Peafowls eggs are late!

[McWoukinn Farm]

Hello I have two peafowl eggs about 36 hours overdue. I cannot see movement or signs of internal pipping. However, on candling, there are well defined air sacs in the right location. They look right. My light isn't powerful enough to really see what is going on in there (shells are thick!). One is a black shouldered and one is silver pied. I don't think there were low temps at any point in the incubator, but the humidity may have run a little bit high. I am using a janoel12. This morning I did the float test and both were viable (low floaters) but no discernible movement. What should I do next? Are peafowl frequently late? Thanks for any advice.

 

[sseabass]

Hello McWoukinn,
I think we have struggled with same issue. I read that 60% humidity was best. I now have found that humidity% is a relative amount. Where you live, altitude and climate and such, play a big part.
I was drowning my peachicks with 60% and all but 1 died at different stages just before hatching. I had 2 that looked completely developed and there was movement then none. I have learned that the best results with the water test is wether or not there is movement. Once I realized there wasn’t any and they were past the 24 hrs of last hatching day window, I opened them. They died just in last hours from hatching. I now feel it was caused by too high of a percentage of humidity. I read also to up the humidity during hatchdown stage.
I had one Peachick survive and luckily I was advised to order some chicken chicks in advance so they arrived at my peachicks hatching date. They teach the Peachicks how to eat and drink and prosper nutritionally. I put only one with my surviving Peachick. I am so relieved. My 5 day old Peachick is healthy, eating and drinking well and boned with his/ her Granny chick. They chortle and Peachick does not peep all of the time. Only a little at times.
Now I am trying again with a new batch of eggs and have lowered my Humidity level from 60% to 54% for now. I am still working on optimum %.
Good luck. I’m sorry about your peachicks.
Keep trying. Peachicks are amazing and the learning curve can being steep and painful but it is worth it.
Carol

 

[RubyNala97]

Previous poster is correct. There is no exact number humidity should be. You have to monitor the growth of the aircells. When I hatched peachicks I had to run the incubator dry because the aircells were just not growing with any water in the wells. It was summertime and the humidity in my house was more then enough for them. Try changing the batteries on the light you are using for candling and do it in a completely dark room. Look for movement inside the egg.