Day 18 of hatching

[Shyannar1133]

Hello,
Quick question
I am on day 18 of incubating chicken eggs, and just took the egg turner out, increased humidity, and placed paper down on top of the grate. I have the little giant still air incubator from tractor supply. I have placed the temperature sensor back on top of the eggs, but i am concerned come hatching if that will interfere with them pipping through. Should I leave it on top of the eggs, and the eggs will move to the position they need and that sensor won't interfere too much? Or should I move it to the side of the incubator to still get the reading but in a position where it won't interfere with it? Also once they are hatched will they get tangled in the cord attached to it? Or is that a small concern?
Thanks

 

[lightchick]

Welcome to BYC! I have a LG incubator too and I just leave the sensor on top of the eggs while they are hatching. The temp seems to get too hot if the sensor isn't at the same height on the eggs. I must admit that the design isn't the best...when they hatch they tend to kick the sensor all over the place.

 

[Shyannar1133]

Thanks. I know this is going to differ with everyone but what temperature and humidity do you keep yours at during the "lockdown" period. I know its supposed to be between 50-60% and it does increase when they hatch. What humidity is too high? I've seen that 80% is ok if that happens and that I shouldn't go about 70%. My temperature is 100.5ish and I increased it to 100.7, and my humidity is 48 ( I just checked a few minutes ago). I did add more water when I removed the egg turner and what not.

 

[lightchick]

I usually do a dry incubation with no water until lockdown and then I bring it to about 60% or a little lower. I've had chicks drown while hatching if I added water during incubation and then brought it to 65-70% humidity.

 

[Shyannar1133]

So maybe I should keep it at the 48-52% humidity since it does increase while they hatch. I've had water in mine since the first day and I have a good amount of eggs that will hopefully hatch. This is technically my second time incubating but the first time didn't go too well. I got 2 dozen eggs from a breeder, and I only had 4ish last till the last day. 1 hatched but I had to help it and I think I waited too long to help because it didn't survive. Her chickens were covered with parasites so that is one issue there. I'm using my own flock bird's eggs for this round and they are all healthy. I want more Serama chickens, but I only got 3 from mine and they didn't look fertile at all.

 

[lightchick]

That sounds like a pretty good start for the humidity. Humidity is honestly the hardest part. I usually just watch the eggs as they are hatching and if they seem too dry I add more water and let more humidity out if it seems too wet. I have 11 Coturnix quail eggs on day 13 today so going into lockdown tomorrow, so it sounds like we could have chicks hatching at the same time. Good luck with your hatch! Hope you get some Seramas! I've thought about getting Seramas, but I'm afraid they wouldn't survive a winter here.

 

[Shyannar1133]

I live in New Jersey and I have 3, (2 outside, 1 is in quarantine, bought her from a show perfectly healthy but biosecurity measures) I want to start breeding and selling serama's so I'm expanding my flock but I wanted to get a good hang of incubating before I really start breeding. I have old English game and Rhode island reds in now. I'll be watching the temp, humidity and them hatching so I will add more water if needed. I'm afraid about having to help the chicks hatch again since I didn't go too well last time.