What's your incubator humidity level days 1-18 then 18-21?

[FlomatonsFlocks]

Thank you all so much for this thread! Tomorrow is lock down and my humidity has been between 25-45 days 1-17 and everyone is growing! I was wondering what humidity I need for lockdown and I think I'm gonna shoot for 65

DAY 19...Humidity was at 68 (with the help of a couple sponges) and 4 Pips so far!!!

 

[FlomatonsFlocks]

DAY 19...Humidity was at 68 (with the help of a couple sponges) and 4 Pips so far!!!

Day 20...I think I've really screwed up this lock down thing. My humidity was up to 78 and I have two chicks with unabsorbed yolk sacs, (one with a tiny bit of intestines hanging out). I'm upset cause my girls are watching too. Four seem very healthy so far. Pretty sure I let the humidity get too high. Reading so much information from so many different places. I overloaded my brain. Hoping tomorrow will be better for the rest of the clutch.

 

[Joanie1975]

This is an old thread but it’s what comes up. I’m on day 17, my air cells look like they should be day 14. What can be done? Also, one of my chicks looks quite a bit farther behind the other 2 (does not fill the egg up like the other 2) they are all alive still. Tomorrow I’m locking them down. What do I do about the air cell, and the chick that doesn’t look as big as the others? Thanks guys

 

[oregonkat]

Need to know incubation temp and humidity. It sounds to me like your humidity has been too high and the eggs have not lost enough moisture to increase the air cell size and perhaps your temp too low also. @WVduckchick what do you think?

 

[WVduckchick]

Need to know incubation temp and humidity. It sounds to me like your humidity has been too high and the eggs have not lost enough moisture to increase the air cell size and perhaps your temp too low also. @WVduckchick what do you think?

I agree.

@Joanie1975 it's a bit late to get the air cell much larger now, but you can hold off lockdown, and don't increase humidity until day 19 or when you see the air cells start to draw down, or when one internally pips. But once one internally pips, the humidity needs to be cranked up pronto!

Good luck!

 

[Joanie1975]

I agree.

@Joanie1975 it's a bit late to get the air cell much larger now, but you can hold off lockdown, and don't increase humidity until day 19 or when you see the air cells start to draw down, or when one internally pips. But once one internally pips, the humidity needs to be cranked up pronto!

Good luck!

My humidity is running in the 40’s right now. How do I know when one internally pips?

 

[Joanie1975]

I agree.

@Joanie1975 it's a bit late to get the air cell much larger now, but you can hold off lockdown, and don't increase humidity until day 19 or when you see the air cells start to draw down, or when one internally pips. But once one internally pips, the humidity needs to be cranked up pronto!

Good luck!

Should I bring my temp up a tad and not add anymore water for today? My temperature says 99.8 humidity 42

 

[WVduckchick]

My humidity is running in the 40’s right now. How do I know when one internally pips?

Only way to see internal pips is with candling. Looking for a beak to have broken thru the membrane into the air cell. It looks like a little shadow triangle, sticking into the air cell. Depending on you incubator, you may be able to shine thru the window, just at the proper angle, and see into the air cell. Maybe not. It is safe to quickly open the lid and candle quickly. Just leave it laying as is, and quickly check the air cell.

Should I bring my temp up a tad and not add anymore water for today? My temperature says 99.8 humidity 42

Are you positive of the day count? It is easy to mis-count, so just be sure you didn't start day 1 until after 24 hours of them being incubated. If the air cells are still small, I'd wait until at least the end of day 18, even into day 19, and bring it up to about 65%-75%. Do not increase temp. Some recommend dropping temp a half a degree to one degree, but I leave mine the same throughout.

 

[WVduckchick]

There are some great pics on this article of an internal pip, plus lots of great info
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/development-of-a-chicken-embryo-day-by-day.72537/

 

[Joanie1975]

Only way to see internal pips is with candling. Looking for a beak to have broken thru the membrane into the air cell. It looks like a little shadow triangle, sticking into the air cell. Depending on you incubator, you may be able to shine thru the window, just at the proper angle, and see into the air cell. Maybe not. It is safe to quickly open the lid and candle quickly. Just leave it laying as is, and quickly check the air cell.



Are you positive of the day count? It is easy to mis-count, so just be sure you didn't start day 1 until after 24 hours of them being incubated. If the air cells are still small, I'd wait until at least the end of day 18, even into day 19, and bring it up to about 65%-79%. Do not increase temp. Some recommend dropping temp a half a degree to one degree, but I leave mine the same throughout.

You are right , I think I’m a day off. Thank you. I am having to move them for lockdown because I have chicks due a week behind them. I’m a little nervous about that change. Thank you for the link too, it helped a lot.