Incubating second attempt first time was no go.

[gimmie birdies]

I don't have a shrink wrap problem at hatch- and I think that scares people into putting too much water some times.












these were all dry hatches

 

[Shadow722]

I have it at 45% now and I got the humidifier going in my room. My house will stay at 20% to 25% until spring has fully arrived. I try to keep the humidity levels up but forget to add water to the humidifier and the house dries out in about half a day. Currently at 30% in the house.

I read this article I found in another thread.
http://paraguinparadise.netfirms.com/Dry Incubation.htm

 

[cluckerkeeper]

Hi Gimmie,

So do you add any water at lockdown? I've had chicks hatch in the incubator on the turner when I missed an egg for lockdown. That's always a surprise to hear a peep where there should be no peeping, lol.

I dry incubate but haven't dry hatched.

 

[gimmie birdies]

At lock down yes- but I don't do lock down til day 19

 

[cluckerkeeper]

Gotcha. I lockdown on day 18 but I'll give 19 a try next time. Thank you

 

[Shadow722]

I have plenty of cloths should I get a cloth and lay inside the incubator on top of the screen once I remove the egg turner.

 

[jennylynn143]

I live in a very dry climate and still go lower humidity.  Check out the article about "dry hatching"   When I did this my hatches improved incredibly. A little scary at first but it worked for me.

Do you have a link for that article? Sounds helpful!

 

[cluckerkeeper]

You bet.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method

 

[Shadow722]

Well they are hatching starting last night with the first one being a day early. Currently have 6 hatched now on day 21. The ones hatching are my Golden Lace Wyandotte from my chickens. I ordered Blue Splash Marans and they show no signs of pipping yet. I am nervous that I after buying, shipping, and handling that I am out $70 on those 15 eggs. (It was actually for 24 eggs, but the breeder had a shortage so I had them send me the rest and bought another 12 3 weeks after the first order) I have another 22 Blue Splash Maran eggs that I got in the mail today from a breeder. I am worried that the postal service has ruined my eggs. I have 7 more of my own Blue Splash and maybe 2 more before I incubate. I will fill the empty slots with my Golden Lace for the next run.

 

[Shadow722]

Today is Day 23 and I was impatient. I decided to start opening eggs. I had 12 of my GLW eggs of which 8 hatched. 2 were fully formed but dead in their shell and 2 were rotten.

Out of the 15 Blue Splash Maran eggs I had shipped from 2 different breeders with great reviews, none hatched.
I started opening their eggs and all but 3 were rotten. 3 had developed to maybe day 17 or 18. Still a little yolk but otherwise fully formed chick.

I kept the humidity at 40% to 45% until day 18 and I increased to 65% to 70% at day 18. Now I have 22 more eggs that I had shipped from the same breeder. I am nervous that the next run of the breeder's 22 and my 8 BSM eggs will be the same next run. I tend to believe my mail carrier or USPS must have handled them too roughly to kill the embryos in most of them.