Attempt #2 at hatching

[aart]

Do you have at least one calibrated thermometer in your bator?

Yes, test your therms and hygros!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[2 many chickens]

Red sex link I'm on day 1 of the new batch just put them in tonight but the others are on day 24 and no pip yet they are black sex link

That is too high..
If you have chicken eggs in there too on day 24 then something isn't right. Eggs should have hatched by then. Your high humidity through out is causing your low hatch rates.

 

[Gibson786]

That is too high..
If you have chicken eggs in there too on day 24 then something isn't right. Eggs should have hatched by then. Your high humidity through out is causing your low hatch rates.

What should my humidity be at for the first 18 days? I read day 1 to 18 50 to 55% and day 19 to 21 is lockdown and bump the humidity up to 70. I'm guessing that's wrong and way to high?

 

[Kiki]

What should my humidity be at for the first 18 days? I read day 1 to 18 50 to 55% and day 19 to 21 is lockdown and bump the humidity up to 70. I'm guessing that's wrong and way to high?

I wouldn't have it any higher than 30% throughout
and only raise it to no more than 50% once you SEE the first external pip.

 

[FortCluck]

Do you have at least one calibrated thermometer in your bator?

If not get one ASAP.

Lower your humidity down to 30% and I bet you have better luck this time.

I was just going to say this! When you told me to do this, it worked and I got a 90% hatch rate.

 

[FortCluck]

I listened to Kiki when I did my 2nd hatch. First hatch I had a 60% hatch rate and after using her advice, my hatch rate went to 90%.

I run my incubator dry and it's stays at 30% humidity. I only add a little distilled water after the first external pip.

Never trust the numbers on the actual incubator, most of the time it's not correct. You have to use another thermometer and hygrometer.

 

[FortCluck]

That is too high..
If you have chicken eggs in there too on day 24 then something isn't right. Eggs should have hatched by then. Your high humidity through out is causing your low hatch rates.

High humidity definitely causes low hatch rate. My first hatch I lost 9 fully formed chicks because of the humidity being too high.

I better the air cells are on the small side too because the eggs aren't losing enough through the incubation.

 

[aliciaplus3]

First order of business is to make sure that your thermometer is calibrated. Next make sure the incubator is set at the correct temperature and holding steady with no major spikes or dips. I like to run a new incubator for several days with just the thermometer to make sure its reliable before I add eggs.
Once the temps good and you add eggs it's time to manage the humidity. Best advice I ever read was to watch the air cells on the eggs and adjust accordingly.

i do not get to take credit for the image I borrowed it from google. The idea is to have the air cell grow to match the chart. The chick needs to have enough room to pip into the aircell and breathe until it makes the e eternal pip. If not enough moisture is lost during the incubation period, days 1 through 18, then there will be left over moisture sometimes so much that when the chick pops into the aircell the extra fills that space and the baby drowns. Sometimes it's not that much but enough that there is excess "goo" some of these chicks will be what is called a "sticky chick". The goo will stick on the baby depending on how much there is the baby may hatch ok but its down does not dry out properly if it's just a little. It could be so much that the baby becomes cemented in the shell, unable to get out. Folks worry about shrink wrap but I have lost far more babies to high humidity than any other thing.
There is a fine line too low of humidity and the egg lose to much moisture causing the baby to dry out and die also.
Next consideration is egg shell density, the darker brown eggs will lose moisture much slower than white or even light brown eggs because of how the shell pigment is put on by the hen, meaning dark browns and greens may need a lower humidity than lighter colored eggs. Size will also make a difference, tiny silkie eggs need s higher humidity than extra large leghorn eggs even thhough they are the same color the larger egg needs to lose much more moisture than the little one.
Sorry I am rambling best of luck. And happy hatching!