ladybrasa
Songster
I am presently hatching some shipped lavender Orpington eggs. Humidity stayed upper 20s to very low 40s during incubation (no water added). For lockdown I filled up my water wells and added a dish with this tiny ‘donut’ humidifier that I used anytime I messed with the incubator. This is not ideal, but it has been better than last hatch when I couldn’t keep humidity up at all. Lockdown humidity is ranging from roughly low 70s after having the humidifier on for a few minutes to upper 50s after letting it be for many hours (like overnight).
Three externally pipped late last night. This morning one was zipped and I pulled away a little bit of shell for it as it seemed to maybe be a bit stuck in a couple spots? It was ready to come out. Humidity was upper 50s at that time. Got humidity up to about 60-70. This morning I made sure to remove just the shell chip over the pip of the other two, just to ensure they could breathe and were alive. Their little beaks were there. I had to go out for a couple hours (to the PO for hatching eggs!!). Came back and a second was zipped and out all by itself, but the third is now dead. Humidity was still around 65-70 or so. Beak was still at the pip. I peeled back some shell around the air cell end to look. Inner membrane appeared moist and no blood vessels. There may have been a little inner membrane over the nostril end of the beak, but looks like the chick could have just shifted the littlest bit if that were a problem? I’m hesitant to pick away the shell further
Any thoughts on cause? There is another egg that is alive and internally pipped, and another I’m not sure if it’s still alive - can’t appreciate any movement, but it’s too light for candling to be sure right now (don’t have a roomy dark closet!). Any thoughts are appreciated!
Three externally pipped late last night. This morning one was zipped and I pulled away a little bit of shell for it as it seemed to maybe be a bit stuck in a couple spots? It was ready to come out. Humidity was upper 50s at that time. Got humidity up to about 60-70. This morning I made sure to remove just the shell chip over the pip of the other two, just to ensure they could breathe and were alive. Their little beaks were there. I had to go out for a couple hours (to the PO for hatching eggs!!). Came back and a second was zipped and out all by itself, but the third is now dead. Humidity was still around 65-70 or so. Beak was still at the pip. I peeled back some shell around the air cell end to look. Inner membrane appeared moist and no blood vessels. There may have been a little inner membrane over the nostril end of the beak, but looks like the chick could have just shifted the littlest bit if that were a problem? I’m hesitant to pick away the shell further

Any thoughts on cause? There is another egg that is alive and internally pipped, and another I’m not sure if it’s still alive - can’t appreciate any movement, but it’s too light for candling to be sure right now (don’t have a roomy dark closet!). Any thoughts are appreciated!