day 18 - looking for some tips/encouragement

[firsttimehatch1]

tomorrow is day 18 on my first time of attempting to hatch chickens with my kindergarten class.
we have been doing good with keeping the humidity at 50-55 and its never been higher. for some strange reason i dont think my air pockets are big enough. Im going to candle them one last time tonight and just check. Im so nervous. I know that tomorrow I have to up the humidity to 65% but is there anything else you can tell me to help me be less stressed? ha ha i just want them to hatch so I know I was a good egg mommy ha ha. We have 12 eggs and believe it or not all 12 are growing. I read that if one quits then it will begin to smell but with it being day 17 and no smelling i think we are still good. I candled on day 15 and we saw them moving around. So excited but so nervous. Please give me some tips pointers information or anything! ha ha I will take a pic of the air pocket and add a picture when it gets a little darker then mayb it will help you help me.

 

[WalnutHill]

I am sorry to say that the instructions you had (probably those that came with the incubator) told you to use a higher humidity than what is generally ideal for incubation. The extra humidity prevented the air cells from growing properly.

I just went through this with my incubator, but it was a case of two improperly calibrated hygrometers. I lost most of my turkeys as they grew too big to move during hatch and didn't have enough air in the air cell to breathe before externally pipping.

While 55% may be great when tested in a climate controlled factory with dry air, we live in homes with many sources of humidity. I am sure your classroom is similar. In many cases, it's not even necessary to add water to the incubator tray until hatching time.

In the Learning Center on this site, there are a couple of very comprehensive documents describing incubation methods.

Good luck with your hatch, but please don't be too disappointed if the results are poor.

 

[firsttimehatch1]

I got all my information on this site really. so thats strange that you say that. I never really had water in the tray at all mayb a drop here and there but for the most part it ran slightly dry the whole time. they all are moving around and growing the way the pics say they should be.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I too, feel that your humidity has been to high-----I hatch 1000's and I never have mine that high the first 18 days and I have mine higher the last 3 than you stated.

Here is the deal----if your air cells are to small----nothing you can really do now-----I would fill the water slots on day 18, Lock Down----not opening the incubator for Nothing till they ALL hatch or day 22. Good Luck

 

[firsttimehatch1]

so starting at day one to day 18 what should the humidity be? and what should the humidity be after day 18?

 

[WVduckchick]

I like 30-35 for the first 18 days, then 65-75 through hatch. If the air cells are big enough, they may just hatch a day or two late. What kind of chicks? And what day will day 21 fall on? Do you have a weekend plan if they are in a classroom?
(and don't take this wrong, because I ask anyone new... Did you start counting day 1 24-hours after setting? Many people get the days off because of counting the set date as day 1. Not that it matters tremendously, but if your cells are small, you could hold off lockdown for an extra day)

 

[PD-Riverman]

so starting at day one to day 18 what should the humidity be? and what should the humidity be after day 18?

I like around 40% the first 18 days then 75 to 80% the last 3.

 

[firsttimehatch1]

I just took pictures and drew the lines on the eggs for the air pockets. One looks small but the egg its self is very small. Im going to get the pictures off my cell phone and post them now. Day 1 started after 24 hours of being in the incubator. and as for weekends they come home with me on weekends. and because day 18 is tomorrow I brought them home today to keep an eye on them. So tomorrow I should up humidity to 75-80%? Thank you so much for the information. Let me know what you think of eggs once pics are uploaded.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I just took pictures and drew the lines on the eggs for the air pockets. One looks small but the egg its self is very small. Im going to get the pictures off my cell phone and post them now. Day 1 started after 24 hours of being in the incubator. and as for weekends they come home with me on weekends. and because day 18 is tomorrow I brought them home today to keep an eye on them. So tomorrow I should up humidity to 75-80%? Thank you so much for the information. Let me know what you think of eggs once pics are uploaded.

How do you keep them stable for the ride home and how to you keep the incubator warm for the ride home----or do you use a second incubator---Just Curious.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I like 30-35 for the first 18 days, then 65-75 through hatch. If the air cells are big enough, they may just hatch a day or two late. What kind of chicks? And what day will day 21 fall on? Do you have a weekend plan if they are in a classroom?
(and don't take this wrong, because I ask anyone new... Did you start counting day 1 24-hours after setting? Many people get the days off because of counting the set date as day 1. Not that it matters tremendously, but if your cells are small, you could hold off lockdown for an extra day)

xs 2 all the way. The best way (in the future) to tell is to monitor your air cells marking them at day 7/14/(of course 18). The day 14 is especially important in my book because it still gives you time to adjust if neccessary. I use this method: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity If you have checked/calibrated thermometer/hygrometer than I swear by this method.

I just took pictures and drew the lines on the eggs for the air pockets. One looks small but the egg its self is very small. Im going to get the pictures off my cell phone and post them now. Day 1 started after 24 hours of being in the incubator. and as for weekends they come home with me on weekends. and because day 18 is tomorrow I brought them home today to keep an eye on them. So tomorrow I should up humidity to 75-80%? Thank you so much for the information. Let me know what you think of eggs once pics are uploaded.

The recommended humidity is at LEAST 65%. I use 75%, which many find high, but I also open my bator during lockdown so I need the extra humidity.