calling on the experts on HUMDITY

[chicks4fun]

Do you have your eggs upright in a turner or are they on their side?

I have them on their sides but they are still slightly upright and they are in a turner. They are small eggs so even in the turner I can lay them down, sorta. I also have manually turned them at least once a day. I know the hen doesn't keep them upright so I figured it was okay to try and lay them slightly.

 

[chicks4fun]

These are shipped eggs, right? Shipping is very hard on them.

Yes, these were shipped. They are my first incubator hatch and my first shipped eggs. They lady who sent them did an excellent job of packaging. Also the USPS seemed to take good care of the package. Yet, even with both things in my favor I know the movement has to be hard on them. Out of 8 eggs 3 don't seem to have anything inside. I have five good ones, I think. My broody is sitting on one egg so I gave her one of mine.
Once these incubator chicks hatch she will adopt them. She has done it before when she hatched chicks and then someone gave me some extra chicks. She is a very happy Mommy bird.

 

[chicks4fun]

50 to60 first 18 days

Thanks, I have been fluctuating between 40-50%. I gather that is a little low? Have you had good success with 50-60%?
I have air cells and I think they are okay. I am on day 15. Lockdown is getting close & I am so nervous.
I am so ready to take them out and give them to my broody hen.

 

[chicks4fun]

I also recommend getting a spray bottle. I keep it handy for when the eggs start to pip, and when they do, I will start misting them. They will probably get misted about 5 times a day.

quintinp-

Do you use warm water when you mist? Room temp? or ???

 

[chicks4fun]

DAY 16


egg #1



egg #2



egg #3
this is the one that seems to have two air-cells



egg #4
does this look okay???



egg #5
I think this is ready to be discarded


Do the first two look right? If not should I be adjusting the humidity? It's at about 42% today.

thanks. . . .

 

[quintinp]

quintinp-

Do you use warm water when you mist? Room temp? or ???

Doesn't matter. I would suggest warm water, but I am just misting them, not spraying them. The mist will not noticeably affect the temperature in the incubator.

 

[Cats Cradle]

DAY 16


egg #1



egg #2



egg #3
this is the one that seems to have two air-cells



egg #4
does this look okay???



egg #5
I think this is ready to be discarded


Do the first two look right? If not should I be adjusting the humidity? It's at about 42% today.

thanks. . . .

Great job with the photos!

1 and 2 look good to me. They are at that hard to see stage where the chick is large enough that mostly what you see is the air sac and dark. But at least that tells you the chick has grown to that point. Can you see movement? Don't be alrmed if you don't as with so little light passing through it is more difficult to see at this stage. You are almost to lockdown now right?

3... the one you are calling 2 air cells, looks like what I see earlier in incubation. The clearer area at the bottom would in that case just be the albumen. But, it doesn't appear to be as far along as the others which may mean it has quit. Have you seen movement in it?

4 looks like a saddle shaped air sac, which sometimes happens with shipped eggs. Again, if I was looking at it I would be watching for movemnet. Another thing you can look for is red veins, which is good, black veins are not good.

5... you are right. That one can go.

That's what I see based on these photos. If I am unsure about an egg, I try to err on the side of caution and leave them in longer.

 

[chicks4fun]

3... the one you are calling 2 air cells, looks like what I see earlier in incubation. The clearer area at the bottom would in that case just be the albumen. But, it doesn't appear to be as far along as the others which may mean it has quit. Have you seen movement in it?

I have not seen movement in any.


4 looks like a saddle shaped air sac, which sometimes happens with shipped eggs. Again, if I was looking at it I would be watching for movemnet. Another thing you can look for is red veins, which is good, black veins are not good.

Does the saddle shape mean anything really bad? Again, I didn't see any movement in the eggs.

 

[fried green eggs]

Great pics. I found if I put the egg upright and shine the light from the bottom (small end) I could see movement much easier. Good Luck

 

[chicks4fun]

Great pics. I found if I put the egg upright and shine the light from the bottom (small end) I could see movement much easier. Good Luck

thanks for the tip----tomorrow is day 17 so it will be my last chance to peek---lockdown is coming fast
I took a few eggs and put them under my broody who only had one of her own eggs---this will be interesting.