Wooden incubator & mold issues

[LittleQ22]

Hi there,
Hoping for some feedback from experienced hatchers.
I currently have two Pendenesca eggs and 9 turkey eggs in our homemade incubator. The Pendenesca eggs were supposed to hatch last Wednesday but haven't yet. We did the float test and they were both viable with a tiny bit of movement. It also felt like something was moving on the inside when we were holding the egg. I patted the egg dry and put it back into the incubator. Going to give them until the turkey's hatch then check them out.
Right now my turkey eggs are on lock down, hoping they hatch on Tuesday. I finally got my humidity at 81% and temp is at 100 F.
With the increased humidity, I've noticed mold growing on the floor and bottom walls of the incubator. All the eggs are on the top row and there doesn't seem to be any up there. Do you think the mold will affect their hatch? All vents are open.

 

[LittleQ22]

Morning of day 28 and nothing yet...

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Mold will effect hatched birds, Even be terminal. Unhatched and new chicks IDK.

My worry is the 81% humidity. Is this special for the turkeys(Never hatched them myself)? That seems excessive for hatching, to me at least. I might be wrong but I think 50ish is high end for chickens. Mine hardly ever goes over 40-50 range even at hatch, unless I get a spike from birds hatching. I just had, and have a couple more pipping, Rouen ducks hatch at 45% humidity. A little low for ducks but it worked. At 80+% I am worried that you might drown the chicks.

 

[LittleQ22]

When I researched it, Porter's Turkey says high humidity is best. 80% or higher. They need lots of humidity apparently. That's what most people were saying.
Thanks for the info, I'll be sure to pull them out right as soon as they are dry.

 

[dheltzel]

"Drowning" happens with humidity too high during the main incubation time, such that the air cells do not get large enough. You can't drown a chick at hatch time with high humidity (unless it's condensing and dripping onto the eggs, obviously).

Turkeys do need higher humidity, 80 is a good place. I hatch regular chicks at 70 - 80% also. When using the high humidity, it's also a good idea to lower the temp (between 98 and 99). Porter's site is a fabulous reference, I think the turkey settings are optimal for chickens too, they are just more tolerant of lower humidity than turkeys.

 

[LittleQ22]

Awesome! Glad to hear it! Hope those little babies come out today! Waiting impatiently!!

 

[LittleQ22]

Day 29 and I don't seem to be able to see any pips, should I be worried?

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Best I can say is do a float test or candle and see if theres any movement. Or if able listen to the bator and see if you hear any tapping. Generally If a hatch is off here I wait 48 hours after expected hatch to try clearing eggs. Then I candle and crack anything that looks like it should of been close to full term. Did this 1st hatch and found a live chick, and 1 hatched after that.

 

[LittleQ22]

Alright, so we candled, didn't see any movement, cracked the eggs and the chick is fully developed, but dead? Am I to assume that they are all dead?

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Can you candle them? Check for any movement. I recently had chick hatch when I thought all were duds and I cracked 1, he was extra late and didn't absorb sac yet. That 1 didn't heal but 1 hatched next day. I hate to tell some1 they all dead when there its possible that they are some viable birds. As late as the chickens are I would toss those before they pop. How late are the turkeys?