BCM hatching issues, need help

[BawGock]

This is my first year incubating BCM eggs and I'm still trying to figure these out.

I have a Hovabator 1588, calibrated hygrometer and Brinsea Spot Check thermometer.
These are not shipped eggs and am having not temperature issues: 99.5-100.2F.
The incubator and turner are sterilized between hatches.

In earlier hatches I've had difficulties with poor hatches due to the eggs not drying down enough: pip and drowns, and chicks too big to hatch.

This last hatch I used a humidity of 45% from days 1-18. Letting the incubator water well completely evaporate for 24 hrs before adding water again.
Days 18 to hatch at 65%. Using tubing to add water, without opening bator.

I had a hatch that was statistical great BUT I had some really sticky chicks towards the end of the hatch. The membranes on these chicks were yellowish and kind of transparent, not white like the non sticky chicks.
Does this seem like a humidity issue? Or possibly something bacterial? The chicks do seem healthy and vigorous though.

I'm setting another batch of BCM eggs this weekend and would really appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Carolyn

 

[midget_farms]

Its a humidity issue.

I'm learning the hard way about that too.

My incubator has too much air flow - so I dried the eggs out even though the humidity was right.

I'd bet the eggs that are dry are the ones closest to an air vent - or had the best circulation around them.

I sounds like you are really close though - next time try adding water when the trays dry out and dont wait 24 hrs.

 

[BawGock]

Thanks,
That's great info. I do incubate with the air plug out on my incubator, trying to get the humidity lower.
I'll number this next batch of eggs and keep track of where they were in the incubator and see if location contributes to it.
And not let it run dry

Carolyn

 

[midget_farms]

If you have water issues - too wet - try using the egg carton method. that holds their heads up a bit so they are less likely to drown.

I'm learning all kinds of things this go round.

 

[midget_farms]

What do you mean by chicks too big to hatch?

I'm just wrapping up my BCM batch - they were too dry - 2 hatched (1 of those struggled) and a 3rd I popped open this morning had a huge thirsty chick inside - he didn't make it.

I've got 4 more eggs still in there I'm planning to pop open tonight or tomorrow - I just can't seem to wait - in case I can help one more.

So - do BCM's outgrow the egg?

 

[BawGock]

When an egg doesn't dry down enough during the first 18 days of incubation the space in the aircell should increase in size by quite a bit.
The chick will grow into the space not taken up by the air cell.
If this (chick) space is large due to the egg not drying down enough the chick will be a bit larger and unable to even get into position to pip the air cell or the shell of the egg.

You can read about this in Bill Worrell's great article on "Dry Incubation":
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html
Very interesting stuff

Carolyn