Newbie Hatching Question

[HennyJenny]

So - I'm going to say that much like a watched pot never boils - a watched egg never hatches - BUT here I am at the end of Day 21 and not a single egg is doing so much as a noticable rocking (which they were yesterday) - what does day 21 (or there abouts) usually look like? My temp is good (between 99.5 and 100.8) - my humidity is at 70% - I have not opened the incubator and I'm not horribly concerned but I do see that many people have movement and pipping by this time. This is my first hatch - and I'm more curious than anything. I had 8 BV eggs that I felt very confident about due today and I have another 6 or 7 BO eggs due to hatch tomorrow that I felt pretty good about. Thanks for your help!
Jenny

 

[panner123]

Temp is perfect. Humidity is to high, the chicks most likely have drown. If they don't hatch out by day 23, they are gone.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

This has got to be the hardest part! WAITING!! Sit on those hands, and just wait! Our stopped moving too about 24 hours before they pipped, so be patient they'll come. Meanwhile I am sending you lots of good hatching ju ju!

 

[HennyJenny]

Thanks for the information. Would there usually always be movement on day 21?

ETA: Thanks for the encouragment Red. I will stay hopeful for a couple more days and reduce my humidity.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

Quote:
I don't know you think? According to BYC own instructions on incubating 70% is correct?

Before putting your eggs into an incubator, plug it in and make sure the temp is steady at 99.5 degrees. I use a thermometer and a hygrometer (which measures humidity) in my incubator. Hygrometers can be purchased quite cheaply at a cigar shop, Radio Shack and I believe even Walmart. You want 50% humidity for day 1-18, then 70-80% for the last few days.​

 

[HennyJenny]

I guess that's what I thought for humidity. In fact I was worried about it going down to 50 or 60% in the middle of the night. I have a still air incubator.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

We have a still air too. We have ours sitting on a plastic tote, and this way it's raised a little. In the night I add warm water, and it will run out the bottom, so I just keep a towel on the totes lid to catch the extra water. Occasionally we just change out the towel when it gets to wet, and hang it out to dry.