Help! Chick did not pip but were shrink wrapped?

[HeyHey]

what did I do wrong? These poor babies were fully formed but never pipped. They are green eggs so I couldn't candle them. I never heard anything.
The shells were very thick and hard. I have dropped a raw one accidentally on a hard floor and it only cracked.

 

[WVduckchick]

Explain your incubation process and we may be able to help you figure out what went wrong

type of incubator, temperature and humidity, etc.

 

[HeyHey]

mine is handmade temp was at 100 humidity 40 till day 18 then 65. I did have the temp raise to 108 2 days ago

 

[WVduckchick]

108? That high will kill them. I hope that was a typo.

Depending on your location, 40% humidity is likely too high for dark colored/dense shelled eggs.

Did you test your thermometer and hygrometer for accuracy?
Did you at least candle to check the air cells?
Ventilation/circulation is also important, did you have vent holes?

I would guess the chicks got too big to hatch, or the high temps killed them.

 

[HeyHey]

I had 3 nice air holes and there were air cells I did candle foe that.
What is the correct humidity for dark and dense eggs?
I thought about them being too big. What do I do about That? thanks for the help I am just sick.

 

[WVduckchick]

How much water did you have in it? Do you live in a very humid area? If you do, around 30% would probably be better. Many of us run dry (no water added for the first 18 days) and still maintain 25% or more.

I would suggest starting dry, check the air cells after the first week and if they look too big, you can always add a little water. Reversing is almost impossible if they aren't getting big enough.

when the air cells don't get large enough (from too much humidity), the chicks grow too big, fill all the space, then can't zip out.

 

[WVduckchick]

And i should also say I'm sorry for your loss. it is heartbreaking, but it's a learning process unfortunately these things happen.

 

[HeyHey]

Thank you everyone
they got too big because of the humidity then.
I I run dry for 18 days then what humidity for lockdown, on these dark dense shells?

 

[WVduckchick]

I run 65-70% and it works for me.

 

[HeyHey]

they did have large air cells, but their heads were tucked in really tight