I have failed

[EmptyNesterNoMore]

It is day 22 and still nothing but I am going to wait and see. I did go out today and purchased 2 gauges that monitor both temperature and humidity. I want to do this again and I want it to work so I am probably going to be posting often on this forum, for advice and support. This is a still air incubator (Little Giant) with an egg turner. Our hens and roosters are very "active" so I am pretty confident that most of the eggs, if not all, will be fertile. I will probably be placing about 20 to 30 eggs in the incubator and these will be from an approximately 24 hour period of laying. I am aware that I need the temperature to be at 99.5 but what do I need the humidity to read? Thanks so much for all the input and kind words I have received so far. I really appreciate it.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I keep my humidity levels between 40 and 50% the first 18 days, usually around 40. the last 3 days you want to bump your humidity levels to a 60 to 70% range. Usually 70%. That's what works for me here at my house.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Your temps could be off so give them acouple more days, I've had chicks hatch at day 25 if the temps were too low.

 

[kathyinmo]

You said this is a "still air," incubator. I thought I read that in these the temperature needs to be higher. ???

 

[HappySlappyFarm]

Quote:

 

[EmptyNesterNoMore]

The directions that came with the incubator said 99.5 degrees for chicken eggs. It didn't really say much about humidity other than to fill the areas at the bottom of the incubator with water. Now that I have the gauge in there to monitor both, I am having a difficult time getting the temp to 99.5 and the humdity between 60 and 70 percent which I believe is what is necessary at this point??? Interestingly enough, the 2 thermometers that I had been using (little strips on pieces of hard plastic) are showing completely different temps than the new one I just purchased....

Guess what... I heard pips.....or chirps... whatever you call it.... Now what do I do? What if the humidity was wrong for too long.... will they be able to "break out"?

 

[HappySlappyFarm]

http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/explore/embryology/

Here's a good site.

 

[HappySlappyFarm]

oh wait heres another lol

http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/Embryology/EmbryoPhotos.shtml

 

[HappySlappyFarm]

http://freshpics.blogspot.com/2007/05/stages-of-chick-embryo-development.html

Here's one thats kinda gross but neat. BUT it doesnt say what day they are.

 

[EmptyNesterNoMore]

Thanks for the links and info. Actually the more graphic pictures will be best if I have to try to figure out when something went wrong. I am still hoping for the best since I heard one of the little guys..or girls making noise for me.... can't tell what egg it was coming from and I don't see any breaks or cracks in any eggs from where I am looking...which is thru the windows on the incubator.. Don't know if I will sleep tonight..but if I do, here's hoping I wake up to an Incubator FULL... wouldn't that be fabulous.?