WHY are they dieing at day 19/20

[Rare Feathers Farm]

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I have had the best results with 75% to 85% humidity (for hatching).

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Well, I guess this just goes to show you that there may not be a "single" good answer to the humidity/temp question. Probably partially depends on your location.

I appreciate everyone's input on this salient question.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Yeah, I guess I should have added that I'm in the high desert (with sagebrush & sand)...and we've got pretty low humidity, normally.

 

[coffeemama]

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I agree

 

[Eggseronious]

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Poulet, you did not mention if U candled the eggs, also the growth of the air cell, which is partly why we candle. If U did candle was the growth of the air cell good enough? With an improperly grown air cell these chicks will do excellent up until hatching and they die, (ie) drown.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Are you stopping the turning at day 18?

 

[poulet]

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Yes turning stopped at day 18 , and the growth of air sac has allways been good as well when I candled on day 18 before I " leave them alone " . However can the other chicks moving them affect them , I used the carton method the first and second hatch then tried half and half but it didn't make any difference to the % hatched. well two from the without carton and three from with on the last hatch

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I'm not sure about the chicks moving them & making them get affected that way....I do know I've had several pipping at once & had ducklings out that moved the pips & one of them actually had to turn around in the egg & start a new hole. I ended up helping that one out. I'd been gone at work all day & got home and it was the last one out. Usually, I will remove the dirty shell & then move the baby into a "dry" bator for 1/2 a day or so before moving them into the brooder. The "dry" bator is an incubator with low humidity and no eggs in it. I use shelf liner (the spongey/rubbery kind) in there, as well.