- Mar 20, 2011
- 26
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This is my second time to try to hatch baby chicks using hovabator. The first time wasn't to successful. I had set 42 eggs and only have two live chicks one week later after hatching. I think I didn't have the humidity right. They were suppose to hatch at 20 days but it took 26 for some to hatch. One was born with his neck crooked and two others were so weak they soon died. I think they were in the eggs to long. I didn't have a hygrometer the first time but now have one. I think the humidity was wrong the first time. I checked all the eggs before discarding and all eggs but three had fully developed chicks but two more had partially developed babies. I am getting ready to set 25 or 30 more tomorrow and was wondering how to control the humidity? The incubator is 100 degrees right now and 55% humidity. I am hoping to have better success this time because it is so heartbreaking to see all the little babies dead in the shell. I feel like it is my fault them dying and don't want it to happen again. Last night I was up checking on Little Bit and Tuffy before going to bed. (chicks names) and hubby said I guess you are going to have to get a baaby monitor to keep eyes on the babies so you can rest. I can't believe I got so attached to this little critters. He even had nerve to suggest that at some point I am going to have to put them outside. (yikes) lol. I love reading all of these post and are a great help to me as a beginner. The babies I am hatching are banthams btw. We have lots of other hens and roosters outside so it isn't new to me to have babies but different since I have watched over these night and day.
