This is my first attempt at hatching (and chickens for that matter!)-
I bought 13 Buff Cochin eggs on Ebay. The seller sent 15 and they all arrived safely. I set them in a LG with forced air and an auto turner on June 25. They LG held them pretty steady at 99.5- 100.5 and around 50% humidity. I candled on Day 17 and out of the 15- 12 appeared to be developing, and 2 were clear and were tossed.
Last night I went to take them out of the auto-turner and the wells had dried out and the humidity had dropped to 20%. I freaked and quickly spritzed the eggs with some warm water, filled the wells, and placed them on the wire rack with some damp strips of washloth running between them.
Since I was worried about the humidity drop, I placed the thermometer and hygrometer on top of the eggs. When I checked it this morning, my temp was 100.2 and my humidity was 79%. (I'm using a Flukers digital combo)
At that point, I realized it was going to be mighty hard to see any pipping with the therm sitting on top of the eggs so I lifted the lid for a second and moved the therm to the wire floor.
My Questions-
1. The temp is now reading 97.8 at the base of the eggs- since I didn't change the bator temp adjustment, is it safe to assume I would still get a reading between 99.5- 100.5 at the top of the eggs or should I nudge the temp up?
2. Do you think the humidity drop hurt them? My DH had checked them in the afternoon and it was fine so it dropped over a period of 3 hours or less.
3. After reading some of the posts here, I am now concerned that my humidity is too high. I pulled both red plugs this morning but the humidity seems to be holding steady at 79%. Should I open the bator and remove the washcloth strips?
4. When I candled I thought the airspaces looked good- is there still a chance they are full of water? I am a little confused about whether it contains water or air, and how exactly do the chicks drown when they pip?
Many, many thanks for some opinions/ advice!!!! and please keep your fingers
for us!
I bought 13 Buff Cochin eggs on Ebay. The seller sent 15 and they all arrived safely. I set them in a LG with forced air and an auto turner on June 25. They LG held them pretty steady at 99.5- 100.5 and around 50% humidity. I candled on Day 17 and out of the 15- 12 appeared to be developing, and 2 were clear and were tossed.
Last night I went to take them out of the auto-turner and the wells had dried out and the humidity had dropped to 20%. I freaked and quickly spritzed the eggs with some warm water, filled the wells, and placed them on the wire rack with some damp strips of washloth running between them.
Since I was worried about the humidity drop, I placed the thermometer and hygrometer on top of the eggs. When I checked it this morning, my temp was 100.2 and my humidity was 79%. (I'm using a Flukers digital combo)
At that point, I realized it was going to be mighty hard to see any pipping with the therm sitting on top of the eggs so I lifted the lid for a second and moved the therm to the wire floor.
My Questions-
1. The temp is now reading 97.8 at the base of the eggs- since I didn't change the bator temp adjustment, is it safe to assume I would still get a reading between 99.5- 100.5 at the top of the eggs or should I nudge the temp up?
2. Do you think the humidity drop hurt them? My DH had checked them in the afternoon and it was fine so it dropped over a period of 3 hours or less.
3. After reading some of the posts here, I am now concerned that my humidity is too high. I pulled both red plugs this morning but the humidity seems to be holding steady at 79%. Should I open the bator and remove the washcloth strips?
4. When I candled I thought the airspaces looked good- is there still a chance they are full of water? I am a little confused about whether it contains water or air, and how exactly do the chicks drown when they pip?
Many, many thanks for some opinions/ advice!!!! and please keep your fingers
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