1st timer 80% hatch rate

[deshet]

Worked with a local farmer to get some good eggs.
I did not add a drop of water until lock down.
Lockdown humdity was at 70-80%
Southern Eastern Virginia has a standard humdity level of about 40%
I did not candle the eggs at all
I did not bother the eggs at all
I did not mess with anything.

I just used my automatic turner and took them out after they all dryed.
I will check the eggs that did not hatch to see if the started to develop at all.

I am using a retired Laboratoy incubator.

I talked to several older people and they said a egg won't smell rotten enough to worry about unless it is cracked. They said a egg won't blow up unless your temps are too high. After listen to several older people that have been doing this for years I decided that all of the checks people do on different dates cause more issues then it is worth.

I will try this a few more time and report back.



Thanks

 

[blucoondawg]

I have only run a few batches in my incubator and I tend to agree with you, I've never had an egg explode even though I run a little warm anyways, my chicks hatch around 18-19 days. My best hatch was a dry hatch that I didn't candle at all

 

[deshet]

I think the checking on eggs and blasting developing embroys with bright lights causes more problems then it is worth.

Commercial hatcherys don't do all of the checking and I would assume they probably hatch around 90% or better.