How do you avoid shrink wrapping chicks

[StarStruck203]

what do yall think about the normal incubations, with 55% humidity during incubation; 70-80% during lock down.

do yall have luck with that?

 

[jvls1942]

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I do not. those are too high for me... I shoot for 30% to 40% during incubation and 60% at hatch.. If those work for you, then use them..

 

[TK Poultry]

Well the that was shrink wrapped in its shell finally hatched 22 hours later! he is walking around the incubator like nothing happened. I dont think the other 4 are going to hatch. Has anyone had any luck with dry hatching?

 

[jvls1942]

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I really do not understand dry hatching...
do you mean dry hatching? or dry incubating? I would never try dry hatching..

 

[TK Poultry]

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I really do not understand dry hatching...
do you mean dry hatching? or dry incubating? I would never try dry hatching..

dry incubating I mean....

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
I really do not understand dry hatching...
do you mean dry hatching? or dry incubating? I would never try dry hatching..

dry incubating I mean....

If I could not get my humidity down to 30% to 40% yes..
I would do whatever I could to achieve these numbers..

Like I said,, I shoot for 30% to 40% incubating,, 60% and sometimes higher, hatching..

 

[chics in the sun]

Quote:
This is a great thread, thanks for starting it. I have marked my eggs for turning purposes with a black sharpie - is that really bad? They aren't even my eggs, so I hope not!

I have a weird situation on my hand, and this seems like a good place to ask about it if you don't mind a slight de-tour from op's question. Due to the storms and a few other factors, I will be recieving eggs I won at acution two weeks after winning them. I had other eggs I wanted to put with them, but obviously I couldn't wait that long so I had to put one batch under two broodies and one batch (my friend's) in the incubator. I have only one incubator, and someone suggested moving the ones in there now under a broody (as long as they are not all viable there will be enough room). Oh- but put all of the ones set to hatch the same day under the same broody, then the ones in the incubator under the other broody so that I don't have lockdown going on while the third set of eggs still needs to be turned. My friend that the eggs belong to doesn't want to move them out of the incubator.
I am in Florida, where the humidity is always high anyway, so would it be bad to leave them in the bator and just turn the second set when there are no pips going on and I can open the lid? I can't believe how complicated this all got!!

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

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Theoretically, i agree with you 100%, but experience has taught me differently. Even though i treat the humidity and temperatures exactly the same, i get poor hatches in the winter when our humidity is lower. And i've read similar tales from folks all over the country. For some reason i can't put my finger on, it does matter.

Deals with atmospheric pressure and surround climate. People claim to create a mini environment, which is true; however, we cannot effectively influence the air being exchanged through vents. In areas of disadvantageous air pressure, the amount of water vapor that can be held in a given volume of air is difficult to manipulate. We can put in sponges, turn on the shower to create steam... so on... I would ask people around you what their best methods are.

 

[youngjedi32002]

I am really happy to have read this, especially about not opening the incubator if one has hatched and one is pipping. We have a tiny incubator and ordered 3 eggs but got 4 and I am nervous that there won't be enough room for pipping, hatching, and drying! This is our first hatch and it is going really well! The temp in the incubator has been perfect and stayed that way, even with hand turning! But I don't want anyone to get hurt! Hopefully, they will stagger hatch so I can make room! I have heard that sometimes you can lure a newly hatched chick onto a piece of cardboard and move them to the brooder, if you are very careful not to touch them at all. Anyone else know this bit of advice? I just know that these babies will have a cramped little space and I will be frantic, sitting on my hands, fighting the urge to help!!!

 

[bburn]

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Why would you not touch the chick? Like they said, if there are no other pips you can open quickly and statch that chick out and put it in the brooder. If there are pips....do not open.

It is okay to pick the chick up....give it as much time in the incubator to dry as you can first.