Incubator unplugged over night--temperature down to 70 and humidity to 75%

[peytonbagg]

I am incubating chicken eggs in my preschool classroom, so each night I leave and don't have access to them. We have cleaners who come in and they ended up unplugging the incubator around 8pm. When my coteacher came in at 7:20am the incubator was down to 70 degrees and humidity was at 75%. So they were without power for about 11 hours. This is my first time incubating eggs, and I'm freaking out a bit over here. We are at day 15. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!!

 

[MySweetChickens]

First what day are they on and second relax they will be fine I have personally had plenty of temp drops with no issues

edited to put day 15 the humidity seems a little high I usually have 50% through 1-18 and 75% on day 18-21

 

[peytonbagg]

Yes we got the humidity back to between 40%-50%, but that's what it had gotten to when my coteacher arrived this morning before she adjusted it back. Is a high humidity for a few hours bad?

 

[MySweetChickens]

No not at all you just don't want to keep it that way for over 3 days

 

[peytonbagg]

Thank you thank you! I appreciate your reply. I've been close to tears over here for the children, of course...

 

[scflock]

Thank you thank you! I appreciate your reply. I've been close to tears over here for the children, of course...

The humidity was fine, too, it was just reading that high because of the low temps. That's why its called relative humidity. The same moisture content in the air will be a higher relative humidity at lower temperatures. Eggs can't handle a sharp spike in temperature, but a drop should be ok. It may delay the hatch a little, but you should be fine. Good luck

 

[JJSS89]

Your hatch will probably be Day 22 ish. Other than that no worries. Just make sure the cleaners don't do it again

 

[peytonbagg]

Really appreciate these replies! Have you experienced a temperature drop before?

 

[JJSS89]

Really appreciate these replies! Have you experienced a temperature drop before?

Yep, every night when the sun goes down

My wife unplugged the incubator while vacuuming once. They were without heat for a day. I don't remember disastrous hatching results.

 

[peytonbagg]

Should I be starting lockdown later then, or is day 19 still a good time?