Biggest Incubation Mistakes

[Kiki]

We learn from our mistakes, right? Even pros and experts make mistakes. I was wondering what your biggest incubation mistakes were. Maybe newbies could find this thread and learn from it.

1. What did you do?
2. What were the consequences?
3. Did you fix it? How?
4. What did you learn?

Please remember, we all make mistakes. Please do not belittle or bully ANYONE for their mistakes.

Check out some of BYC's excellent incubation articles:

• The Beginner's Guide to Incubation
• Incubation Humidity
• Candling Pics Progression Through Incubation Of Chicken Eggs
• Development of a Chicken Embryo Day by Day
• Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry
• Egg failure to hatch - Diagnosing incubation problems

Shout out to @PippinTheChicken, we liked your worst mistake thread so much that we made one just like it for for incubation!

Check out @PippinTheChicken's thread:

What was your worst mistake as a chicken keeper?​

 

[Conan]

You're supposed to use distilled water? Huh.

 

[muddy75]

You may want to add wasting money on cheap incubators!!!!

 

[Ryguy3684]

What's a problem with using tap water? I didnt know that was an issue. I've always used it straight from the sink with good results.

 

[Ryguy3684]

You're supposed to use distilled water? Huh.

Glad I'm not the only one with that question.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Definitely wasted money and my hatch rate with a cheap, unreliable incubator. Oh well. Live and learn.

 

[Conan]

What's a problem with using tap water? I didnt know that was an issue. I've always used it straight from the sink with good results.

I've never used distilled water either. Wondering what potential issues peeps have had using tap water because I've definitely not experienced them.

 

[Kiki]

You're supposed to use distilled water? Huh.

I never have.

 

[Kiki]

The poll options ARE NOT rules to live by.

 

[casportpony]

You're supposed to use distilled water? Huh.

What's a problem with using tap water? I didnt know that was an issue. I've always used it straight from the sink with good results.

From Brinsea (Water matters - Brinsea)

We always recommend using distilled water in your incubator. Distilled water is free of contaminants and it prevents mineral deposits in the incubators. Such deposits allow bacteria to grow.