What happened?

[CobraFnD]

I had 27 eggs in lockdown due to hatch today. They started hatching 2 nights ago, and by this morning, I had 11 hatched. That left 16 in the bator. One had almost completely zipped, and then died. I had 2 more that pipped out, but there was a film over their beak, and it was very hard and dried and I guess they sufficated?

Bator is GQF Genesis, and has been 100 +/- .5 deg. all along.

Humidity has ran 50-60 till lockdown, and 60-75 during lockdown.

Still have 13 that have not pipped yet, so hoping for more in the next day or so.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[mrslb333]

It sounds like they shrink wrapped did you by chance open the bator to get the others out?

 

[chickenman17]

Your humidity was a little high in my opinion but that's just me. Hope the rest hatch soon!

 

[mstricer]

Quote:
Did you open the incubator any after you went into lockdown? That is what happens when air is exposed. Another thing is are you sure your humidity was right? You should calibrate your hygrometer.
Michele

 

[stellas mommy]

Yep shrink wrapped.

im sorry hun

 

[mrslb333]

Quote:
Yes I have to agree I like to keep it around 30%-40% until day 18

 

[CobraFnD]

I opened it up this morning to get the 11 out... first time since lockdown. They did all hatch early though... day 19, so technically I opened it the day before they hatched to put them in lockdown. The one that was zipped, had fluff hanging out the night before, and when I went to take them out this morning, it was all hard and crusty all over the exposed part.

Also I thought that shrinkwrap came from low humidity, and you are saying mine was high. I have a digital temp/humidity checker, but I also have a humidity data logger at work, that I could bring home and put in there to double check it.

Sure is sickening to see fully developed chicks die at the last day!

 

[mrslb333]

Could be a few things but usually too high humidity early on prevents the air cell from shrinking and essentially suffocates the chick. Another thing I've found is it makes the inner membrane turn like sticky jelly and its really hard on the getting out

I always run 2 hygrometers in the bater to double check readings.
Its horrible when it happens after you've been waiting 3 weeks and I'm sure its happened to most of us it certainly has to me

 

[cmom]

I agree, I think your humidity was a bit high. I keep my humidity between 40% and 50% and at lockdown I raise it to 65% to 70%. I go into lockdown tomorrow.

 

[Barbedwirecat]

Shrink wrapping comes from opening the bator during the lockdown process when you have pipped chicks in there.

I think what everyone is saying is your humidity during the incubation before you went into lockdown was too high. You will get a lot of answers and opinions concerning this, I really tend to agree with the lower humidity method so the air cells are big enough.

I'm doing a 35% humidity, darn near dry but day 13 it seemed to really go down so I added a tiny bit of water to get it back up to 35%

Did you candle before you went into lock down?