Please help me: Every chick dying during lockdown

[timbuck2mom]

We're attempting to hatch 11 eggs. Never have done this before! Anyways, the instructions with my incubator said that you want the Hygrometer to show 57-60% during incubation and then you are to increase humidity to 65% during hatching. Also, they stress that ventilation is very important once chicks start to hatch.

 

[mustangsaguaro]

We're attempting to hatch 11 eggs. Never have done this before! Anyways, the instructions with my incubator said that you want the Hygrometer to show 57-60% during incubation and then you are to increase humidity to 65% during hatching. Also, they stress that ventilation is very important once chicks start to hatch.

57-60% humidity for chicken eggs for the first 18 days is way to high. You want the air cell to grow and be fairly large so it can sustain a chick when it's time for it to hatch. Now 57-60% humidity if you were probably hatching duck eggs might be ok (note I have never hatched duck eggs so don't know what humidity should be. Just assuming because they are waterfowl humidity should be a bit higher). I am guessing if humidity is 57-60% for the first 18 days for chicken eggs those chicks will drown and not hatch due to it being way to high. I know some people that hatch at 50% humidity the first 18 days. My first batch of eggs this year I did that and had many where the chick drowned. 2nd batch I incubated at about 40% and it helped a lot.

 

[spatulagirl]

I hatched with a high humidity the first time I ever tried it, Hatch #1, and it was a failure. I followed the directions of the incubator and every single one drowned.

 

[timbuck2mom]

They're supposed to hatch Friday, the 4th of May. I was really excited because I kept the humidity at the right levels the whole time. Sounds like I'm in for a major disappointment.

I wonder why the incubator instructions are written incorrectly?

 

[MI chickens]

My first hatch this year was very poor, after that I checked the hygrometer- it was reading 20% too low! So I was drowning my chicks! This time I tossed the old one out and calibrated the replacement (5% off) with the salt test. In another week I'll see how well my latest hatch turns out.

 

[MI chickens]

57-60% humidity for chicken eggs for the first 18 days is way to high. You want the air cell to grow and be fairly large so it can sustain a chick when it's time for it to hatch. Now 57-60% humidity if you were probably hatching duck eggs might be ok (note I have never hatched duck eggs so don't know what humidity should be. Just assuming because they are waterfowl humidity should be a bit higher). I am guessing if humidity is 57-60% for the first 18 days for chicken eggs those chicks will drown and not hatch due to it being way to high. I know some people that hatch at 50% humidity the first 18 days. My first batch of eggs this year I did that and had many where the chick drowned. 2nd batch I incubated at about 40% and it helped a lot.

I agree, that percentage is awfully high. Everyone has their perfect number that they aim for, but I'd say going over 50% is asking for trouble.

 

[spatulagirl]

OK, I calibrated it. It only got up to 70% with the salt test. I did it for almost 8 hours. Some tests said 8, some said four hours. Not sure which ones would e better. Should I try the 4 hour test or can I assume that it is off by 5%.

So I have probably been drowning them. Now I am going to await for the egg-o-meter and see if I can stabilize the temp.

 

[deerman]

yes main thing is to know what the true temp. and humidity is. then find what works best in your area. 50% may be find depend on what sea level.......this main reason different for many people.

 

[SierraView]

Bet your next hatch will be great.

 

[Feather Head]

Wishing you the very best of luck on your next hatch. I to have learned allot by reading all of the responses to your post. I did not know about the salt test and i have learned that my humidity was way to high i will fix that and hopefully i will have better hatches myself.