Drowning Chicks I need some Advice…

[ZeiaZeia]

I don't think chick can drown due to high humidity during hatching, but because trying to internally peep at the wrong side of the egg where there is no air cell (assuming there is proper size air cell). I increase humidity to (at least) 65 for hatching, but it shoots to 90 after the first chick is hatched (due incubator fan blowing through wet feathers)

The air cells all had proper height but none of these 23 actually pipped when I opened them and tore the membrane of the dead eggs lots of fluid came out.

 

[ZeiaZeia]

Wow, that's high. Do you have another sensor that you can put inside to verify that your RCOM's sensor is accurate?

I will have to get an additional sensor.

 

[casportpony]

I am in Florida the humidity stays at almost 100% all the time

RCOMs are great incubators and have state-of-the-art sensors, but I still think it's a good idea to get a second sensor, calibrate it using the salt-test method, then stick it in your RCOM and see where you're at.

 

[ZeiaZeia]

45-55% dry

I’m in hot and humid Florida I probably should have mentioned that.

 

[CanadaEh]

The air cells all had proper height but none of these 23 actually pipped when I opened them and tore the membrane of the dead eggs lots of fluid came out.

they did not drown then. At some point they gave up. I suggest you to check your incubation temps with external thermometer or two, as well as candling the eggs regularly for problems rather than trying figuring out what went wrong at the end.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

they did not drown then. At some point they gave up. I suggest you to check your incubation temps with external thermometer or two, as well as candling the eggs regularly for problems rather than trying figuring out what went wrong at the end.

I disagree. As more chicks hatch, it bumps up the humidity even more. Chicks do drown in eggs right at hatch time.

 

[CanadaEh]

I disagree. As more chicks hatch, it bumps up the humidity even more.

yes as it is a good thing as high humidity prevent premature drying of membrane and shrink wrapping or sticking to the chick

Chicks do drown in eggs right at hatch time.

yes but do they drown in moist air or do they drown in excess liquid still in the egg due to not enough weight loss / air cell development caused by high humidity during previous 18 or so days before the lockdown?

 

[ZeiaZeia]

yes as it is a good thing as high humidity prevent premature drying of membrane and shrink wrapping or sticking to the chick

yes but do they drown in moist air or do they drown in excess liquid still in the egg due to not enough weight loss / air cell development caused by high humidity during previous 18 or so days before the lockdown?

All I know is I had nice sized air cell but a fully formed chick with a membrane full of fluid and they drowned in it

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@MGG is another one that's very knowledgeable and experienced with incubation/hatching. I do see other very knowledgeable and experienced members here commenting on this thread as well but I figured I'd tag her in case she has anything else to add.

I know it's not always possible but I like to watch for external pip before I raise humidity in preparation for hatch. I've had chicks drown because of the normal lock down humidity increase (in my personal opinion and experience). I haven't researched it but I read that some breeds are more sensitive to humidity fluctuations right at hatch.

 

[CanadaEh]

All I know is I had nice sized air cell but a fully formed chick with a membrane full of fluid and they drowned in it

As I said if it did not peep internally (i.e. broke membrane to gasp first air from air cell), than it failed to peep.
And if it did drown, it could only be due to excess liquid inside the egg due to not enough air cell development due to high humidity during many days of incubation and not due to high humidity outside egg during few days of lockdown for hatching