Slow development in eggs?

[AlleysChicks]

Not new to hatching but I have a problem with this batch of eggs.

I've battled humidity the entire 18 days of incubation. I run dry the first 18 days due to a already high humidity. Air cells have been various sizes but still below what they should be.

Lockdown was Wednesday and eggs were not full of chicks but had big healthy veins. There was lots of space.
What is causing such small chicks? Temp is 100F with fans running. They've been turned at least 3 times a day.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I’m not sure what the issue is, but I am having a similar issue with a couple of my eggs. Lockdown was today, and I could see them moving in there and they looked very healthy- if they were at 12 days instead of 18.
I have my fingers crossed for your hatch! I hope everything goes well. Let me know if you figure out what’s going on and sorry for not being able to help much.

 

[AlleysChicks]

So far 1 has pipped. Out of 23 that developed of the 49 I set.

I had 3 eggs that had air cells the size of dimes on day 16. They did not make it to lockdown unfortunately. Those chicks were half the size of the rest.
And all these are silkie eggs so they'd be small chicks anyway. But goodness! Some of these when candled do look about day 12!

I will crack the remaining eggs open when this is all done. I have a yolk hunch.

 

[Kiki]

Hey Alley!

Is your thermometer calibrated?

Without adding any water what was your humidity level at?

 

[AlleysChicks]

Hey Alley!

Is your thermometer calibrated?

Without adding any water what was your humidity level at?

Hey Kiki!
Yep sure is! And I have a backup in there reading the same. I always double up. This incubator is tall with multiple levels so I have one at the top and bottom. The thermostat reads in the middle.

This big one usually reads around 32%, my smaller incubator ran at 19% and did fine.

I used this big one last year to hatch. I just dont know what's going wrong

 

[Kiki]

Hey Kiki!
Yep sure is! And I have a backup in there reading the same. I always double up. This incubator is tall with multiple levels so I have one at the top and bottom. The thermostat reads in the middle.

This big one usually reads around 32%, my smaller incubator ran at 19% and did fine.

I used this big one last year to hatch. I just dont know what's going wrong

32% is perfect.

If you're positive that your thermometers are reading correctly then I'm going to guess you may Not have the healthiest eggs

 

[Kiki]

Are your eggs all on the same level or do you have them spread out?
I'd have at least two calibrated thermometers sitting on each level to be sure of the temperature.

 

[AlleysChicks]

32% is perfect.

If you're positive that your thermometers are reading correctly then I'm going to guess you may Not have the healthiest eggs

The guy I got the eggs from was getting good hatches. But I had less than half viable, most were infertile. They were not old eggs either, maybe new layer problems. Idk

Are your eggs all on the same level or do you have them spread out?
I'd have at least two calibrated thermometers sitting on each level to be sure of the temperature.

I had a couple flats of eggs in there. So they were on different levels. I'd switch them every time I turned eggs. That's alot of thermometers lol at least 8.

 

[Kiki]

I'd get a couple more thermometers if I were you to check for hot and cold spots....at one glance. It's much easier than having to move thermometers around.

 

[AlleysChicks]

I'd get a couple more thermometers if I were you to check for hot and cold spots....at one glance. It's much easier than having to move thermometers around.

I meant I moved the flats to different levels when I turned them. Eggs are due tomorrow so not much I can do for them now.