Okay I'm ready to be yelled at lol what did I do wrong?

[Kiki]

Is your humidity gauge salt tested?

They were developing just fine until lockdown. I have them at 98F and humidity fluctuated between 60 - 65 percent.

This is too high and if your gauge hadn't been calibrated it could actually be way higher than you think.

 

[FowlWitch]

Is your humidity gauge salt tested?



This is too high and if your gauge hadn't been calibrated it could actually be way higher than you think.

The humidity is too high? I thought for dry incubation, it was 20 - 30% humidity and then for lockdown it's 60 - 65%? This is the guide I used: https://www.communitychickens.com/what-is-a-dry-hatch/

I haven't done the salt test for humidity. I thought you were asking if the thermometers (temperature) was calibrated.

 

[casportpony]

What incubator are they in?

 

[FowlWitch]

What incubator are they in?

I have them in Farm Innovators 4250 for 1 - 18 and then for lock down I have them in Little Giants from Tractor Supply (https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/little-giant-still-air-incubator?cm_vc=-10005). I'm not seeing a model number. The Farm Innovator works great, no temperature issues. The Little Giant has awful heat spikes, though. I think the heater is on a timer - it turns on in intervals and then is off, so I have a hard time maintaining a stable temperature. I plugged it into a Rheostat (this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I15S6OM/) to keep the temps stable. I increased it a little while ago from 98F to 99F

 

[FowlWitch]

102°F is for still air incubators. 99.5°F is for forced air incubators.

Ah yeah Little Giant incubator is still, then, because it doesn't have a fan in it. That would make sense why I have to turn it up so high to get the right temps; I thought it was a flaw in the heater

 

[DancingCrow]

I am sorry about your chicks. I just wanted you to know I am finding this discussion very helpful. I get my first hatching eggs next week.

 

[FowlWitch]

I am sorry about your chicks. I just wanted you to know I am finding this discussion very helpful. I get my first hatching eggs next week.

Glad I can help somehow haha I'm kind of crazy, so don't mind my antics

 

[DancingCrow]

It has spurred me into getting some temp and humidity gauges.

Them eggs can be spendy and I'm just like you in liking the whole ebay experience with them. Bidding and boxes in the mail.

 

[FowlWitch]

Update: Chick is facing the correct direction and the yolk sac has shrunk since earlier today

 

[AmyJane725]

Glad to see there's still hope for the little one

Yeah, this seller sounds sketchy. I wouldn't buy from him again. We already saw that poor little external gut chick, and these ones that aren't even fully developed at day 21. I'm not sure how much a 12 hr lack of heat would stunt them, but still...