First time hatcher needs help

[ashyannehand]

Hi everyone. I have been incubating 18 "mutt" eggs from my chickens in a homemade incubator my father in law has had many a hatch with. My temp has been between 99-100 and I turned the eggs three times a day the first 18 days and then left them alone. I increased the humidity on day 18 also to about 70-80%.

I have had two chicks hatch without any problems!

But I have also had two die during the hatching process. One peeped through the shell and I could see his beak then nothing. I came back a while later and there was about a teaspoon of yellowish liquid that leaked out of the shell. I left him alone for 24 hours and then assumed he was dead.

I had another one peep through the shell and again, nothing. It has been over 24 hours so I also assume this one is gone.

Does this happen often?

Is there anything I can do to prevent it or should I just "let nature take it course".

I am just on Day 21 so I have a day or two left to wait other hatches out.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[dun chick]

Your humidity is too high. You really should not go over 65%. I know the books tell you 70-80%, but I lost many a chick because they drowned on hatch day. Get your humidity down, take out the sponges or however you are keeping it up.

 

[Mahonri]

Let nature take it's course.. .unless of course after tomorrow you still see the little chick moving inside and then you can intervene a little at a time with a wet paper towel, only removing the shell around and above the pip without breaking veins in the membrane.

 

[ashyannehand]

Thanks for the reply. I have taken my sponge out and am trying to decrease the humidity to about 60-65%. It is down to about 70% now. I hope the others go well. Thanks again.