Fourth failed hatch...what to do? *Dry Incubation Progress*

[Time-Out]

Humidity here is between 50-60%. If I don't put water in my incubator, it drops lower than the hygrometers can read (below 10%). I incubate at 30-40% humidity and lockdown I go to 80%. I can't say I'm done lots of hatches, but I do know it worked and I haven't had a chick develop and die/shrinkwrap.

I hope you can figure out the best method for your incubator. 4 hatches is quite frustrating!

 

[jmc]

Quote:
glad to hear of your bator success. but what have you done about the hygrometers? not use them at all? or just realize when you read them that they are a bit off and make a mental adjustment?

I use the wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometer outside remote unit in my hatching incubator. That way I can watch the temps and humidity on the base unit outside of my incubator. Before a hatch I calibrate it with the salt method, which is quick and easy to do. Just put your hygrometer in a zip lock baggie. Fill a bottle cap with table salt and put a few drops of water on the salt until it is just damp, not soggy. Put the bottle cap filled with salt into the baggie with your hygrometer and tightly seal it shut. Wait at least 12 hours and check the humidity and it should read 75%. Mine only read 61% so I know that it is reading 6% lower than the actual humidity. I like my humidity at 65% for lockdown, so I now know that when my hygrometer reads 59% (I mentally add the 6%) it is actually 65% and right where I want it

thank you. very kind of you. best of luck in your hatching adventures.

 

[spowell]

Thanks for this thread.... I have my first ever batch going into lockdown tomorrow. I am moving them from my GQF to a LG for hatch. My GQF does not have a window an I wont know if it is safe to open. Not to mention, I still have 2 staggered hatches in the GQF that won't go into lockdown until 3 days later. This gave me some things to watch for during hatch. I probable wont sleep after day 19

EM Silkie....I hope this time is the charm for you

 

[E.M. Silkies]

Quote:
Thank you! I'm hoping this is the charm too! Good luck on your first hatch! You'll have to let us know how it goes!!

 

[rarely bored]

E.M. Silkies :

I am going to try it!! I feel like with my humidity in the room being 45% I ought to be ok. I didn't add any water and I still somehow have a humidity of 60% in the bator. I'm thinking it's going to keep coming down though, because now the red plugs are out. I'll know for sure in a couple hours when I'm able to check again. What do I do if it stays that high with no water inside? My plan is to follow all the dry incubation instructions and see what happens. It can't be any worse than my previous hatches.

. I'm hoping that if all directions are followed correctly, I'll actually have a bunch of babies!

This may be an unnecessary comment, but do make sure you have fresh air going into the incubators at all times! Working chicks need oxygen and, if the vents are fully closed the CO2 may be building up to unhealthy levels.
So glad you are trying the dry hatch!​

 

[E.M. Silkies]

Quote:
This may be an unnecessary comment, but do make sure you have fresh air going into the incubators at all times! Working chicks need oxygen and, if the vents are fully closed the CO2 may be building up to unhealthy levels.
So glad you are trying the dry hatch!

All of the vents are open as well as having the red vent plugs out. I read that it's important to keep the red plugs out so that the humidity in the room where the incubator is can get into the bator.

Edited for spelling.

 

[mstricer]

Quote:
This may be an unnecessary comment, but do make sure you have fresh air going into the incubators at all times! Working chicks need oxygen and, if the vents are fully closed the CO2 may be building up to unhealthy levels.
So glad you are trying the dry hatch!

I never have my vents open. Unless the humidity here to high. There are holes in the bottom that allow air in, so I don't think CO2 build up shouldn't be a problem. Unless you have homemade incubator

 

[E.M. Silkies]

I couldn't sit on my hands any longer... I candled two eggs out of the 30ish that I set for dry incubation and they are developing! I could easily see veins and the start of the eye. I'm so excited! I think this might actually work for me! Today is the end of day five so I'll candle a few more on day seven and see how things are looking! Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll keep updating!

 

[chickee]

E.M. Silkies :

I couldn't sit on my hands any longer... I candled two eggs out of the 30ish that I set for dry incubation and they are developing! I could easily see veins and the start of the eye. I'm so excited! I think this might actually work for me! Today is the end of day five so I'll candle a few more on day seven and see how things are looking! Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll keep updating!

 

[jmc]

e.m. yes! keep an eye on them air cells and weights. if you have good data there, you should be able to make adjustments to promote your success. and i sure do hope you have success.

i appreciate your starting this thread. i am sure i am not the only one learning valuable stuff here, for the future.........................