8 of 12 eggs never hatched

[Mozbusiness2010]

I am brand new to incubation! I set 12 eggs on 2/19 and only 4 hatched as of 3/12 (hatch day was 3/11). I’ve got 12 more to set but I want to have better luck next time. I’m not sure what we did wrong. I had 3 silkies and the rest were a mix of brahmas, RIR, and Orpington. The next 11 I have are all silkies. I had my temp and humidity set to the recommended the whole 21 days. The only mistake I think I made was I opened the incubator briefly to remove the first two hatches because they were bouncing around in there. Because I did this, I had to help one of the chicks that had started that morning or off the shell in the afternoon. Other than that, does anyone have any tips on how to have better success this time around?

 

[SilkieMom0406]

Have you candled them at all?

 

[Mozbusiness2010]

I did at 7 and 14 days but I honestly don’t think I did it right nor did I understand what I was looking for.

 

[Mozbusiness2010]

Have you candled them at all?

Maybe I should just skip canceling all together next time. I’m not sure what to do with the 8 in there that don’t seem to be doing anything.

 

[SilkieMom0406]

When you did candle them, did you see veins, a dark blob, or any movement?

 

[SilkieMom0406]

Maybe I should just skip canceling all together next time. I’m not sure what to do with the 8 in there that don’t seem to be doing anything.

Please don't skip candling! you wont be sure what to do with the eggs if you don't candle. What type of flashlight are you using?

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

(bare with me on the questions)

What kind of incubator? Does it auto roll?

What temperature reading and humidity reading? Did you have a calibrated thermostat or thermometer?

Do you know for certain if they were fertilized?

Ambient temperature or house? Location?

And, there are some good threads on here for candling, it took me a while to figure out what I was looking at too. At times you can try to take a photo and post here.

 

[Slothinc]

Were they shipped eggs or local eggs?

 

[Mozbusiness2010]

Were they shipped eggs or local eggs?

Local

 

[Mozbusiness2010]

When you did candle them, did you see veins, a dark blob, or any movement?

Dark blobs mostly. No movement. Veins….maybe?!