I've had a heck of a time trying to keep the humidity above 50%. And I can say for certain, that's too dry, at least for my location, in my 'bator.
First of all, the temp dropped a lot. Down to around 95F. (FIXED TYPO ON TEMP, I had accidently typed 35F when I meant to type 95F ) So I adjusted the temp up a hair, then another hair, now my dig therm reads 101point-something, the merc therm read an even 100F. I had already had 4 hatch very nicely, all doing well. Then there were 4 more pipped. One of those had started to zip, then just stopped. I thought maybe it was nap time. But after a couple of hours, I pulled him out to check, and the membrane was dried out, shrink wrapped around the chick. There was already a good hole, and beak easily visible. So I added warm water inside the membrane, with a dropper. Got him/her moving and peeping again, and put back in the 'bator. Did similar rescue with the other pips. I don't want to force the hatch, due to risk of bleeding if they aren't quite ready. I added a lot more water to my sponges, and I'm watching the temp/humidity. Humidity is still below 60%, I'd like it to be up a little more. I'm worried that other eggs that may be lagging just a bit behind are getting too dry before they even pip.
If I'm careful it looks like I may get at least 8 chicks, that the ones pipped, there are at least two more talking but not yet pipped. Others are silent, but several just feel alive, to me. Some feel dead.
The first two that hatched are the healthiest, most active, most alert chicks I've ever hatched. And none of them seem to be the least bit afraid of me, which is really nice for a change. I've had way too many paranoid chickens!
First of all, the temp dropped a lot. Down to around 95F. (FIXED TYPO ON TEMP, I had accidently typed 35F when I meant to type 95F ) So I adjusted the temp up a hair, then another hair, now my dig therm reads 101point-something, the merc therm read an even 100F. I had already had 4 hatch very nicely, all doing well. Then there were 4 more pipped. One of those had started to zip, then just stopped. I thought maybe it was nap time. But after a couple of hours, I pulled him out to check, and the membrane was dried out, shrink wrapped around the chick. There was already a good hole, and beak easily visible. So I added warm water inside the membrane, with a dropper. Got him/her moving and peeping again, and put back in the 'bator. Did similar rescue with the other pips. I don't want to force the hatch, due to risk of bleeding if they aren't quite ready. I added a lot more water to my sponges, and I'm watching the temp/humidity. Humidity is still below 60%, I'd like it to be up a little more. I'm worried that other eggs that may be lagging just a bit behind are getting too dry before they even pip.
If I'm careful it looks like I may get at least 8 chicks, that the ones pipped, there are at least two more talking but not yet pipped. Others are silent, but several just feel alive, to me. Some feel dead.
The first two that hatched are the healthiest, most active, most alert chicks I've ever hatched. And none of them seem to be the least bit afraid of me, which is really nice for a change. I've had way too many paranoid chickens!
Last edited:
