Help! High Humidity throughout incubation

[Elizabeth777]

Hi everyone
I'm very disheartened at the moment as I believe I have accidentally killed most of our chicks . This is our first time incubating and when I purchased the incubator I made sure to ask the lady at tractor supply lots of questions on how to incubate. She said that she had done it before and that I needed to watch the temperature and make sure that there was always water in the treys. So I have been very diligent to keep the treys full of water. I am on day 18 and just now after reading about lockdown realized that my humidity has been way to high (like 80%) for the whole time. I'm so devastated. I candled the eggs and some are still alive and moving but the air sacks are small. Is there anyway to help these little guys? My children are going to be so disappointed . And what should my humidity be at now considering it has been high the whole time? I can't even sleep thinking about those poor little babies

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

UGH... I hope next time you get any advice from a feed store employee that you will ALWAYS get a second opinion. You wouldn't believe some of the awful things I've heard... and this is definitely one of them.

I would try not to have it higher than 50% right now... and look into upright hatching. I don't know details.. but it should be a good option for your current concern.

For future reference... I incubate at 35-40% and raise to 65% for hatch. That means sometimes I have ZERO water in my wells. S you should find out where you run completely dry and then add water as needed to reach where you wish to be. The amount of water you add will vary by location because of your ambient humidity... which only effect how much water you need to add to the well to get there. And this can even vary by season. So one season you might need two well full, why another maybe only one.

Also, if you didn't move the eggs to a new location inside the bator, daily... they may not be quite evenly developed due to temp variance throughout, even if circulated air... which would mean the hatch might be long and drawn out.

Did you happen to use a calibrated thermometer or hygrometer? Did you see condensation on your lid through out incubation? Anytime there is condensation it's a sign the humidity it too high, even for hatching.

We all have to start learning somehow... I feel your anxiety! Don't beat yourself up... we all do out best until we learn something new.

Hope your babes defy the odds!

 

[WVduckchick]

I have read that an incubation that has had high humidity throughout tends to grow chicks that are larger than normal and are therefore unable to turn correctly when the time comes. Please correct me if this is not valid information.

Smaller air cells will allow the chick to grow bigger, and it seems logical that more malpos could happen with larger chicks.

 

[WVduckchick]

Depending on the size of the air cell, I think I'd probably just leave it where it is. Laying it down the wrong direction, IF there is much fluid, could be more harmful. Tough call without actually seeing in the egg.

And the pip looks like a good strong one, so humidity is probably ok. JMHO

I also noticed the possible pip, diagonal from the one with the hole. Check that one for sure.

 

[Pyxis]

I must say, I have never hatched with them upright, so if you feel better laying them down, trust your gut.

I have. Accidentally but they do fine that way. Plus mine were also still on the turner and in about 30% humidity and made it out. I was also gonna float the suggestion of leaving them upright in this case.

 

[WVduckchick]

Those look fine. I would not consider helping until at least 18 hours pipped. They can even take 24 (sometimes even more) hours from pip to zip. Patience!

 

[Elizabeth777]

Those look fine. I would not consider helping until at least 18 hours pipped. They can even take 24 (sometimes even more) hours from pip to zip. Patience!

OK thank you so much! We will practice patience! He is still peeping but it's not as loud as last night He's probably just tired though! I'm so glad to hear the other crack is okay!! There are two eggs like that one.

 

[WVduckchick]

Should I peel back a little of the egg to see inside a bit better?

How long since it pipped?

The problem with increasing the hole is that it lets more air inside, which dries out the membrane, which "could" trap the chick. So the less you mess with it, the better.

 

[WVduckchick]

I find a list of pip times very useful. I label my eggs so that I can chronicle them as they pip and hatch, and it helps me determine when to assist, if necessary.

 

[aart]

Only thing I'm not diggin'... is those chicks now being on that bare grate... since I have read that it should be lined to help prevent injury.

But In personally wouldn't try to change that now. Maybe for the next hatch.

That plastic mesh? It's fine, better than the metal.

@Elizabeth777 what kind of incubator do you have? (apologies if I missed it or forgot)