Day 19 and Worried - NOT worried anymore!

[MaransGuy]

Well I have been reading everyone else's posts over the last few days and decided to post about mine. I have a batch of copper black Marans and a few EE x cb marans at day 19. I am a bit worried though, as the air cells have not dried down the way I would have liked. I did not think my humidity was too high but the air cells have not changed much since day 12. It has been extremely dry in the house since we have been using the heat so I am really surprised that they are too wet. I am hatching them in the upright position and keeping my fingers crossed. They are all squirming around so I hope they are tough enough to get out without drowing.

Richard

 

[silkiechicken]

Well.. if the air sac is much larger than before, you can always just let the bator dry out for the last two days. I don't up my humidity at the end so I don't end up with a nasty water filled muck solution at the bottom of the bator. Do what works for you though.

 

[MaransGuy]

I've actually been doing just that. My humidity is down to 18% for the last few days but I don't think I will get the drying I am looking for. I will have to watch them carefully and probably add a bit of water once they start pipping (if they start pipping).

Richard

 

[jackiedon]

I was reading an article in Practical Poultry and the guy said that he finally found out what worked best for him was to not up the humidity until he saw the first pip. When he started to do that he finally got a better hatch.

jackie

 

[MaransGuy]

Well, things are looking more hopeful today. Over the last 24 hours the air cells really opened up so I have brought my humidity back up. I have two eggs pipped and peeping and several more have internally pipped! Tomorrow is day 21 and I am hoping to wake up to maybe a chick or 2!

Richard

 

[Poison Ivy]

Any chicks this morning?

 

[MaransGuy]

I've got one RIR/CB Marans chick stumbling around with one more of those pipped and 5 of the EE/CB Marans pipped as well! The only ones yet to pip are the full blood CB Marans, the whole reason for this incubation in the first place. Hopefully later today!

Richard

 

[MaransGuy]

Took a few quick shots of what is going on:

 

[Heidi]

Congrats on the new babies coming. Just out of curiosity how did you candle your marans? I tried candling my penedesenca eggs yesterday with no luck. Any suggestion would be great. Thanks.

 

[MaransGuy]

Things have been going pretty quickly this morning! In the few minutes it took me to upload the last pics I had one zipping and another starting:

Almost Out!

Wow! That was exhausting!