Sticky chicks? WHY??

[BawGock]

Good Morning,
I'm hatching 18 eggs in a Hovabator 1588 and I'm on day 22 today.
Temps have been 99.5-100, days 1-17 humidity 40-50%, day 18 to now 60-70%

Had 11 chicks hatch no problem but last night had a chick get stuck in it's egg and was able to help it without opening the bator, we used a wire through the plug hole.
Had another chick hatch no problem then had another chick get stuck and had to open the bator to help this time. That was this morning.
We covered the last two eggs with a warm damp towel when we quickly opened the bator to help this chick and now another egg is hatching with no problems.

Except to rescue this chick this morning I have followed the "do not open the bator from day 18" rule but I did open the red plug the times when the humidity got over 70% to get it back down to the 65-70% range.

Any ideas with what went wrong?
Thanks!
Carolyn

 

[jimnjay]

Were they all sticky? If so the humidity was to high. While your Hygrometer may have read 70%, they are notorious for being off as much as 5+ points. My last hatch got away from me and I had chicks hatch on day 20 where I did not increase the humidity at all, They were the most fluffy chicks I have ever hatched. Nice clean zips. You can test the accuracy of your hygrometer. here is the link:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/herpresources/ss/hygrometer_4.htm

You may want to make some adjustments to your humidity for the next time. They chicks themselves will tell you much about your setting.

Another good site is this troubleshooting site:
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/trouble.htm#PIP

Enjoy your new chicks.

 

[BawGock]

Thanks jimnjay,
My hygrometer was calibrated using that method.
But agree the humidity has to be the reason.
I have 11 chicks hatch cleanly with no probs, nice white membranes.
The humidity did get as high as 75% when I had several chicks hatch in a short span of time and I pulled the red vent plug to get it back under 70%.
These chicks did get stuck after that spike in humidity.
What I find so weird is to have one stuck, then one fine, one stuck and then another fine.
The membranes on the stuck ones was yellowish and transparent and the good ones white and opaque.
Carolyn

 

[CANDLE98]

I guess I am lucky, I used to work in a calibration lab for the AF so I can take mine over to the lab and have them calibrate it for me! I will find out though what would be the easiest method for doing it at home.

 

[BawGock]

That is convient for sure!
Candle98 I have a link in my signature for a great site that shows you how to do it at home.
I love the step by step directions so I put it there to share with other hatchers.
Carolyn