I have three breeds of geese in my incubator as of now: 2 snow geese, 3 african geese and 3 pilgrim geese. The 2 snow geese are due much earlier probably day 25 - 27 from the looks of it. They've just started internally pipping today, on day 23. All the eggs are on day 23. The africans and pilgrims are due around June 8th. Now, I have a question about humidity.
We live in a very dry, dry climate. My humidity in the incubator has been around 50-65% on average, sometimes lower although I add humidity when I see it is lower than 45%. My african eggs, with thick thick shells, have big air cells. Big, but not too huge. I've seen people candling eggs with air cells this large that successfully hatched. However, the snow geese and pilgrims (particularly the latter) have had smaller air cells the entire time. The pilgrim geese have lost about 8-9% of their weight by day 23. I know the air cell gets massively bigger once they internally pip so are they safe?
As for the african eggs, they have lost 12-16% of their weight (only one has lost 16% and it was an old, old egg about 9 days old when set I was upset at the breeder's quality of eggs) and I am worried about their hatchability as well. This older egg was the only one of many old eggs that actually developed. He is so strong and has developed against all odds. He has a thinner shell as well, and moves a lot more. Seems to be such a healthy baby, and I'd hate to lose him.
What does everyone think? Is it more dangerous for me to keep it lower so that the pilgrim eggs lose more weight, or should I raise the humidity so that the african eggs don't lose too much more?
For the record, I have a hatcher set up so that I can do the staggered hatch. The hatcher is at about 98F and 85% humidity. So no worries about that one. But if someone could verify that 85% humidity is alright, I would be very much grateful. Also, should I remove the vent plug or keep it in in the hatcher? I want to keep the humidity up but I don't want the babies to suffocate.
Sorry for the myriad of questions... Very anxious.
We live in a very dry, dry climate. My humidity in the incubator has been around 50-65% on average, sometimes lower although I add humidity when I see it is lower than 45%. My african eggs, with thick thick shells, have big air cells. Big, but not too huge. I've seen people candling eggs with air cells this large that successfully hatched. However, the snow geese and pilgrims (particularly the latter) have had smaller air cells the entire time. The pilgrim geese have lost about 8-9% of their weight by day 23. I know the air cell gets massively bigger once they internally pip so are they safe?
As for the african eggs, they have lost 12-16% of their weight (only one has lost 16% and it was an old, old egg about 9 days old when set I was upset at the breeder's quality of eggs) and I am worried about their hatchability as well. This older egg was the only one of many old eggs that actually developed. He is so strong and has developed against all odds. He has a thinner shell as well, and moves a lot more. Seems to be such a healthy baby, and I'd hate to lose him.
What does everyone think? Is it more dangerous for me to keep it lower so that the pilgrim eggs lose more weight, or should I raise the humidity so that the african eggs don't lose too much more?
For the record, I have a hatcher set up so that I can do the staggered hatch. The hatcher is at about 98F and 85% humidity. So no worries about that one. But if someone could verify that 85% humidity is alright, I would be very much grateful. Also, should I remove the vent plug or keep it in in the hatcher? I want to keep the humidity up but I don't want the babies to suffocate.
Sorry for the myriad of questions... Very anxious.