Cabinet incubator need help

[HempGirlSara]

Hey. So I just have my first experience with cabinet incubator. Not the best hoping to improve. I can't seem to find an answer hoping someone has had better luck and can advise me... So mine is low budget but it works. Just it has 3 shelves and rollers. I went 141 eggs in. I didn't wait for the incubator to get fully warm which took hours maybe half a day. When it came time to hatch all the eggs would not fit at the bottom. It's suppose to hatch 192 eggs but only 70 or 80 would fit at the bottom so I added back the rollers and another Hatcher net it came with 3 so I assumed one for each shelf. I.moved.abour 50 or 60 eggs to the top shelf. The first chick to hatch was on the bottom. Then about 30 on the top. I removed what was dry 2.5 days later and took out a shelf. So there was eggs on the bottom and an empty shelf no.rollers to sort of vent the area and give the chicks space to move idk....about 60.chicks got stuck in the shell. I did rescue 3 fingers crossed they make it and live to be healthy. I'm not super happy or super upset just wanting to improve. How do you get all the eggs to hatch in just one incubator. 2.levels? Stacking the eggs on the bottom? Or do you have to move some to another Incubator/Hatcher and if so how could I time it so.i could still use the other incubator part.of the month and then use it as a Hatcher too? Thanks I. Advance idk what I'm doing but making my house stink

 

[cavemanrich]

I was just reading some articles about cabinet incubators, so would like to share some findings, and ideas.
Consider doing smaller batches until you get better at it. I suggest stay with the number that will fit on bottom tray.
You mentioned that about 60 chicks got stuck in their shells. Were they shrink wrapped?? That may be a result of improper humidity.
Also consider this info about humidity recovery in larger cabinet incubators.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hatcher-as-an-incubator.1227188/post-19680593

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