first hatch results, suggestions welcome

[FrenchHen]

I just tossed the remaining three eggs from my first hatch. They started on Thursday.
Out of 12 yard bird eggs, I have three and a half chicks.

Three eggs didn't hatch.
Three hatched healthy chicks
One hatched with a rough navel and crooked toes (that's the half chick, I'm still not sure if that one's going to make it).
Five pipped and died.

I got one chick from a white egg, and two and a half from the brown eggs. The brown eggs have thinner shells. The pips then die eggs were green and white.
Not sure if that makes any difference, but I thought I'd give all the info I had.

I'm pretty sure the humidity was too high after they started pipping. My temperature has been pretty easy to regulate.

My thought is that I need to add two more vent holes at the top of the incubator (home-made) to help lower the humidity next time. When the hatch started it was in the mid-high 80's.

I plan on setting more yard bird eggs tomorrow.

Thoughts, suggestions?

 

[gabrielle1976]

 

[FrenchHen]

Thanks. I think 30% is fine for a home made incubator and a first hatching attempt.
I just want better because i know they were alive going into day 18...except for one that was clear.

 

[lotzahenz]

Never give up!

However, I've tried the "dry" hatching method found on this forum and have had great luck with it, using the bator in my basement where the temp and humidity are very constant. Good luck. Last hatch with my Genesis was 94%

 

[FrenchHen]

I'll try that next time. I sent my mom home with four dozen eggs, so it'll be a day before I can set any.

I refuse to give up!

 

[adrian]

From what I've heard, aside from spikes of high temperature, the most dangerous thing is high humidity. This is usually why chicks pip and then die, or don't pip at all. Moisture loss is very important. Next time, investing in a small kitchen gram scale to weigh your eggs before they are set, 10 days in and 18 days in can let you get an idea as to how much weight they are losing. 12-14% is what people aim for. They tend to lose the most weight right before hatching, in my experience. The air cell gets so huge. This is a better determination for how much humidity you need, rather than %s based on other peoples' experiences.

 

[FrenchHen]

Sounds about right as far as pip and die.
I have a good kitchen scale, but the batteries are dead. I'll get those replaced.

 

[DUccleDude]

your temp is low if it was at mid to high 80s and if the humidity was too high they would have drown in the shell before pipping(I think)

 

[FrenchHen]

The temp was awesome. I had it steady at a hair under 100 the whole time. It's got to be the humidity.

 

[adrian]

Definitely sounds like it to me. Luckily, every time we try, we learn something.