The Waiting is the Hardest Part...

[HookLineSilkie]

Hello all!! I’m in day 1 of lockdown and my once active eggs are eerily still. Is this normal from your experiences? Air cells look good (maybe slightly on the smaller side but in my opinion almost perfect). They’re in a Brinsea Mini Advanced II and laying on sides with low part of cell face up. The humidity is at 64 at the moment and, I swear, I won’t open the dang lid!!! I keep staring and I played chicken clicking noises to them that I found on YouTube. I’m not sure if I see them slightly rocking like something’s in there breathing or if my eyes are playing tricks on me. I’m excited and terrified all at the same time! First hatch, silkies from my own yard, VERY VERY FIRST EGGS laid by my young hen.

 

[Skippersnh]

Just remember the humidity is gonna spike a bit when they start hatching

 

[HookLineSilkie]

Just remember the humidity is gonna spike a bit when they start hatching

I like that... not “if” but “when”. So, I feel like 64 is a tad on the low end of the range recommended but I’ve been reading the whole humidity thing is extremely important but also confusingly arbitrary. I live in Northern California at about 250 sea level so it’s a bit dry naturally. I only have three in and they are actually due one day apart from each other so it should be interesting. I just want a sign that they’re ok in there but I assume they are resting and preparing for the big day(s).

 

[FortCluck]

I like that... not “if” but “when”. So, I feel like 64 is a tad on the low end of the range recommended but I’ve been reading the whole humidity thing is extremely important but also confusingly arbitrary. I live in Northern California at about 250 sea level so it’s a bit dry naturally. I only have three in and they are actually due one day apart from each other so it should be interesting. I just want a sign that they’re ok in there but I assume they are resting and preparing for the big day(s).

64% is not on the low side for me, but I'm on the east coast. When I was hatching chicks for the Halloween hatch a long, I decided that I was going to increase my humidity to 60%. When I started getting external pips my humidity went up over 80% and condensation was all over my lid I never will again go over 50% during lockdown. Humidity is all based off your location, you're in a dryer area so it's different. I lost 9 fully developed chicks that didn't absorb their yolks and I think it was because of the humidity. I'm doing another hatch right now and I have the humidity at 25-30% until day 18 when I will increase it maybe to 50%.

Be patient and don't open the lid! Go do something to keep yourself occupied. The eggs might not be moving now because the chick's rest a lot between 18 and 21 days because it is tiring trying to hatch. I had a lot of external pips for over 26 hours with no progress because they were sleeping on the job! PATIENCE!!! Being patient is easier said than done!

 

[Skippersnh]

64 is on the high side

 

[Kiki]

64 is high to me too.
I do not raise the humidity until I actually SEE and external pip and then I wouldn't raise it over 50.


What has your humidity been at at the first 18 days?


Have the air cells started to draw down yet/get larger?


Notice how far the aircell has drawn down in this video.
This video also shows an internal pip which you should see about a day or so before hatch.

 

[Kiki]

I like that... not “if” but “when”. So, I feel like 64 is a tad on the low end of the range recommended but I’ve been reading the whole humidity thing is extremely important but also confusingly arbitrary. I live in Northern California at about 250 sea level so it’s a bit dry naturally. I only have three in and they are actually due one day apart from each other so it should be interesting. I just want a sign that they’re ok in there but I assume they are resting and preparing for the big day(s).

Did you set them each on different days? Or all at the same time?

 

[Kiki]

And yes....this is the absolute worst time. The waiting game is a nightmare.
Hang in there.
Sleep now while you can. You still have plenty of time.

 

[HookLineSilkie]

64% is not on the low side for me, but I'm on the east coast. When I was hatching chicks for the Halloween hatch a long, I decided that I was going to increase my humidity to 60%. When I started getting external pips my humidity went up over 80% and condensation was all over my lid I never will again go over 50% during lockdown. Humidity is all based off your location, you're in a dryer area so it's different. I lost 9 fully developed chicks that didn't absorb their yolks and I think it was because of the humidity. I'm doing another hatch right now and I have the humidity at 25-30% until day 18 when I will increase it maybe to 50%.

Be patient and don't open the lid! Go do something to keep yourself occupied. The eggs might not be moving now because the chick's rest a lot between 18 and 21 days because it is tiring trying to hatch. I had a lot of external pips for over 26 hours with no progress because they were sleeping on the job! PATIENCE!!! Being patient is easier said than done!

Oh my! It’s such a trial and error process, I’m gathering!! I’m logging a bit of what I did (am doing) on this hatch so I can take it with me for next time. I read that the RH in the 50s works great for some and that some have it in the 70s - spiking even more during hatch, and that works for them so I guess I chose 60s because I tell myself I won’t assist and open the lid but I know me, and that might be impossible if something goes wrong.
Is there a way to know if they have started internal pips without candling? Of course, my candling days are over for these three but curious if there is any discoloration if a light is shone down on them, etc.

 

[Kiki]

Oh my! It’s such a trial and error process, I’m gathering!! I’m logging a bit of what I did (am doing) on this hatch so I can take it with me for next time. I read that the RH in the 50s works great for some and that some have it in the 70s - spiking even more during hatch, and that works for them so I guess I chose 60s because I tell myself I won’t assist and open the lid but I know me, and that might be impossible if something goes wrong.
Is there a way to know if they have started internal pips without candling? Of course, my candling days are over for these three but curious if there is any discoloration if a light is shone down on them, etc.

It won't hurt a thing to candle them right now real quick.