awful. I don't have any good advice or words of wisdom. I can only say, I understand and sympathize. If this third hatch fails, I will be forced to give up on hatching my own and just buy chicks in the future.

 

[SilkieTime]

Get you a spot check, you know you should. Everything else is junk.

 

[featherbaby]

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What is a "spot check" and where do you get it?