calling on the experts on HUMDITY

[chicks4fun]

I always candle day 18 just before I put them in lock-down and pencil which showed movement. You might need to slowly rotate and then hold it still to see the movement till you can see a foot or wing move.

I am on day 17 and I tried to candle looking down on the egg, small end near flashlight & larger end up. It was just dark. I lay them on their side in my hand and I can still see an air cell. I hope they are okay. There isn't any movement.
These are small bantam eggs--maybe that makes a difference. I will be heartbroken if nothing hatches.

 

[Jeanette56]

As long as you have been doing everything right AND have fertile eggs you are most likely to have at least a couple hatch

I feel your anxiety though! I've only done this a few times and I still worry like crazy

This time I'm using a new incubator so this could be considered a test run I guess. I'm only on day 6, so I have a ways to go yet.
I'll be looking for your results!

I am on day 17 and I tried to candle looking down on the egg, small end near flashlight & larger end up. It was just dark. I lay them on their side in my hand and I can still see an air cell. I hope they are okay. There isn't any movement.
These are small bantam eggs--maybe that makes a difference. I will be heartbroken if nothing hatches.

 

[chicks4fun]

Today is day 17. My humidity has gone up by itself to 45-50 range. Is this normal. So close to lockdown should I just let it go? Or do something to make it drop?
HUMIDITY

why is this such an issue for me????? I just want a few baby chicks to hatch.

 

[fried green eggs]

I think the humidity is fine and wouldn't worry. I haven't candled small bantum eggs. Try looking at the bottom of the egg right next to your fingers near the light for any movement. Not down from the top - then you are looking through the chick = all dark. I've had chicks hatch that I wasn't sure of and couldn't see much but dark. Your doing everything you can right but don't be so hard on yourselve with shipped eggs for your first hatch - it's tough. Good Luck

I hope they are alive and well and will hatch without problems for you. Keep us posted.

 

[chicks4fun]

Try looking at the bottom of the egg right next to your fingers near the light for any movement. Not down from the top - then you are looking through the chick = all dark.

That is what I did---I looked down from the top. Tomorrow is day 18 so I will try right before lock-down. I am trying the egg carton holder. I've cut it down and I will take the turner out tomorrow----- and God willing I will be patient. Right now I am working from home and the incubator is in my home office, so it's hard to not think about checking on them.
I need to set up a brooder too. If things work out I will give them to my hen who is also sitting on eggs. She has 3 and I have 3.
She kept laying eggs and I tried to keep taking them but she is determined. I think she will hatch within three days of my eggs. If she has babies I know she will accept these and that is what I'm hoping for, but just in case I need to be ready to raise them myself (if they hatch).
Thank you for all your advice. I don't how I could have ever learned this much without going through hundreds of eggs and tons of mistakes - - -and even then I may have not figured out all that I've learned from everyone here.

 

[UrbanMamaHen]

I'm new to incubating but have had some very good hatch rates with my homemade incubators.  You will get lots of opinions because region, altitude, outside humidity and the type of incubator you use all play a part in hatching, not to mention porousness of eggs. You need to pick a camp on what humidity level seems right to you and keep records so you can adjust for future hatches. So here's what I have learned so far - The air sack needs to get larger and the egg needs to get heavier as it develops. Weighing the eggs, candling and marking the air sacks progress will help you know if things are going well.  Shrink wrapping of chick happens when the humidity is too low in lock-down. Drowning happens when humidity is too high in first 18 days. I think most will agree 75% humidity for the whole hatch is too high. I now know what humidity level range works for my incubators but, the same numbers for you, may not be right. Good Luck and think of it as a learning experience.

. Does the egg gets heavier or lighter as it develops? I thought the egg should lose about 13% of it's weight by lock down time. The idea is that you could have the humidity at whatever level as long as the weight loss is approximately 13% by hatch time.

 

[chicks4fun]

. Does the egg gets heavier or lighter as it develops? I thought the egg should lose about 13% of it's weight by lock down time. The idea is that you could have the humidity at whatever level as long as the weight loss is approximately 13% by hatch time.

I didn't weigh my eggs. I am new and I did read about this but it was after I got started with my incubation. I hope to do another hatch and be more careful and keep records so I can learn more.

 

[fried green eggs]

. Does the egg gets heavier or lighter as it develops? I thought the egg should lose about 13% of it's weight by lock down time. The idea is that you could have the humidity at whatever level as long as the weight loss is approximately 13% by hatch time.

I have not weigh eggs when I incubate. I go by candling to see how they are developing and mark with pencil to show progress. You are right they should lose 13% + of it's weight by lock down. I wash eggs everyday for eating to sell and those eggs always feel lighter to me than eggs I'm incubating and developing.

 

[calichickies]

Chicks4fun-
Are you saying that you are putting the eggs in an egg carton to hatch?
You're not just laying them on the rack or bottom of the bator to hatch?
Maybe I'm not understanding you right.
I always thought they needed to be laying horizontal, with no obstacles around them so the chick could get out.

Good Luck!

 

[Cats Cradle]

Chicks4fun-
Are you saying that you are putting the eggs in an egg carton to hatch?
You're not just laying them on the rack or bottom of the bator to hatch?
Maybe I'm not understanding you right.
I always thought they needed to be laying horizontal, with no obstacles around them so the chick could get out.

Good Luck!

Many people use the egg carton method for hatching. My hatch rates improved when I switched from laying on their sides to hatching upright in a carton.

Here's a photo that I took of a chick, but on the side you can see what my cut down cartons look like. You can see that the carton is cut down well below the zip line. I also cut out he bottom for good air flow. Really all that is left of my carton is a bunch of connected circles!