Need suggestions: humidity?

[JDchicks]

I was wondering if anyone could give me any suggestions on anything I should try or change...


I have a little giant incubator with fan.

I maintained 100 degrees and 54% humidity days 1-18.

I maintained 100 degrees and 69% humidity during lock down.

I turned the eggs 3 times a day. 8am, 4pm and 11:30pm.

Only opened incubator to turn eggs and to candle every 4th day.

This was my first try. Eggs were shipped. 3 out 4 developed but didn't hatch. Chicks had absorbed the yolks upon examination.

I was wanting to start another set soon. Again shipped eggs, but different supplier.

I bought an egg turner to try, but not sure what else I should change or try.

Looking for any suggestions.

 

[Morgan87]

From everything I have read on here, it sounds like everything you're doing is good. This is my first hatch but they are not due until the 8th so I start lock-down this coming Saturday.

I have never tried shipped eggs. I have read that shipped eggs have a bad hatch rate so it could just be that.

I threw out my first batch because there was nothing happening in them, and they would have been due the 3rd. I bet its hard when they are about to hatch and they are fully developed. Just keep trying, I'm sure you will have chickies eventually!

 

[JDchicks]

I guess, I'll just keep it the same. Starting a new hatch either Thursday or Friday.

 

[cashdl]

Here is my suggestion take it or not. Bring humidity down to 25% for the incubation period this allows evaporation so the chick has room to grown and allows a good sized air cell to develope. Then bring the humidity up to 65% during hatching. Your doing fine with turning but an egg turner will make life much easier on you.


Lanae

 

[JDchicks]

I don't think the air sac was large enough at lock down.

I was just reading another thread with an air sac chart. My first try the eggs' air sac looked more like day 14 compare to the chart.

Does that mean the humidity was too high during 1-18 days or lock down.

 

[JDchicks]

Does house humidity play a part? Even if it says 54% inside the incubator.

 

[fried green eggs]

You should calibrate your hygrometer. I just did 3 of mine and found out that they are all reading lower % than the actual humidity. One is off by 3%, one by 10% and the other one is off by 20%. WOW. Just enter "How to calibrate a Hygrometer" in the search and the how-to tread will come up.
Shipped eggs are hard bc you can't tell if it's something you did or mis-handling in shipping.

 

[JDchicks]

I have 2 that I use. I calibrated them last month. one was off -3% and the other one was right on.

I am doing it again right now.

 

[JDchicks]

8hrs, 12hrs or 24hrs? I am doing the salt test again.

But I have read the "how to" on several threads...

some say read after 8hrs, some 12hrs or 24hr preferred.

So which is right? Cause I get different readings after each time period. The long I leave it set to more accurate the hygrometer is.

 

[JDchicks]

Help....results: They are sitting right beside each other.


8hrs: #1 hygrometer - humidity 60% Temp 77
8hrs #2 hygrometer - humidity 68% Temp 75
8hrs glass thermometer - Temp 76

12hrs: #1 hygrometer - humidity 62% Temp 77
12hrs #2 hygrometer - humidity 69% Temp 73
12hrs: glass thermometer - Temp 75

Awaiting on the 24 hrs tests

Any ideas what I do?

They were in the 70%s when I calibrated them a month ago. Has keeping them in the incubator alter them?