Little Giant Incubation Experiment - Day 21 - Hatch Day!

[fiset94]

Based on the photos, I'd raise the humidity to 50% or so for the duration of incubation.

Sorry about the one that broke...was there a large volume of liquid compared to embryo? Day 14 is normally near half and half.

I couldn't really tell as it was dripping all down the rocker.... but I believe that it looked about equal when I picked up half the shell with the chick inside it.

 

[cooper7100]

I have six hatched. Problem is, my humidity keeps hitting the mid 90's. There are 15 more eggs to hatch and I feel like this might drownd them. Thoughts? I've been adjusting this things all day which probably isn't good for them either.

 

[Kodakchickens]

Raise the lid just slightly, about a quarter inch on one side and that will allow it to hold heat and let the humidity evaporate some. Just monitor when it gets down around 60% close it completely, it doesn't take much to bring it down rapidly so use caution. I have been running mine around 40% for the first 14 then increasing to 57- 64 through the last week seems to be working better that way. I got the tubing to run into the batons that way I can add water without opening and it will allow me to gradually add it and monitor as needed.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have six hatched. Problem is, my humidity keeps hitting the mid 90's. There are 15 more eggs to hatch and I feel like this might drownd them. Thoughts? I've been adjusting this things all day which probably isn't good for them either.

You won't drown them unless your humidity was high the first 17 days causing the egg to retain the moisture that is already in the egg. I run 75% at hatch time and it will shoot up 85-90% when there are a few hatching at a time. (Mine doesn't stay that high for long because I remove my chicks to brooder during hatch and pull out the shells.) If it's staying that high I would definitely either take advantage and move chicks (if that is your preference) or just crack the lid to let some of that humidity out and bring it back down at least 70-75%..

 

[rossfam06]

Bound to happen I guess... surprised that I hadn't dropped one already!!

That is one of my biggrst fears! So sorry it happened to you.

 

[lazy gardener]

Candled all eggs tonight. Day 6. 2 clears, one of which appeared to have a totally unattached air cell. What's up with that! Certainly, that egg didn't get addled between nest box and house! Left with 24.

 

[mswendeu]

egg #5 is out

egg #2

egg #1

egg #4

I can't wait for the rest to egg-scape.

 

[WVduckchick]

So cute mswendeu! Rooting for them all to get out soon!

 

[bpetry]

I candled my 10 eggies again tonight. ..I was excited to see movement in most of them... one of them looks different from the others. .. it just doesn't seem as big and when I turn the egg the dark spot doesn't really move... I tried to get a photo but the best one I could get doesn't seem very accurate.

Left it in the incubator for now. ... should I pull it? They are supposed to hatch Monday....so lock down Friday or Saturday?

 

[WVduckchick]

I candled my 10 eggies again tonight. ..I was excited to see movement in most of them... one of them looks different from the others. .. it just doesn't seem as big and when I turn the egg the dark spot doesn't really move... I tried to get a photo but the best one I could get doesn't seem very accurate.
Left it in the incubator for now. ... should I pull it? They are supposed to hatch Monday....so lock down Friday or Saturday?

Could be a quitter, its sometimes hard to tell that late in the game. Since you are so far along, I would check it again on Friday when you lockdown. (If Monday is 21, then Friday is 18) Maybe even try the water wiggle test if you don't see any movement at that point. And smell the egg. Does it smell like its starting to go bad. I don't "think" there is much risk of it exploding at this point, so I would personally leave it in, but maybe someone else would feel differently.

Good luck. I'm in lockdown now, due Friday! I also had one egg (out of 14) that looks different. Its got some clear-ish area down one side of it, and isn't as full on the bottom, but I could still see movement, so I left it in. We'll see what happens.