scared to death

[KelseyBoxer]

If you saw movement then they are alive. Some people have had hatches as far as day 25. Low temps will delay as stated. If any start to smell, they need to be removed before they make a big mess. Hang in there. You still have time.

 

[okiemamachick]

If you saw movement then they are alive. Some people have had hatches as far as day 25. Low temps will delay as stated. If any start to smell, they need to be removed before they make a big mess. Hang in there. You still have time.   

Thank you this gave me a hope! ! I'm pretty sure my hygrometer broke yesterday:/ I took out the sponges but there is still condensation on the windows. ..now I'm worried they will down if they go long but hopefully not. I feel like a 1920's dad pacing the hallway with a cigar in my pocket!

 

[lazy gardener]

Do you know what your humidity ran through the first 18 days? Are your air cells on target? A couple of days of high humidity would not be such an issue as high humidity throughout hatch. They may need to cook a while longer, in which case, you'll know that your thermometer is not to be trusted. Are you home to baby sit them, or do you have school and work schedule? If you can babysit, I'd let the humidity drop way down until you see rocking, hear cheeping, or have an external pip. Then you can boost it back up again.

 

[okiemamachick]

I kept the humidity at about 25-30% usually 30% the ait cell seems ok possible slightly small but overall ok. I will watch them but I will be away for today till this afternoon I have it hopefully stable at 100° and I' didn't add any more water they should be perfect till I get back

 

[AmyLynn2374]

My first hatch my temp was (Unknowingly) low- 6 degrees lower than my thermometer stated for the entire incubation period. At lockdown I thought they looked behind, but was hoping it was just my inexperienced eye. I had one hatch at day 24 and one at 25. Unfortunetly the day 25 hatcher was just too weak and didn't make it. It was a miracle that I even got one to hatch. After teh hatch and everyone on here telling me it had to be my thermometer (it was brand new so I never thought anything of it) I did check it to find that it was indeed reading 6 degrees higher than it actually was. So if I can get one chick out of a hatch incubated at that low of an average, hopefully you should see some too.

When your humidity is high during hatch (which if your numbers are accurate I'd say no,) it keeps the egg from loosing enough moisture that is in the egg, that is why a chick can drown if the humidity is high. If your air cells looked good going into lockdown and are big enough, extra humidity at hatch will not drown them as it doesn't add moisture into the egg, it just prevents it form releasing from the egg. If you are seeing condensation, this yes, it's a bit much and I would take out the extra sponge(s), but I wouldn't worry about drowning. You have vents/plugs open, right?

 

[okiemamachick]

Thank you and yes ma'am all the vents are open they have been since day 1 this makes me feel better..I guess you live and learn it's just hard when little lives are at stake. I'm hoping got a pip when I get home but I'm ready to wait a few more days now that I know possibly all is not lost!

 

[seminolewind]

I kept the humidity at about 25-30% usually 30% the ait cell seems ok possible slightly small but overall ok. I will watch them but I will be away for today till this afternoon I have it hopefully stable at 100° and I' didn't add any more water they should be perfect till I get back

I usually have three thermometers and hopefully at least 2 match. If a thermometer is down below the eggs, it will read cooler than a thermometer kept above the eggs. Try to get readings with the thermometer level with the top of the egg.

I think drowning happens when the embryos are growing and for 18 days the humidity is too high not allowing the inside to dry out enough. I don't think it happens the last 3 days. A low temp as well. The chick isn't growing fast enough to push enough water out. With my eggs, I have a fan or forced air incubator. I keep my eggs as close to 99.5 as possible, but not lower. I try to keep the humidity around 30%, but this hatch I have has been at 40% due to the weather. My temps have been 99.5-100, but the most accurate thermometer I have has been on target. I think the best of my hatches have been when I am staying the closest to my numbers.

If you are in doubt about your eggs, you can always take one out and candle it quickly. Sometimes you just need to know. Some people have a weight chart and a scale and measure the egg weight for weight loss. I hope this helps .

 

[okiemamachick]

Very helpful thank you# I had very weighing them and they were tight on schedule as far as weight loss so that's good

 

[okiemamachick]

Two chick's! I have two chicks! No other pips yet that I can see but....TWO CHICKS!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Two chick's! I have two chicks! No other pips yet that I can see but....TWO CHICKS!

That's great! Congrats!