August Hatch-A-Long!

I didn't open the incubator until 2 days past hatch. I hadn't had a pip. I had two hygrometers that I had just tested, damp salt in ziplock. The membranes were soooo dry. There was so much humidity in the incubator it was dripping from the top. Still didn't matter. I even put the guineas eggs in a day early since I had others going in and I didn't want to open it after lockdown. My temp stayed 99-100. My humidity 65-75 and I raised it at the end for the guineas. The shells were so think on the guineas, that I don't think they could have pipped even if the membranes hadn't dried out. I'm sure I will figure this out eventually, but it just so sad now. Even with hind sight, I don't know what I could have done to prevent this. I won't leave them in cartons again. Too many in the wrong postion. But that could be from shipping.

I do have a question, I read so many people saying they have an internal pip or they know the chick is upside down. How can you know that unless you open the incubator and candle?

I always open my bator, with that said, I dont have a table top I have a cabinet, and a fogger I turn on while the bator is open. My humidity level never drops. I can also see inside my eggs while in the hatching drawer. I rarely handle my eggs for candling either. Plus you can hear and internal pip as the chicks start peeping and there is no external pip, so you know it has pipped internally. You know they are upside down when they pip on the wrong end.
 
Quote: DeannaA shipped eggs are a crap shoot....you can't be certain unless you know a little about the breeder that the flock is healthy, not inbred etc...I know when I purchase eggs in super hot weather I'll be lucky to get a few chicks, if you've had temp issues...on and on...it's not your fault!! your hatches will get better
the only reason I ever started buying shipped eggs is because I found it difficult to find some of the breeds of birds I wanted to add to my flock....but my home growns never have issues...I hardly ever have an infertile or a quitter....so what I'm saying is...
with shipped eggs enjoy the ones that you do hatch...build your flock and then breed strong healthy birds!
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no matter what % of humidity you incubate at you will raise the humidity for hatching....I don't have a web thread ready that you can read on standard incubation but one of the others probably has one handy


I know the humidity is always increased :) what I meant was is there a % increase. Like always increase humidity by about 20% or something. Because it seems like 70% is the goal no matter the method. I was just wondering :)
 
Quote: well I don't increase it that much BUT it matters what your climate is, elevation, humidity levels in the atmosphere, inside your home conditions! I do a dry incubate I don't add water unless the humidity goes lower than 25% then at hatch time I add water and get it in the 40's...that works here but may not for you...I would probably start with you incubator recommendation and get advise from people in your region....you need a hydrometer or two...the ones that come with the incubators are attached to the lids so they only gauge the humidity and temp from the highest point...my humidity run a whole 10% higher where the eggs sit than the built in ones show...I have an incubator that is sitting in a different area of the room that I have trouble regulating so I'll be moving it...so see you have figure out you personal situation
 

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