incubating in class, any suggestions?

[YoungChickenFan93]

Hi! My class for school is incubating eggs, and the last batch we did turned out horridly! It is probably due to the low fertility rate, but many died at an early day age in the shells. I was wondering if there are any suggestions that could help the hatching rate? We are incubating white silkies and barred plymoth rock eggs from www.naturehatchery.homestead.com. I am almost ready to say that no one should touch or open the incubator because I really want this to work out. Any suggestions would be very helpful. I have read the sticky post, and found it very helpful, but like said, suggestions or tips are VERY welcome!!

 

[Paganbird]

If they were dying early on, it may be a temperature problem. If they had started developing, though, it wasn't a fertility problem.
What kind of incubator are you using? What are you using to check temp & humidity?
My first thought would be to check the thermometer. If temps aren't correct, the chicks won't make it to the 2nd week.

 

[YoungChickenFan93]

I am not sure what type of incubator we are using. It is made out of styrafoam and we check the temp using a digital thermometer. I have no idea how to check for humidity, my teacher is kinda different, so he has to be in a good mood to answer a question, and he has never really answered that question for me. does this help any?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

My guess would be an off thermometer reading. Number one cause of started and dead chicks. Bring in a different thermometer and test it's reading against the other.

 

[babsbag]

Quote:
Humidity is checked with a hygrometer. I have never used an incubator but I am reading a lot hoping for the day. Here are the instructions for calibrating a hygrometer before you use it.

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/herpresources/ss/hygrometer.htm

There are also some really helpful threads on BYC that talk about humidity and what it should be kept at. I am sorry that your teacher isn't more helpful. I work for a school in the IT dept and I am glad that our teachers are not like that. Can you see the temp. with opening the incubator? Also, being around a school, make sure that it is not plugged into a power strip that is getting shut off at night or on weekends. Some people think they just have to turn that little switch off when they leave the room. Maybe put a note on the strip if you are using one, just to be sure it is left on.

Good luck, and you have come to the right place for help.

What grade are you in???

 

[kid-n-chickens]

Well I will share some of what I have learned from reading this and so far on this incubation. First there is a test called a salt water test to tell you if your hygrometer is accurate because if you humidity gets to high the chicks will drown in the shell. You can do the salt water test by putting 1/2cup salt in a small bowl and add 1/4 cup water. Put the bowl and your hygrometer in a ziplock bag not touching and let it set for 12 hours. At the end of 12 hours the humidity should read at 75% if not you know how far it is off. For the first 18 days you are shooting for a humidity of around 40% on day 18 you will want to raise the humidity to 65-70% as this will keep the membrane soft to help the chick be able to get thru it. If you have a still air incubator (does not have a fan that circulates the heat) You will need to keep the thermometer at the top of the eggs. You need to shoot for a temp of 99.5-100. If it gets off you would rather it be a little low then a little high. from what I have read anything above 103 will kill the chicken, lower at times will just cause a slower growth rate. You need to turn the eggs at least 2 times a day from side to side if you are using a turner. You should mark the eggs with an X on one side and an O on the other so you know they are getting turned evenly. Make sure you are washing your hands well every time you HAVE to touch them, due to you want to expose them to as little as bacteria as possible b/c this can enter thru the pores in the egg and kill the chick as well. Keep the pointed end (smaller end) down This helps to keep it from sticking to the side of the shell. On day 18 you will do a lock down. Stop turning the eggs and fill up the water wells and wet sponges if needed to get your humidity up. Do not open the incubator until day 23 as every time you do it drops the humidity and temp and will lower your hatch rate. Check this link out on dry incubation I have heard that a lot of people have had great success with it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html Hope this helps a little and good luck!

 

[YoungChickenFan93]

Thank you all soooo much!! I will definately go out and by a hygrometer! I am very excited! my teacher said today that the incubator was a still air one? but then a kid read something and said it was a circulated air, so one might be circulated and another is still air? I am super excited. I think one problem might have been that my teacher said that humidity should be kept at 60-65% until the last days we will jack it up to 80-85% humidity-is that way too high? can the humidity fluctuate more than teh temp, or will it still cause damage? Once, again thank you soooo much!! I will keep you posted on how the chicks do-they are being shipped today!!

Quote:
I am a Junior.

 

[kid-n-chickens]

That is the humidity you want for days 18-hatch way to HIGH for days 1-18 read the article on dry incubation that I attached above. It will explain in there that the egg has to dry out some, it is said on day 7 the air sac has to be quarter size and by day 14 the air sac will be the size of a half dollar. If the humidity is to high the air sac will be to small and the chick will drowned. It is easy to tell if it is a still air or circulated air, if it is a circulated air it will have a fan either way you can still set the thermometer at the top of the eggs and adjust it to 99.5 degrees farenheight. If you by a digital thermometer/hygrometer (make sure you check for accuracy) after you buy it. especially the humidity with the salt water test they are almost all off. This way you will know by how far and can adjust by subtracting or adding what it is off by. https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html

 

[Teach97]

if it is a circulated air then there will be a fan running in it..this type is much easier to maintain constant temps with.

shipped eggs can be more frustrating to hatch...you might try to get some eggs locally this might help your hatch.

I hatch eggs in class a couple times a year and the usually an elementary teacher will do it...of course we use my eggs..but I open the incubator every day...because for my high school classes (anatomy, bio II) we crack an egg open every day to observe the development...I still get fairly good hatches...in the 80%'s

Hope we are helping and good luck

 

[YoungChickenFan93]

ok, just to make sure, keep the humidity at 40% then at day 18 and on hike it up to 60-65%? and

Quote:
was really helpful! thank you soo much!! and thanks to all who have posted! i am very excited and with all your help i am extreamly sure everything will go well! thank you!!