Incubating dilemma by first timer

[Hippy Chix]

I've got water trays & multiple sponges. Already misted & adding warm water every few hrs. Humidity continues to drop & added water continues to seep. There's no way of adding (or removing) anything to the incubator now that it is in lockdown.

 

[Hippy Chix]

Except the warm water of course via a small removable plug with a long skinny nosed squeeze bottle that was provided with the incubator at purchase

 

[ZoeS95423]

I'd go get a new hygrometer. Sounds to me like yours doesn't work. With all the extra water and sponges in there it should be awfully high.

 

[Hippy Chix]

I just finished reading hatching 101 again, to be sure I'd not forgotten anything & it says, for humidity adjustment, water trays, done, sponges, done, warm water, done & air ventilation adjustments, done. Despite EVERYTHING I've managed to find & EVERYONE I've found to ask, nowhere & no one has heard of or offered advice as to dealing with water seepage. I'm starting to believe my brand new incubator is flawed but I'm desperately hoping all the angst has somehow saved my hatch. Fingers, toes, arms & legs are all crossed.

 

[blucoondawg]

What kind of incubator is it. It shouldn't be leaking water I would say something is damaged in that respect. However if you are truly thinking your humidity is too low all you can do is add more in the form of misting repeatedly and adding more wet sponges or towel. Popping it open quick to add humidity won't hurt your hatch as long as you mist it well it should raise your level. People take chicks out during the hatch all the time. It isn't ideal but you don't have an ideal situation

 

[Hippy Chix]

Ok so it's day 24 & I've misted & maintained as many wet sponges as I can fit. I must admit I was feeling pretty deflated throughout the day as nothing seemed to be happening. Around 5 pm we had a hatch with 3-4 eggs demonstrating cracks & the odd chirp sounding. We now have 2 live hatchlings busy drying off & chirping away. Several eggs are showing possible signs of cracking & I've misted & added very warm water as the eggs were very dry. The humidity is finally holding at around 57% but only the larger eggs appear to have any signs of cracking. I have some plymouths & silkie bantams that have no indicators to inspire confidence that anything positive will happen.

 

[blucoondawg]

Good to hear you are having some chicks hatch, better late than never. The hatching chicks will help boost the humidity as they dry. You never did say what incubator you have, apparently the temperature was a little off which is the reason for the late hatch, most figure 1 degree off per day late or early, so if yours were day 24 hatch your incubator was likely running like 96-97 degrees rather than 99.5. I wouldn't trust whatever digital readings or controls that incubator has in the future, and the water seepage shouldn't be happening either

 

[Hippy Chix]

My egg incubator is a 48 egg capacity with a bright yellow lid. Fully automatic everything & I can't find a brand name on it. I contacted the supplier & they've sent out a replacement unit, no hesitations, as part of the warranty. I doubt all my eggs will hatch but I now have 5 live hatches, 11 bubbling, chirping, cracking & pipping & so 32 yet to be determined. As it stands, my Plymouth Rocks have been pretty successful, Orphingtons, Araucana, Silkies & Wyndottes have odd eggs with cracks but less convincing. It's just past the 24hr mark since the first hatched so according to website suggestions, we should know more by the end of 36hrs. Humidity increases as eggs hatch but then drops dramatically, at which time so too does temp. Current readings are 38• & 55% humidity. This is the best I've been able to maintain & am continuing with Hourly checks & hot water replacements. The water seepage continues & leaving for longer than 2 hrs saw the entire incubator bone dry with dehydrated chicks. Once chick was removed & sever misting etc, the temp stabilized & pipping ensued. I'm loathe to open continuously but do so when all other avenues are expired. Fingers crossed for continuing success against the odds.

 

[blucoondawg]

I have seen those online sometimes the brand is Janoel, sometimes other names, they are a Chinese incubator I have seen mixed reviews on them and I have seen reviews stating that the temp and humidity readings aren't accurate, I have also seen reviews on amazon that the customer service is horrid so you may be lucky in getting yours replaced, hopefully the new one works better.

 

[Hippy Chix]

Yes, according to the instruction leaflet they are Chinese. Only sort of "brand name" says HT48. Beyond that, nothing more. Many egg & chicken suppliers are stocking them so I thought they must be good. Ummmm. Cautious about trying the new replacement as we have only been successful in hatching 5/48. Some have been stuck part hatched in a shrink wrap fashion, others have failed to progress beyond pipping stage. I have a large wide dish of hot water & sponges in the dish, to maintain humidity & have removed all hatchlings from the incubator to the brooder instead. I'm not sure how much longer is realistic to wait & pursue the hope that more may hatch. It has now been 41hrs since the very first hatch & 2hrs since the last hatch. Many more cracked & pipped.