August Hatch-A-Long!

[familypendragon]

Only way to get a good hatch is to tweek for your house climate etc. Yes true.Cant know until you try things out.
 Go by how your hatch was this time
.Maybe dont open the bator if possible at the very end  if  you did as  it looses humidity  and can shrink or sticky the chicks  or maybe a little higher humidity since your chicks were sticky also  I cant stress enough   to anyone ....use not one  but a second  or even 3rd  good hygrometer as  the one you have could be off.
I test  with  at least 2-3  calibrated scientific thermometers in my bator  and usually  check with a couple hygrometers also
It is sad to feel you did it .but  we ALL have been there its part of hatching with an incubator so shake it off an try again.
  Im always saying "If only!" also but hind sight is 20-20 as they say
.
Only thing to do is try a different approach next time. and GOOD LUCK!!  

I try to remind myself that I gave them a chance for life. If it hadn't been for me they might have just been someone's breakfast However brief, at least I helped them to experience some of life.

 

[Heidisgran]

Yeah, I hate it when one day the chick is thriving, nice vibrant blood flowing veins next it is as dead as a door knob. Incubating is tricky, everything has to be just right...

sometimes it's just not meant to be!

 

[Bantamlover124]

Yeah, although I have had some hardy chicks pull through, surprisingly most where bantams! At like 111 degrees they still hatched! (My thermometer was off if you were wondering... Said 99.5 but no, it was 111!)

 

[epmchickens]

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

This is the MOST helpful answer I've gotten to any chicken question I've ever asked! Thanks so much

 

[epmchickens]

so whatever you did has worked

I sure hope so . Its very promising so far! I got my humidity into the 60s so I am hoping going from 37%-64% is just enough because I have been noting thewather and everything this time lol. Come on babies!!!!

 

[Heidisgran]

Yeah, although I have had some hardy chicks pull through, surprisingly most where bantams! At like 111 degrees they still hatched! (My thermometer was off if you were wondering... Said 99.5 but no, it was 111!)

YIKES

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: sounds good...post lots of pictures

 

[epmchickens]

Yeah, although I have had some hardy chicks pull through, surprisingly most where bantams! At like 111 degrees they still hatched! (My thermometer was off if you were wondering... Said 99.5 but no, it was 111!)

That happened to me my last hatch! It said 100 and it was really 111 . They all developed and 1 hatched out great but the others drowned. Go figure! Lol

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: that kind of a spike will usually kill them even for a short time....I don't know how the hens regulate the temps in the hot coop! lol and someone else was pointing out that the hens don't add wet sponges a hatch time

 

[Bantamlover124]

YIKES

Yeah, some thermometers are so unpredictable... Whatever you do... Never buy a thermometer from Petco, their thermometers are so off, it is scary!

That happened to me my last hatch! It said 100 and it was really 111 . They all developed and 1 hatched out great but the others drowned. Go figure! Lol