No signs of hatching

Hmm I just opened the last three. Each dead chick. I have a few Rhode Island reds and 2 Easter egger and 1 barred rock. Soon 6 (hopefully) hens when they get bigger barred rocks. My one rooster is an Easter egger

My incubator is just for emergencies. I prefer broody hens. Some breeds are excellent at hatching and raising chicks. Consider trying this. With incubators you CAN do everything right and end with a failed hatch. There are just too many variables to contend with and hard to control.
 
My incubator is just for emergencies. I prefer broody hens. Some breeds are excellent at hatching and raising chicks. Consider trying this. With incubators you CAN do everything right and end with a failed hatch. There are just too many variables to contend with and hard to control.


I used to have a very broody Rhode Island Red before I got my rooster. I don't see any of my hens get broody at anytime when I'm in the hen house collecting eggs. Unless they are laying an egg then after they get up and leave. My Silkie that was 6 was broody until she ate the eggs. That's the reason I'm using an incubator since non of my hens are broody.
 


It might be worthwhile for you to look into broody breeds. I can tell you that medium to small hens make better broodies than large hens, on average. My serama bantams lay 6-10 eggs and then go broody. They started laying at 4 months and have been hatching chicks ever since. One hen has brooded and hatched four clutches, is a grandmother, and will be a year old on Saturday.

With my hens I leave their eggs or I replace them with dummy eggs as they are laid. Of the 11 hens I've tried this with all 11 have gone broody. Not all were good at the job, but most were.
 
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