Day 16 air cells small - HELP?! PLEASE 💓

[LinzeeBrie]

Hello! First time incubator here - my day 16 air cells look a little small to me.... (I was suspicious,that's why I candled on an unusual day). My cheapie 'bators don't have hygrometers (and I couldn't get one in time) so I've been running them on only a few milliliters/drops of water ever day, and planning to fill it on day 18. Now I think I'll just go completely dry for the next two days and hope for the best? I hope this isn't our downfall; theyre all swimming around SO happily right now!

I was also debating between vertical and horizontal hatching (was going to lay them on shelf liner), but now I'm thinking that vertical might be a safer option for them?

 

[LinzeeBrie]

Any thoughts on this?! I picked up a hygrometer (finally back in stock in town), but didn't calibrate it, so who knows how accurate it is. (I read it can take 24hrs to do the salt slurry calibration and thought it was more important to get it in the incubator?!). It's reading just below 40%, and that's completely bone dry - so i'd guess it was for sure too high before, even with only a few drops of water.... So I've got some rice and a tissue in there now, and figure I'll keep them in for two days or so before lockdown? Is it way too late to make any sort of difference? And I'm thinking I should actually aim for a lower lockdown humidity than usual?! What would you suggest?
I'm also seriously debating between vertical and horizontal hatch... Maybe I'll do vertical in one 'bator and horizontal in the other?! But then I'll feel extra awful if one works and one doesn't....
Do the air cells look impossibly small to you? Any success stories to give me some hope?

 

[Punkybrewster]

Yes. They are small for day 16. I tried that type of incubator off of ebay 1x because i was curious and it was not good. Next time buy a quality name brand and you will have less problems

Use no water in it but still monitor the humidity. Have you been checking what the true temp has been inside the incubator? Try to get the humidity down to 30% may help those air cells. I incubate at 30-40% until lockdown then 60-75%. But with that one, i dont know if its possible to stablize.

Keep updating.

 

[Punkybrewster]

You could do a lower humidity at lockdown. Once one externally pips it would probibly spike the humidity naturally in that little thing. I would almost think there is no chance of shrink wrapping the hatching chick. Just in case, try to keep it at 50% during lockdown. My fear is goopy sticky chicks or chicks drowning in fluid at hatch so be aware of that.

 

[LinzeeBrie]

Yes. They are small for day 16. I tried that type of incubator off of ebay 1x because i was curious and it was not good. Next time buy a quality name brand and you will have less problems

Use no water in it but still monitor the humidity. Have you been checking what the true temp has been inside the incubator? Try to get the humidity down to 30% may help those air cells. I incubate at 30-40% until lockdown then 60-75%. But with that one, i dont know if its possible to stablize.

Keep updating.

I actually got them off of a local buy and sell for $15, so I couldn't NOT try!! I was all nonchallant at first like "who cares if it doesn't work!" but now I care very much
Temp is confirmed pretty stable around 38. Some of the embryos (2 out of 11) look pretty small though, so I'm wondering if it was low for a while (didn't have access to thermometers for a while either. Thanks Covid).
I just candled this morning and there's a notable increase in air size in a FEW of them since last night.... I think I'm gonna keep getting the humidity as low as (safely) possible for today (17) and maybe all of tomorrow (18) as well and try get it to 50% in the evening? Or should I aim for the morning of day 19 instead?

 

[LinzeeBrie]

You could do a lower humidity at lockdown. Once one externally pips it would probibly spike the humidity naturally in that little thing. I would almost think there is no chance of shrink wrapping the hatching chick. Just in case, try to keep it at 50% during lockdown. My fear is goopy sticky chicks or chicks drowning in fluid at hatch so be aware of that.

It does get wet in there REALLY quickly - I was getting condensation with even a few drops of water.... So that sounds like a very real possibility. I wonder if even 50% would be too high....
Do you have an opinion on vertical vs horizontal?! Horizontal just FEELS better to me (imitating a broody I guess?), but vertical obviously fits better in this junker, and I've read it might be safer in the case of a small air cell?!

 

[Punkybrewster]

You dont need to raise humidity until they pip. But check the humidity after pip first to see what percent it is before adding any water.

I personally would leave the eggs up. I cant imagine laying any down and fit in that. If any hatch you will have to take them out while still wet.....

So curious if this will work. At least they are developing. Thats awesome.

 

[LinzeeBrie]

You dont need to raise humidity until they pip. But check the humidity after pip first to see what percent it is before adding any water.

I personally would leave the eggs up. I cant imagine laying any down and fit in that. If any hatch you will have to take them out while still wet.....

So curious if this will work. At least they are developing. Thats awesome.

Sort of awesome, sort of awful it would've been one thing if they didn't develop much at all, but I'll feel terrible if I let them grow this much only to have zero chance most of the eggs are almost totally full, and the babes are moving around like crazy. A couple look small. I also have a hen that just turned broody, and no eggs to put under her!! (Everything from the last week has been washed and refrigerated because I did a permethrin treatment, and now they appear to be low on calcium! ). When it rains it pours.
Yes I think I'll wait for (potential) first pip.

How far did yours get in this silly mini Bator?!

 

[LinzeeBrie]

Air cells are growing a bit on some of them

It's the morning of day 18... So I guess I just rotated them for the last time! Since I'm not trying to keep humidity in yet at this point, do you think I could safely candle them yet tonight and tomorrow morning? I don't have to move them in ordering to quickly shine on them and check the air cell.... Or will curiousity kill the cat even if I'm not touching them?

 

[LinzeeBrie]

Oh I can't attach a video can I . There's a little guy rocking away right now!