Do drastic changes in humidity, as long as they're in the recommended range, affect hatching?

[TwoCrows]

As soon as I got the notification for your reply, one had just pipped! I don't know if the incubator I got has a no slip bottom, I have a KEBONNIXS 12 Egg Incubator. How much of a threat will the egg be from now until 24 hours after the first chick hatches?

Does the bottom of the machine look like shiny plastic? Chicks need traction in this wet environment, when they slip they can easily get splay legs, a serious pulling and slipping of tendons.

Congrats on the first pip! The others should be right behind this one. Rotten eggs can pose health issues to the hatching chicks, there is a lot of bacteria in that bad egg. You might reach in quick like and remove it, have a water spray bottle handy (with warm water) and quickly spray the eggs lightly after you open and remove the bad egg. The spray will help replace and humidity lost.

 

[TwoCrows]

Also, after they pip, they can sometimes sit in this state for 24 hours, so sit tight and let them do their thing. Wait for all of them to hatch before removing them from the incubator, chicks absorb the yolk sac before hatching and can go a couple days without food or water in the incubator.

 

[birdcult]

Also, after they pip, they can sometimes sit in this state for 24 hours, so sit tight and let them do their thing. Wait for all of them to hatch before removing them from the incubator, chicks absorb the yolk sac before hatching and can go a couple days without food or water in the incubator.

It's been 5.5 hours since the one pipped, and I see many others rocking and chirping, but none are pipping. The humidity rose to 71% but no changes in temperature (though I cannot confirm that because from personal experience I've noticed this incubator has an occasionally faulty thermostat). The one that pipped has not broken the egg shell anymore, but I hear it chirping and I see its egg rocking as well as a couple of attempts to further peck at the pip but to no avail. I chose not to take the bad eggs out because I have had difficulties hatching quail eggs in the same incubator due to a chick getting shrink- wrapped. Is the plentiful action with a lack of progress a cause for concern or should I let them be?

 

[TwoCrows]

Good morning!

Hows the eggies this morning? Like I mentioned earlier, they can break through the shell, (pip,) and sit like this for 24 hours. What's going on is they are in need of oxygen at this point so they break through the shell. As they sit there doing what appears to be nothing, their bodies are busy absorbing the last of the yolk inside the egg and this takes a while. So just let them lay there with the chipped shell, they will hatch out when ready.

 

[birdcult]

Good morning!

Hows the eggies this morning? Like I mentioned earlier, they can break through the shell, (pip,) and sit like this for 24 hours. What's going on is they are in need of oxygen at this point so they break through the shell. As they sit there doing what appears to be nothing, their bodies are busy absorbing the last of the yolk inside the egg and this takes a while. So just let them lay there with the chipped shell, they will hatch out when ready.

2 hatched out of the eleven. After letting them dry in the incubator, I put them in the brooder. They’re doing well, but no activity in the other eggs, although just last night I saw more than 2 moving around. I also woke up this morning to find the incubator at 75% humidity! This incubator is absolute garbage with a faulty thermostat (which is most likely the cause of late hatching chicks) and a lack of humidity control. I took the bad egg out and I’m hopeful more eggs will hatch, but it seems unlikely considering how the humidity was. I’m glad the 2 would hatch, but I would definitely never recommend the kebonnixs incubators.

 

[TwoCrows]

2 hatched out of the eleven. After letting them dry in the incubator, I put them in the brooder. They’re doing well, but no activity in the other eggs, although just last night I saw more than 2 moving around. I also woke up this morning to find the incubator at 75% humidity! This incubator is absolute garbage with a faulty thermostat (which is most likely the cause of late hatching chicks) and a lack of humidity control. I took the bad egg out and I’m hopeful more eggs will hatch, but it seems unlikely considering how the humidity was. I’m glad the 2 would hatch, but I would definitely never recommend the kebonnixs incubators.

Congrats on the 2 babies! How are the other eggs doing this morning?

Not only will the machine make a difference in hatch rates but so will the eggs, depending on who you got them from, the genetics behind the eggs, how they were stored before setting and of course if they were shipped eggs. So many factors can effect the hatch rate. Ive have good luck with Brinsea incubators.

Enjoy your new babies!

 

[birdcult]

Congrats on the 2 babies! How are the other eggs doing this morning?

Not only will the machine make a difference in hatch rates but so will the eggs, depending on who you got them from, the genetics behind the eggs, how they were stored before setting and of course if they were shipped eggs. So many factors can effect the hatch rate. Ive have good luck with Brinsea incubators.

Enjoy your new babies!

We just checked the eggs, and perhaps my anger was misplaced. Only 4 of the eggs were fertilized out of the 11 shipped eggs that arrived unharmed. So out of fertilized eggs, 50% hatched. No new development, but the silkies are the sweetest things ever to me. However, although they're only a day old, I've noticed them pecking at each others beaks frequently and chest bumping, and once I saw one get pecked in the eye. I don't think it's due to improper heating though because they still enjoy cuddling together directly underneath the heater. I'm worried the fighting could worsen, but overall unsure because it's odd behavior for day old chicks

 

[TwoCrows]

We just checked the eggs, and perhaps my anger was misplaced. Only 4 of the eggs were fertilized out of the 11 shipped eggs that arrived unharmed. So out of fertilized eggs, 50% hatched. No new development, but the silkies are the sweetest things ever to me. However, although they're only a day old, I've noticed them pecking at each others beaks frequently and chest bumping, and once I saw one get pecked in the eye. I don't think it's due to improper heating though because they still enjoy cuddling together directly underneath the heater. I'm worried the fighting could worsen, but overall unsure because it's odd behavior for day old chicks

It could still be the temp in the brooder. I like to start them around 88 to 89F, any warmer and they can become aggressive. Give them things to do in the brooder too, put in some tree branches to climb on, even a low cut cereal box with chick starter, alfalfa leaves, and a sprinkling of sand. A little parakeet mirror too. Warm bored chicks peck at eyes and toes. Busy chicks wear out and behave better. Later put in a 2x4 in, 2 side up, to roost and play on.

 

[birdcult]

It could still be the temp in the brooder. I like to start them around 88 to 89F, any warmer and they can become aggressive. Give them things to do in the brooder too, put in some tree branches to climb on, even a low cut cereal box with chick starter, alfalfa leaves, and a sprinkling of sand. A little parakeet mirror too. Warm bored chicks peck at eyes and toes. Busy chicks wear out and behave better. Later put in a 2x4 in, 2 side up, to roost and play on.

View attachment 3357996

Would a couple of stuffed animals work out? Also, here’s another photo of a chick.

 

[TwoCrows]

Would a couple of stuffed animals work out? Also, here’s another photo of a chick.​

Adorable! Yes stuffed animals work well too, anything to break up the monotony.

Enjoy your babies!