Is this enough humidity to drown them?

[hmlongino]

I moved my eggs to lockdown. I added the same amount of water I usually do at lockdown, however, the room they were end was more humid than usual. I didn't realize it at the time, but for about 24 hours or so, they had around 90% humidity. I cracked the lid a bit, opened a vent, and now I have it down to 75%. Do you think they could have drown already?? If this hatch messes up, I think I'm DONE. I have had the worst luck lately with power outages, etc.

Also, for some reason my circuit blew over night when the eggs had been in about 10 days or so. They went for up to 12 hours at about 80 degrees.

I would love to hear thoughts on their chances! I know... I will find out in a few days... but I am impatient and would love to hear opinions.

Thanks!

 

[Arielle]

I have read many, many people who have lost power and the temp dropped in the incubator--it slows down the hatching; high heat is more of a problem.

As for the humidity. Did you candle the eggs before lockdown and check the size of the air cell. If that is at it's correct size, high moisture isn't as big a problem. High moisture may interfere with gas exchange across the egg shell.

So maybe all will work out fine. But your right, you won't really know until you know.
Hope all goes well.

 

[hmlongino]

Today is day 21 and nothing... Here's hoping for some action!!

 

[Fleezie]

It can only drown them if they had already pipped. I would wait a few days and if you feel the need you can use a led flashlight to peer into the air sack, then put it at the bottom of the egg and see if you see all black or patial black with mostlay grey. the grey would indicate that they are dead.

 

[justtoni44]

I do not have words of wisdom.but sure know how it feels
to have to wait.Just wanted to say Good Luck.and don't give up.
The learning curve can be painful..I say with experience......
But I hung in and am doing great now.....................

 

[hmlongino]

It's so not fair to have such GREAT beginners luck (90% hatch rates) and then WHAM!

 

[dsqard]

As far as drowning them, if the eggs have lost enough moisture during incubation, no matter how high you have your humidity during lockdown, the chicks will not drown. The eggs do not re-absorb water through the shell. I like to run lower on my humidity (not quite a dry incubation but probably close) during the first 18 days that way I can have humidity pretty high during lockdown. I was having a problem with my chicks getting "glued" in the shells when they were hatching so I like the higher humidity for hatching. As far as your temp problems are concerned, I don't think it hurt the chicks but it might cause them to hatch a little late. On my first hatch, I ran almost the whole time on a lower temp by accident. They hatched OK but a little late. Just throwing in my two cents. Good luck on your hatch and remember to BREATHE!

 

[hmlongino]

Thank you!!!!!!!!


After a very very quite day 21, I saw one egg rockin' and rollin' tonight!! WOOT!!

I am going to back off and go white water rafting tomorrow... so no obsessing for me! Hopefully I'll come home and see at least a few little fuzzies!

 

[blkwdw]

Soooo, what's going on?

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
Yup. This is exactly what I was going to say. Chicks drown in their own excess egg fluid, which is absolutely not caused by a high lockdown humidity. It's caused by running your first 18 days of incubation at too high a humidity. It doesn't affect the chicks until they pip internally into the air cell to start breathing air, and inhale the excess fluid. Because they die during lockdown, people sometimes get confused and blame the lockdown humidity.

I run my lockdowns at 85%+ humidity and I've never had a drowned chick yet.