Am I doing this right?

[pek]

Hi!!!!!!! We got six eggs from Gabbard Farms, we have a homemade incubator that is (in the beginning 92* but it heated up to) 95*-101* and has 50% humity, we just candled the eggs on day 19 and only one has someone in it. Is this normal? Did I get eggs from the wrong place? Am I doing something wrong? Is this the wrong time to do it? November in Southern New England? Is there a breed that is easier to hatch?
Thanks!

 

[cmom]

Either the eggs were not fertile or the temp was to low to start out so the embryos didn't develop. The Ideal temp is 99ºF - 100ºF. Humidity for the first 18 days should be around 35% to 40% this is also affected by the climate and where you live. I live in Florida so we have higher humidity usually. On day 18 when I stop turning my eggs I raise the humidity to 65% to 70%. This is just what I do where I live. I have RIRs, RIWs and BOs. I do hatch for a friend BR, Blue Rocks, RIRs, Dels, sometimes some EEs BSLs.

 

[silkiechicken]

First off, shipped eggs are a gamble no matter where you get them. Second, if this is a new incubator and your first time, best to start with eggs not shipped. 95-100 is a rather large swing in heating and likly has delayed the hatch. If it has sat more than 2 deg too low for more than a day or two... they might not make it. If you do not have a fan in there, 100 is too low, you needed about 101.5 at the top of the eggs.

I would make sure you can hold your incubator temps at 101.5 if no fan, 99.5 with fan, + or - one or two deg for a week first. Then, I would get local eggs that do not have to go through the gamble of shipping. Once you get the incubator worked out, then worry about using shipped eggs.

 

[FarmGirl01]

Sounds like you started out with 2 strikes against you. Shipped eggs and a new bator. Try to hatch some local eggs first and adjust the bator. When you have hatched a few batches , then try some shipped eggs. Its tricky, but sometimes worth it. Good luck and don't give up.

 

[pek]

Thanks so much!! But is a fan a necessity? and if it is, where do you get one?

 

[cmom]

A fan is not necessary but it does help keep the heat more even and stable. Still air incubators have cool spots and hot spots. I bought a fan through Amazon.com and it came from IncubatorWarehouse.com.