Chicken Incubation Temperature Drop........HELP>>>>>>>>

[karensklucks]

Fellow Hatchers,

Today, is Day 18 of my 3rd incubation. I have 17 Americauna eggs that I was removing from the egg turner and placing back inside the incubator. This is the first time that I have attempted a "dry" hatch. For the first 18 days, my incubator (Farm Innovator) has been reading 21-28% with a temp of around 100. I went back in the room, as I was getting my brooder put in place and noticed that the "hum" of the heater was missing. Much to my dismay, at some point, the power strip was accidentally turned off. The humidity reading is has climbed to about 59% and the temp is 93. I restarted the heater and have left everything alone. It may have been off for as much as 30 minutes. Any advice? Has anyone else had this happen? I am absolutely heartbroken, as this was going to be my first hatch of straight Americauna eggs. Thank you for any advice.

 

[1muttsfan]

Don't worry, your eggs will be fine. It takes a lot longer for the eggs to cool off than it does the air temperature inside the incubator. Hens often and get up to walk around for a while, so it's not unusual for eggs to be exposed to cooler temperatures for short periods of time. hope everything else goes well with your hatch

 

[karensklucks]

Thank you for responding. Hubby and I were just talking about the fact that the hens leave their eggs, especially for food. Fingers crossed for success. I have pinned a lot of hopes on this incubation......lol I only had to remove 4 eggs at Day 14 (none look fertilized). Thanks again.

 

[karensklucks]

Had 5 hatch, out of 17. Worse hatch rate yet. I attempted the "dry" method and I think my "dry" humidity got too low at times and may not have been right for hatch. The other thing that I realized, when doing my eggtopsey, is that the oldest ones did not survive and look like they died before time to hatch. I had a couple that were fully formed and never pipped, so need to do more research. Attached are pics of Thumper. He/She popped the top open and never left the bottom shell. I was not home and my hubby "left him alone." I explained about my concern that he/she would dry and become attached to the shell and have problem legs. Thumper was unable to walk, initially, and I had my husband gently clean his dried legs and then let him alone in the incubator. The next morning, he was a lot better and when I returned home this evening, I transferred him to the brooder with the other four. He immediately went to the food, with the others and started nibbling. He took a few sips of the water and I will monitor his walking on the bedding. So far, he seems to be doing fairly well on the thin layer of bedding. He is such a beautiful chick and the one leg/toe look a little problematic, but he is walking and not falling over. I consider that a success, for now.

 

[WalnutHill]

Had 5 hatch, out of 17. Worse hatch rate yet. I attempted the "dry" method and I think my "dry" humidity got too low at times and may not have been right for hatch. The other thing that I realized, when doing my eggtopsey, is that the oldest ones did not survive and look like they died before time to hatch. I had a couple that were fully formed and never pipped, so need to do more research. Attached are pics of Thumper. He/She popped the top open and never left the bottom shell. I was not home and my hubby "left him alone." I explained about my concern that he/she would dry and become attached to the shell and have problem legs. Thumper was unable to walk, initially, and I had my husband gently clean his dried legs and then let him alone in the incubator. The next morning, he was a lot better and when I returned home this evening, I transferred him to the brooder with the other four. He immediately went to the food, with the others and started nibbling. He took a few sips of the water and I will monitor his walking on the bedding. So far, he seems to be doing fairly well on the thin layer of bedding. He is such a beautiful chick and the one leg/toe look a little problematic, but he is walking and not falling over. I consider that a success, for now.

I am glad for your successes, but concerned for your failure. Did you raise humidity to 65% or greater and maintain it from lockdown through hatch?

"Dry" incubation only means that just enough water is added for each egg to lose about half a gram of mass each day during incubation (for a 60-62 gram chicken egg). Losing too little moisture is just as bad as losing too much moisture when hatching time comes, but for different reasons. Did you monitor the air cells during incubation?

You can splint his toe with painter's masking tape or scotch tape for a couple of days. Remove and reapply if necessary.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

The sooner you splint the toe the faster and easier it will correct itself. Or tape the whole foot to cut out of thin cardboard making a boot. You'll be able to straighten and tape.

I run just under 35% RH for first 18 days for good moisture loss in egg. Candling to verify the air sack is growing properly at that humidity and always is. Always small day 7 but catches up day 14. Last few days I run 60-65%.


Pic of air cell development for reference, it's not a hard fact diagram but good guide for proper humidity:

 

[karensklucks]

Thank you, Egghead, Jr. I have started monitoring the air cell and did notice a difference from Day 14 to 18 with some of the eggs. Some seemed to have bigger air cells and others were "about the same." and this worried me. For the first 18 days, it ran from 20-30% humidity. For hatch, it ran from 65-73%. I believe that the humidity was too low (Day 1-18) and that affected my eggs. I also think my hatch humidity was not correct. Do you weigh your eggs when you check them at Day 7, 14, and 18? I always worry about keeping them out for too long, or the humidity and temperature going too low in the incubator because of taking eggs in and out to candle. Thumper is walking without difficulty. I noticed that he/she prefers to casually walk around the brooder vs running like the others. They all get along and Thumper is not being picked on, so I am pleased. Thanks again, for your help.

 

[karensklucks]

Thank you for responding, Walnut Hill. I, too, am concerned about my failure rate. I wish to continue to incubate my Americauna eggs, so really need to determine what I did wrong. I ran it from 65-75, staying in the upper 60's most of the time, for hatch. It is especially bothersome that 2 of them were fully formed and never pipped. I was out of town, with a sick grandson, so was instructing my husband, via phone. It wasn't until Thumper was stuck in his shell, that hubby realized the importance of monitoring the readings and the hatchability. He has a new appreciation for what is needed and even complained that he "slept beside the incubator, waking every hour" so he could watch them closer.......lol He was so proud that he was able to help Thumper and not injure him, in the process, as my hubby is a big guy! He did his best, but was working long hours and I don't know, for sure, if the humidity dropped too low on Day 19-21. I would like to incubate again, just worried about what my humidity readings should be, in my Farm Innovator. Thanks, again, for your help.