Couple REALLY Big Air Sacs... HELP PLEASE ASAP

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Is this from too humidity being too low?


I took the velcro sticky off the back of my hygrometer and I don't know if that changed how it works but it seems I am having a MUCH harder time keeping my humidity up at 45% even with both wells completely full.

Last 2 times I incubated I had NO problem keeping it at 45% the entire time with only ONE well full...

These are the important eggs so I need to get this dialed in asap.


Please and thank you!!!

 

[CCourson05]

Did you make sure the hygrometer is calibrated?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

In my experience the quitters are the ones with really big air sacs. I'd also calibrate that hygrometer. If other hatches have went well using this one, there shouldn't be that drastic of a change in how it is done from one hatch to the next. Something isn't right, it could be weather changes this time of year, or the hygrometer. Is the bator in the usual place? That's about all I can think of at the moment.

I hope you get it sorted out

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I calibrated it on the first hatch, but then took off the velcro sticky on the back... not sure if that changed it... ?

I'm pretty sure everything else is the same.

 

[CCourson05]

Maybe calibrate it again just to be sure...??

 

[kvmommy]

I had a couple with realllly big air sacs, and surprisingly a few of them hatched. The chicks were pretty small. I don't know if theres a correlation or not.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Do they generally get bigger when the humidity is too low?

 

[CCourson05]

Quote:
Yes, low humidity= larger air cell, and shrink wrapped chicks
high humidity= smaller air cell, and drowning

I ignore humidity until day 18... The first 18 days of incubation only matter if the humidity is too high, because this causes drowning when the chicks pip internally.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

It is just very unusual as I haven't seen an air sac this big before. It was almost 1/3rd the size of the egg!

My humidity has been about 30%-45% with maybe a few dips lower, but couldn't have been for too long as I check them AT LEAST once a day.


Should I just ignore everything for now and aim for the 65% during lockdown?


Lockdown is in 4 days.

 

[debilorrah]

I always calibrate my hygrometer before each hatch. They run on batteries (at least mine do) and they start to fail over time. I usually replace them every 4-5 months just for accuracy.