unknown hatch date

[mobe_45]

8/22 set my chicken eggs in incubator. It's been a few years since I used the unit. For the first 5 days my thermometer said 96.7. I tried to adjust it based on the instructions for it. I got it to go up a few tenths, even when trying the 5 degree change toggle, or the reset to factory toggle. When I did the 5 day candle I tossed all but 9 eggs. These are brown eggs, so hard for me to see inside. When I did this my thermometer registered 99 degrees, so maybe it's been this temp all the time? What day would you people expect the hatch.
Second candle whittled it down to six eggs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

First I’d calibrate that thermometer or more likely get another one and calibrate it so you know what you are dealing with. It sounds like that one is not trustworthy. These might help.

Calibrate a Thermometer
http://www.allfoodbusiness.com/calibrating_thermometers.php

Rebel’s Thermometer Calibration
http://cmfarm.us/ThermometerCalibration.html

Rebel’s Hygrometer Calibration
http://cmfarm.us/HygrometerCalibration.html

Even if I knew the temperature was for sure low the first bit I’d keep them on the same schedule as normal. There is nothing magical about lockdown. They really don’t have to be turned after about 14 days. All body parts have formed (turning helps them form in the right places) and the egg has developed a membrane around the embryo to protect it from coming into contact with the egg shell. So turning doesn’t matter that late in incubation.

The humidity thing is about how much moisture is lost during incubation. That’s more a function of time and humidity and not of temperature. By 18 days they should have lost enough moisture. Increasing the humidity should not hurt them.

I’d stick to the original schedule, especially with that untrustworthy thermometer.

 

[mobe_45]

First two hatched today. Yellow fuzz, so maybe white chickens?

 

[mobe_45]

got new thermometer yesterday. It reads 37.1C.