Incubating against the odds...

[aart]

The pips idea is interesting... Newb question: what's good/bad about pipping above or below that line?

We tried to keep our humidity at 45 (which honestly went up and down 20 percent, but on average was close) and the air sacs "seemed" fine... But I'm not experienced enough to recognize where the line should be to tune it well. I figured as long as it got slightly larger and leaned, we were good. Might have to do some reading...

Pips outside of air cell can be bad, but not always...mostly it takes longer from pip to zip if pip is outside air cell.

What to run humidity at depends can depend ambient humidity and/or how fast eggs lose moisture(which can depend on porosity and/or coating). How to adjust it takes some practice. .....and it's the humidity over the first 18 days that matters, not an exact number. I run 30-50% then 60-75% during hatching. Here's the average air cell size for chicken eggs.

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

That is interesting, we've definitely had a variety of zip times...guess we might start drawing air sacs! I'd defintely like to know a bit more of what's going on in there, ease some of that anxiety.

 

[Kiki]

I find that everyone runs their bator differently. I think you won't find the perfect numbers for yourself until you do a few hatches.
I am choosing to try to run my hatch at lower humidity levels...closer to 25-30 for now.

 

[lazy gardener]

I run my humidity 20-30% and am an avid egg marker. By hatch date, many of my eggs have multiple air cell tracings, as well as question marks?, exclamation points!, hen's names, X and 0 for turning schedule, and expected pip locations. I mark my eggs with pencil, but a thread several years ago covered egg marking, and totally debunked the old wive's tale that sharpie was harmful to the embryo!

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

I gotta find that sharpie thread.. I'll stick to pencil as well, but i have a hard time believing sharpie is a myth. Will be interesting to see the debunking.
I'm impressed that you two aim for the low of humidity, although it does make sense. Might have to get one of my sensors under a chicken just to see...
Do you raise at hatching time?
I'm thinking of waiting until day 21 (20) to do my humidity bump... Or maybe after the first pip. But i don't think ill go above 60. No solid support or reasoning, just my latest method after some reading.

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...answer-is-yes-with-proof.630135/#post-8426447

Well, the first post has a lot less info than i was hoping... But a few pictures and a hundred percent success rate is good!

 

[aart]

I'm impressed that you two aim for the low of humidity, although it does make sense. Might have to get one of my sensors under a chicken just to see...
Do you raise at hatching time?
I'm thinking of waiting until day 21 (20) to do my humidity bump... Or maybe after the first pip. But i don't think ill go above 60.

Don't try to measure humidity under a hen, it's not the same scenario as an incubator.

Remember.....

..... it's the humidity over the first 18 days that matters, not an exact number

That's why you trace the air cells and/or weigh the eggs, so the air cell is a good size and shape for when the chick turns to pip.

Once the air cells are the right size, you want the humidity above 60 and up to 70-80% so it doesn't get too big.....and after the first pip so the membrane doesn't dry out and shrink wrap the chick.

Do calibrate your therms and hygrometers .

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

Don't try to measure humidity under a hen, it's not the same scenario as an incubator.

Sorry, poor use of sarcasm, i should have dropped a smiley.

Remember.....
That's why you trace the air cells and/or weigh the eggs, so the air cell is a good size and shape for when the chick turns to pip.

Once the air cells are the right size, you want the humidity above 60 and up to 70-80% so it doesn't get too big.....and after the first pip so the membrane doesn't dry out and shrink wrap the chick.

Do calibrate your therms and hygrometers .

Aart, i have to dig through more of your articles... That's 2 for 2 I've seen and really liked.
Can you elaborate on "too big"?
I've heard that the humidity spike let's the chicks know it's time to come out, so i was thinking of waiting until tomorrow evening, but I don't want to do that if I'll be enlarging the air sac further than i should.

Also, pip inspection and sac lines will be after dinner, so I'll throw up a few pictures soon! (I realize thats late for some of you non-west coasters, you'll have to wait til morning to see. )

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

 

[aart]

Sorry, poor use of sarcasm, i should have dropped a smiley.

Air cells look pretty good.