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I have the Little Giant still air incubator with turner. I have 10 Bourbon Red turkey eggs to incubate. I don't understand the humidity thing. It says to put water in the bottom but how much?

I also tried to incubate some Silkie eggs. Two weeks after the 21st day, there were still no chicks. I cracked one open, and there was a fully formed chick inside with just a little of the yoke on its butt. What did I do wrong?

Any help will surely be appreciated.

Jan

Can you say more? How much does the temperature fluctuate? Hpw long did you save the eggs before setting them?

Jocelyn

I have found from experience: When one assumes the roll of a good broody hen and (yes, she knows how to do it right), there are so many variables to consider...while we ponder over, as to... "what did I do wrong"? I use the term 'variables' with a serious tone, because we could go on & on & on & on....! Much has been posted on this subject... (refer to search engine on this site)... BUT my gut feeling is> your ('Little Giant *STILL* air incubator with turner). Something is amiss IF your chicks were fully formed- when checked 2 weeks after the hatch-date. I'm not familiar with the 'Little Giant'- but if "still" air means (no fan assist)- for circulation...then I would start there. Eggs indeed breathe and need a supply of fresh air...for the exchange of gases etc, in the whole incubation process. I'm sure many on this site will have advice for you... so don't dispair!! BUT, I would say that 'humidity' is not the core of the problem.

Jan, three important things to get familiar with in incubation are temperature, humidity, and turning. Temperature should be maintained at standard ranges all throughout with special attention on the last 3 days where the eggs could really get suffocated. The chicks at this stage are breathing already and are producing heat; thus you can lower your temp by 0.5 to 1F.

Also, the humidity should go up to the designated level because since you do not do turning at the hatching period, you don't want the chick to get stuck in one side of the shell. Plus they need more gas exchanges already by this time. Depending on the size of your hatcher, 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup should be sufficient. Between the two factors, at the hatching period temperature is more critical than humidity.

On your Silkie, I do not understand when you say 2 weeks after the 21st day? What you should aspire for is to set similar age eggs (or at least coming from properly stored cool eggs, with maximum egg age of 15 days only) in order for them to all hatch by the 20-21st day post setting.

I hope I was able to help.

Poultry Doc
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