they died!

[MandyH]

You live and learn and hopefully you will come out ahead in the future from this hatching experience. There were several things against you during this hatch, but the shrink wrapped chciks are from the humidity not being high enough, probably from the bator being opened during hatching. 1) Always get the incubator up to temp and stable for at least 24 hourds before adding eggs. 2) Know that after adding eggs the temp with drop but DO NOT touch the thermostat, it will settle after eggs come up to temp. 3) Always use more than one thermometer and if you can more than one hygrometer, better to be safe than sorry. 4) On day 18 candle as you get ready for lockdown, don't want bad eggs exploding and add water for increased humidity. 5) DO not open the incubatoe during hatch, eggs are porous and opening it zaps the humidity from the air and eggs. If you are worried about chicks knocking unhatched eggs areoun, hatch in an egg carton. That's all I can think of. Good luck on the next batch.

 

[beckymom3]

Thanks for all the support, folks!

In anticipation of this next batch, I've purchased 2 digital thermometer/hygrometers (ebay finds) and have cleaned the incubator and got it running. Eggs should be here in a day or 2.

In mourning of all the lost babies (22 in total!) me and my 3 boys went to the feed store and bought 8 chicks (Silver Laced Wyandottes and Brown Leghorns) that we set up in a separate brooder from our survivors. The joyful sound of healthy, happy chicks is filling my house at the moment! It's not the same as a successful hatch, but it helps. I am so grateful for the 2 that made it!

My kids, ages 5, 7 and 9, literally spent hours watching the new "store bought" chicks. I won't let them handle the "survivors" (my nickname for the lucky Ameraucana and White Plymouth Rock babes we successfully hatched). I love how these babies, this whole experience, brings us together as a family. They cried over the lost babes, but are excited to start over. Having animals has taught them a lot about life as well as death.

I've spent a lot of time reading BYC and other sites to learn what I can about incubation. It is very involved, but I imagine the experience is worth it for us family "farmers" who want to be close to this process of birth and new life, esp in the Spring!

I have a concern, one that I hope will be dispelled when my new thermometer/hygrometers arrive. My reptile hygrometer reads the incubator humidity at 42% with absolutely no water added. The channels are bone dry and the red plug is out. The temp holds very steady at 100 deg. I live in the Texas Hill Country, just west of Austin. Our relative humidity outside right now is 87% (it rained all day). I wonder how accurate that hygrometer is. I'll know better when the new digitals arrive (I will calibrate them to each other and compare to the current dial type I have now). I bought 2 different brands, just to be sure of accuracy! Time to go overboard on details, I think....

Not that those mixed layer eggs didn't matter, but the Brahmas and Australorps are really, really important to me! I of course have this longing to breed and hatch my own some day, hoping I'll have broody hens happy to do the work for me!!!! Hmmm, maybe I should send off for some grown Silkies!

Would it be worth it to buy and ship some from eggbid? Something to consider....

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Well, 42% humidity is very high for inside your house, BUT with the recent constant rains it could be causing your humidity to be high. My 'bator stays in the 25-35% range if I leave the red plugs out. I had to add a lot of water and a sponge, and I'm running a room humidfyer to keep the hatch humidity at at least 60%.

I tested my hygrometer and it reads 9% high, so definitely calibrate any that you buy!!!!

 

[babsbag]

Make sure you calibrate your hygrometer. Mine runs 8% low. There are directions on BYC on how to do the calibration. It is easy, but takes about 12 hours. Do both of them and lable them so you know what the difference is, it any.

Good luck

 

[beckymom3]

Wow, I never thought it would be so complicated! I have now been running the incubator dry for 7 hours and it still reads 42%. That can't be right!

I am now hoping the eggs don't get here for another 2 days. They are due tomorrow and I want the incubator PERFECT by setting time!

Thanks again!