Do I really have to increase humidity and lock down on day 18?

[Jedstar]

Our eggs were initially at 50-55% RH for first 6-7 days. After candling and realizing there is almost no air cell growth, I decreased RH to 40% and it did not help much, then to 26% (with no water at the bottom of incubator at all). It is day 18 now and air cells is still not where they suppose to be size wise. The embryos are still floating within eggs and do not look like they are any close to hatching size.

Do I really need to increase humidity to 65-70 and lockdown at day 18 or should I keep it dry for a few more days to allow further air cell growth for as long as they not close to pipping?

Is the only reason for increased humidity at day 18 is the possibility of pipping and membrane almost instantly drying and shrink wrapping the chick at low humidity, but they are safe at low humidity past day 18 for as long as they not pipping?

Are there any signs of chicks forming at all.when I incubate eggs.I set my humidity at 0 but make sure I keep normal water in the tray not warm.just normal water.at 40% to 50%. When I first start.so my alarm will go of if it reaches 0%. But yeah at day 18 increase to 60% to 75%

 

[Swilso3]

Did you use a calibrated thermometer? If your chicks look to small your temp was probably low. I do 35 percent he first 18 days and then 50-55 humidity at lockdown. I hope your babies make it!

Where do you all get the best calibrated thermometers?

 

[MGG]

I use one off of amazon called avian web. It works really well

 

[MGG]

I also use a mercury one stuck through a hole I put in the side of my incubator at egg level. I use it to check my digital one.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Where do you all get the best calibrated thermometers?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[MGG]

Thanks @CluckNDoodle Was trying to find that post

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thanks @CluckNDoodle Was trying to find that post

No problem!

 

[Fairview01]

Where do you all get the best calibrated thermometers?

Wal Mart but you have to know your true body temp and not use the accepted normal. My normal body temp is 98.2 almost a half degree below the accepted normal. I visit the kitchen gadget aisle and start pulling the instant read thermometers off the peg and hold between my thumb and forefinger. When I find one that displays 98.1 -98.3 i buy it. A thermometer calibrated at the temp it will be used at is more accurate then one calibrated at freezing and boiling point.

I crank up the humidity so when i open it my glasses fog up. During the hatching process i dont think there is such thing as too much humidity.

Here is your best humidity meter. Stop reading directions and stop worrying about what the meter reads and what others tell you. Start your incubation off dry. Candle your eggs at 7 days and increase humidity if the aircell growth is increasing to fast. Candle again at 14 and add humidity if aircell is too large.

It's that simple. A hen does it with only imprinted memory.

 

[CanadaEh]

Those look good to me. Mine were like that, and shrunk drastically day 20, right before the internally pipped. The chicks do look a little small, what was the temp you kept them at?

37.8C (100.4F) on incubator thermostat and control thermomenter in front, 38.4C (101.1F) in the back

 

[CanadaEh]

update: got 73% hatching rate from this

ps: that is overall, 83% if I count out the clears