First Time hatching eggs, egg sacks too small

[luvmychickenz]

Vent plugs are out, but just today. We had them in the whole time. I thought you were only supposed to remove when put into lock down because they need more aeration. I believe from reading some of your posts that you don't even use yours the entire time. So, that seems to be another mistake we made.

No, the cartons were dry when we went to cut them. Plus they were just standing in an air conditioned room. We have been checking that humidity every half hour since we have started all of this earlier today. So, we are certain about the trend of the humidity and change since we put in cartons.

If you have any other suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. If not, we will continue to pray and have faith that some of them will make it. I will keep checking this thread and keep you updated.

Thank you so very much for taking so much time on assisting us.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Vent plugs are out, but just today. We had them in the whole time. I thought you were only supposed to remove when put into lock down because they need more aeration. I believe from reading some of your posts that you don't even use yours the entire time. So, that seems to be another mistake we made.

No, the cartons were dry when we went to cut them. Plus they were just standing in an air conditioned room. We have been checking that humidity every half hour since we have started all of this earlier today. So, we are certain about the trend of the humidity and change since we put in cartons.

If you have any other suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. If not, we will continue to pray and have faith that some of them will make it. I will keep checking this thread and keep you updated.

Thank you so very much for taking so much time on assisting us.

It's not a mistake. Many people do use the vent plugs and most instructions tell you to leave them or one in. People do a lot of things differently. I do leave my vents open for the duration of the incubation. The important thing is that they are open when they hatch and if the humidity is high it's one way to lower it (unless outside humidity is higher than inside).

It's a hard call. If the cartons are causeing that big of an influx I would take them out and wait until you actually raise the humidity to put them back in. Hopefully you won't get pips until at least day 20 and that will give you a little extra time to run at a lower humidity before upping it for hatch. (I would commence with "lockdown" day 20 even if no pips. If your temp has been a bit low it's possible to see a delay in the hatch.) I would, if it was me, put them back in the cartons when I saw the first pip or heard the first peep (or day 20) just because I feel they would benefit more with small cells hatching upright. But go with your gut.

 

[chicapee]

Hoping and praying for a marvelous hatch. I am so glad that AmyLynn jumped in and was able to give you support. So sorry I had to leave, I had chicken chores to do. I believe that she is the best possible person for your situation. I look forward to following the rest of your hatch.

 

[luvmychickenz]

Again, I thank you so much!
I removed the cartons and Within 15 minutes the humidity dropped from 75% to 45%. It is unbelievable that they hold that much liquid content.
I am more of a "meddler" like you call yourself. I candled the eggs approximately every 2-3 days. My husband, the opposite. But, we are equally concerned about doing what we need to in order to get the chickies' hatching environment fixed as optimal, now that we are learning things so late in the game. I will keep you posted.
Blessings and good night.

 

[luvmychickenz]

Chicapee, thank you so very much for tagging AmyLynn. She has been incredibly helpful and very knowledgeable.
I see that you have a lot of chickens. We only have 3 hens and a rooster so far. We started off with about 45 eggs incubate. The majority of eggs were given to us and they were of several different breeds. Now, considering everything, I will be grateful for 3.
Our next time around, we hope to have much more success and many more chickies.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness in following up!. I will keep you all posted and hopefully have happy photos in a few days.

 

[chicapee]

Chicapee, thank you so very much for tagging AmyLynn. She has been incredibly helpful and very knowledgeable.
I see that you have a lot of chickens. We only have 3 hens and a rooster so far. We started off with about 45 eggs incubate. The majority of eggs were given to us and they were of several different breeds. Now, considering everything, I will be grateful for 3.
Our next time around, we hope to have much more success and many more chickies.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness in following up!. I will keep you all posted and hopefully have happy photos in a few days.

You are very welcome. It is a very anxious time. I think I felt more anxious hatching chicks than I did having my own babies. Good Luck!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Chicapee, thank you so very much for tagging AmyLynn. She has been incredibly helpful and very knowledgeable.
I see that you have a lot of chickens. We only have 3 hens and a rooster so far. We started off with about 45 eggs incubate. The majority of eggs were given to us and they were of several different breeds. Now, considering everything, I will be grateful for 3.
Our next time around, we hope to have much more success and many more chickies.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness in following up!. I will keep you all posted and hopefully have happy photos in a few days.

I have no doubt that your next hatch will be even more successful armed with new knowledge and insight. A lot of us have bad first hatches. My own first hatch was compromised because I bought a new thermometer for my "borrowed" bator and never checked it for accuracy. Thinking it was new and must be fairly correct was an assumption I learned never to make again. After the hatch when I tested it proved to be 6 degrees off.
Every hatch since since that first one has been over 80% with the last one being 100%. Every succeeding hatch did better, so you experience and learn. I do so hope you see some hatchers.

 

[luvmychickenz]

I stood up into wee hours of morning and have been watching and waiting all day. No pips or peeps yet. The bator is all dried out and running hygrometer reading 40ish since cartons removed. My husband had to place a piece of cardboard on each side, between each handle of closed bator in order to maintain lower humidity Within 15 min or so of removing the humidity and kids tightly closed, humidity climbs to 60ish.
Tomorrow is day 20, will go on lockdown then. Temp has been consistent 99.5, my husband tested against 2 other thermometers so I don't believe temp will be cause of delay. I so want to candle the egg shells of those that I can see through. Since I will handling them to put in egg cartons tomorrow for lockdown, do you think it's safe to take time to check air sack size?

 

[chicapee]

I stood up into wee hours of morning and have been watching and waiting all day. No pips or peeps yet. The bator is all dried out and running hygrometer reading 40ish since cartons removed. My husband had to place a piece of cardboard on each side, between each handle of closed bator in order to maintain lower humidity Within 15 min or so of removing the humidity and kids tightly closed, humidity climbs to 60ish.
Tomorrow is day 20, will go on lockdown then. Temp has been consistent 99.5, my husband tested against 2 other thermometers so I don't believe temp will be cause of delay. I so want to candle the egg shells of those that I can see through. Since I will handling them to put in egg cartons tomorrow for lockdown, do you think it's safe to take time to check air sack size?

I do it all the time, you should be fine as long as there are no pips. Let us know how they are doing. I had small air cells on my first hatch and they really grew during the last 3 days. and I had 5 out of 7 hatch.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I stood up into wee hours of morning and have been watching and waiting all day. No pips or peeps yet. The bator is all dried out and running hygrometer reading 40ish since cartons removed. My husband had to place a piece of cardboard on each side, between each handle of closed bator in order to maintain lower humidity Within 15 min or so of removing the humidity and kids tightly closed, humidity climbs to 60ish.
Tomorrow is day 20, will go on lockdown then. Temp has been consistent 99.5, my husband tested against 2 other thermometers so I don't believe temp will be cause of delay. I so want to candle the egg shells of those that I can see through. Since I will handling them to put in egg cartons tomorrow for lockdown, do you think it's safe to take time to check air sack size?

I do it all the time, you should be fine as long as there are no pips. Let us know how they are doing. I had small air cells on my first hatch and they really grew during the last 3 days. and I had 5 out of 7 hatch.

If there were no pips, I'd look too, but I am a meddler anyway, so.......lol

I don't recall if you said it was a forced air incubator or still? I am hoping forced air.