garggg! External pip - then NOTHING!

[Czech's_chicks]

Due on Monday, started to pip, beak popped out, sounded ok, then nothing more. Tuesday, no more progress. I peeled a little bit of shell off, saw the membrane receded, so I pulled more off. The membrane was sticking to the chick. It was dry! I have water in there so I can't figure what else I need to do to increase the humidity.

I ended up putting the chick down today because it was just flopping. The other egg due the same time never even internally pipped. Still have 2 more due next week and soon to get 10 more to hatch - what went wrong, how do I fix it before the other eggs get here??

 

[satay]

Sounds like low humidity. You can add a small bowl of water with a sponge in it to try to get the humidity up.

 

[Czech's_chicks]

I had water in the well - will a sponge make a difference?

 

[satay]

It seems to. Do you have a reading of what your humidity was at? For chickens i use about 65% humidity for lockdown. Some do differently but that is what works for me. To low a humidity causes them to shrink wrap and they can't get out of the shell. Also make sure you don't open the incubator once they are in lock down.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

A sponge or wet paper towel makes a lot of difference. It wicks the water up making it evaporate and create humidity. I always fill my resevoirs and put a folded up wet washcloth in the incubator on day 18.

 

[Czech's_chicks]

No reading on humidity, just have played it by ear, since I haven't used a bator in years. This is one reason why I prefer silkie

I'll add the wash cloth and thank you both.

 

[cmom]

I agree the humidity during lockdown was to low. I use the bottle with the straw to add water while in lockdown so I don't have to open the incubator. I put the straw in one of the holes.