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Incubating problem unabsorbed yolks

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vanalpaca:
It\'s a small cabinet incubator with hatching drawer and since upping humidity for hatching, it isn\'t going DOWN as far on humidity as it did the first 2 rounds.

can\'t get humidity to stay below 50%. I am really not holding out any hope for the hatch due in a week.

funny thing is, the first dud hatch humidity was running pretty low 40\'s and still had the problem and no internal pipping ever. I opened those eggs at the airhole and the sac was intact, but I agree there was still too much liquid in the sac and it wasn\'t all chick like it should have been.

I really would like to get this right as I now have those blue andalusian eggs started from Judge Tim Bowles for the blue lacing project. Shipped eggs, though and air cells don\'t look too good.

Only have one flock with the two roos and when I open the eggs they all show the bulls eye of fertility.

Still building at the farm and the coops aren\'t the priority there as I have to get the chutes built for handling the alpacas for shearing the 15th.

Chickens are supposed to be the FUN part here and still no Spring Chicks. I\'m looking into a hatcher to build to help with the humidity for hatching and dry out the bator. Thanks. It does sound like high humidity and possibly up the protein.

Christie Rhae:
For me when I am incubating 40\'s feels high. I usually keep it around 20-25 %.

Good luck, dud hatches are so discouraging.

vanalpaca:
This round can\'t get it down to the 40\'s. Spring rains and warm outside, so the house isn\'t as dry as it was inside.

External humidity is 70% and room temp is 63-66 degrees. Opening the door lets more humidity out and it will drop to 45, then goes back up to 60 over time once it is closed.

But temps are holding fine.  And the brooder isn\'t holding temp well enough to get it up to hatching temperature. Just lovin it!

I learned last year on about 8 dozen eggs how NOT to do it. But the weather outside was different....ergh.....

Russ:
What type of thermometer/hygrometer are you using? I am just asking because I just got another Genesis 1588 and also ordered a new thermometer/hygrometer. The preset thermometer on genesis was way off I ended up turning it up to 101.5 in order to get actual temp to 99.5. Just for fun I checked another older thermometer/hygrometer I was using that had a bad hatch rate this past weekend and it was way off. Almost 2 degrees and 15% on humidity. The new one also has a memory (for high and low) and a remote sensor that fits through the hole on Hovabators. Just a thought I had, I know I am ordering 3 more myself (to replace all my other older ones). I am not to familiar with ice bath technique or how reliable that test is. Just thought I would chime in.    

vanalpaca:
Ice bath is used to calibrate a thermometer. fill a large vessel (I used a 4 cup measure) with ice and add water to top.

Place thermometer in it and it should read 32 degrees F.

If it is high/low, then it will be high/low at 100 degrees and you should adjust your readings accordingly.

To calibrate the hygrometer, use salt in a zip lock bag with a few drops of water and seal the hygrometer in it for 6 hours. It should read 75% humidity.

I calibrated the thermometers, haven\'t done the hygrometer yet..

It may be a further influence of spring weather and household temps as well. I will keep trying to get a good hatch. Hoping to get a still air foambator to use as a hatcher this weekend.

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