I had 16 Araucana eggs (my stock, not shipped) that went into lockdown on Tuesday. This was technically 12 hours before the 18 day mark. I did that because it was dark and I wanted to candle as I locked down. Prior to lockdown, I had kept the incubator humidity around 35%, with occasional dips down to 30%. With my first hatch I kept the humidity around 50% (per instructions that came with the incubator) and going into lockdown my air cells were WAY too small. I blamed my 28% hatch rate on too high humidity during those first 18 days. Hence my decreasing humidity this time around.
During lockdown I upped the humidity to 65%. No pips, no peeps, so late last night I candled each and every egg. NO signs of life whatsoever!! I know these aren't the greatest pictures, but hoping maybe it could shed a little light on what happened.
I opened most the eggs, and the most consistent problem I noted was the majority had not even pipped internally... if that helps. What could have killed these chicks during lockdown?
During lockdown I upped the humidity to 65%. No pips, no peeps, so late last night I candled each and every egg. NO signs of life whatsoever!! I know these aren't the greatest pictures, but hoping maybe it could shed a little light on what happened.
I opened most the eggs, and the most consistent problem I noted was the majority had not even pipped internally... if that helps. What could have killed these chicks during lockdown?
