can anyone help? first time hatcher

[debskids]

Hope someone can give me some advice! Its my first time hatching chicks. I thought we were doing great! But hatch day came and nothing happened! Temperature was 100 degrees consistantly used a digital thermometer and the one that came with incubator. Put water in inside channels like it said to. The humidity was between 60 and 70% Was this too high? I went off the one on the incubator. We turned the eggs 3 times a day We had 24 eggs 6 were infertile 12 never developed well . We candled on day 6 and 12 and day 17. The last 6 eggs chicks were moving kicking on day 17th. I added the extra water in the outside troughs. Then they died! I did an eggtopsy and they were fully developed feathers, feet, beak, eyes . So sad! Hard to explain to kids. Any advice??? It seems like from day 18 on, I did something wrong? Help!!!

 

[loveourbirds]

im sorry to hear about your hatch. several of us who run incubators every day lost our first batch. don't let this get you down.

several things can affect a hatch. did both thermometers read the same? one of the most common problems is thermometer error. even with digital there is some difference. your humidity does seem a little high, if its a little giant incubator try filling just the circular ring until day 18 then fill all 3.

when you opened the incubator to hand turn, did it return to temp quickly?

were your eggs shipped to you, or come from a local source?

ill do what I can to help you along.

brian

 

[jessiesgirl]

I am so sorry about your loss!!! I know it's even harder with kids

 

[debskids]

Thanks! The incubator is a farm innovations from farm and fleet. The temperatures read about the same the one inside incubator was on the floor of the incubator I read some things that said it should have been laid on the top of the eggs? yes the temperature went right back to normal quickly the only time the temp went high to 102 was right after I added water at night. I would open up the incubator for a few seconds and it would go back to normal. the eggs were from the 4h farm bureau. Would it be better to get them from a farm?
Thanks for the help!
Deb

 

[loveourbirds]

I'm thinking your eggs should have been fine. i have not used that brand of incubator, but i think i can still help. can you describe how the water reservoirs look in it?