Foggy incubator

[Winnie123]

I am hatching Silkie eggs that I got from “My Pet Chicken”. The first time I ordered from them I received 7 and none of them hatched. One of them made it to lockdown and died at some point after that, it never even Pipped. This time I received 21 and out of 21 eggs I only have 3 that have made it this far. I put these ones in lockdown on day 17 as recommended. Tonight at 8pm I will be on day 20 and I am really nervous because the air cells are BAD. They were free floating when received and right now they look like bad saddle bags. Each side goes down more than half of the egg. I haven’t heard any peeping yet and I am biting my nails over here!!!

Anyway, my question is about humidity. I have 4 different hygrometers and thermometers in there to be SURE that they are accurate lol! Currently my humidity is at 70% which is good BUT I am nervous because there is condensation all over the windows of my little giant circulated air incubator and I read that any condensation is bad because it could cause the chick to drown when pipping. How do I have the humidity that high WITHOUT condensation build up? Or did I misinterpret what I read??? Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Thank you!!!!

 

[FortCluck]

70% is way too high at lockdown. Take some water out. When the chicks start hatching it’ll raise it even more and it can potentially harm the chicks.

I would get the humidity down to 50-60%... I would not go past 60% or you will get condensation and issues will result from it.

When I first hatched I had my humidity at 60% and then external pips happened and then condensation. It was my worse hatch rate ever, but a learning experience.

What was your humidity up to day 18?

 

[Winnie123]

45%

 

[FortCluck]

45%

Next time drop it to 30-35%... Sounds like you’re having the issues I first had. Next time try dry hatching. You’re to far into the process now to try, but I’m sure you’ll hatch again.

Link for dry hatching:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...h-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method.47694/

 

[Winnie123]

That is what I did with my first set of 7 and all of them died. I read tirelessly about optimal hatching conditions for eggs with badly damaged air cells for this round and made my best decision based on what I could find. I read that 65-75% for lockdown is best which is why I did it that way but I don’t understand how that is achieved without condensation... even immediately after I added more water before the humidity levels were up to what I was aiming for there was condensation in there... I’m so confused... I can take water out but I’m just wondering what I missed.

 

[Winnie123]

Ok, took some water out and immediately the humidity dropped down to 50% (probably since I had to crack it open a bit for just a second to suction the water out). Hopefully that is ok! I’m sure it will come back up at least a little after it’s left alone for a bit. Still no peeping yet and I am so anxious! It’s technically still a bit early for that still but I’m so nervous! I REALLY want these ones to make it!

This is only my 3rd attempt with shipped eggs. The first time I got a 50% hatch rate which was awesome. I’m just not having good luck with these silkies though.