First time incubating..

[Bdriver]

Yeah, I mean in Mother Nature when a hen/duck set, I don't think they can regulate humidity as high as humans set them in incubators if at all and it works for them.

 

[julskinka]

Do eggtopsies. If they're fully formed but sticky, and either didn't pip internally or pipped internally but not externally, your humidity was too high.

 

[Bdriver]

I just candles these

Do eggtopsies. If they're fully formed but sticky, and either didn't pip internally or pipped internally but not externally, your humidity was too high.

 

[julskinka]

Those are pretty small air cells for being post-dates, and there's a lot of liquid in the eggs still. They should be totally opaque except for the air cell, and the air cell should be drawn down pretty far by that point. Are you seeing any movement?

My worst hatch was when I followed advice to keep humidity above 40% -- I had a bunch of sticky and drowned chicks at the end. Now I keep it lower until lockdown.

 

[aart]

humidity at 50-70%,

Those are pretty small air cells for being post-dates

Yes, too high humidity during incubation.
I keep mine between 30-40%, check air cells and adjust humidity if needed.

This is how cells should look:

Before next hatch, test your therms and hygros:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/


Lots of great guidance here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

 

[Bdriver]

Yes, too high humidity during incubation.
I keep mine between 30-40%, check air cells and adjust humidity if needed.

This is how cells should look:
View attachment 1725216

Before next hatch, test your therms and hygros:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/


Lots of great guidance here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

Thank you! They were not alive. I am going to start new ones tomorrow and keep the humidity lower. What do you keep your humidity at during lockdown?

 

[aart]

Thank you! They were not alive. I am going to start new ones tomorrow and keep the humidity lower. What do you keep your humidity at during lockdown?

How far along was the chicks development when you opened the eggs??

First, test your thermometers and hygrometers.
I cannot stress that enough!

I run lockdown humidity at around 70-80%...depending on air cells I might not bump it up until first pip.

 

[Wjeffgriggs]

I had the cheapo LG still air incubator. Worked great on first hatch like 98% hatched then not so great on second hatch and 3rd hatch only got 2 eggs out of 14. Think its a one and done thing but it was only $20.

 

[Bdriver]

How far along was the chicks development when you opened the eggs??

First, test your thermometers and hygrometers.
I cannot stress that enough!

I run lockdown humidity at around 70-80%...depending on air cells I might not bump it up until first pip.

The sack was still on the outside of the chickens.

 

[aart]

The sack was still on the outside of the chickens.

But could you tell how far along they were by comparing to some online pics of 'chicken embryo development'?