Chicks die just before hatching

[Katja93]

I have a small incubator and it's not very expensive one. Just wondering, why are so many chicks not able to hatch? I have a separate thermometer that I have bought. I add quite a bit of water in there.. but I dont have a humidity meter. Could it be the humidity? This time I hatched only 4 out of 14.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Yeah, if humidity is really high, chicks can drown in excess moisture.

 

[Katja93]

But I dont know if its too high or low.. I guess I need to buy another humidity meters

 

[sdm111]

Search dry incubation
And do that

 

[MysteryChicken]

But I dont know if its too high or low.. I guess I need to buy another humidity meters

Yeah, and calibrate the hygrometer.
Was there beads of moisture on the walls of the incubator?

 

[Katja93]

Search dry incubation
And do that

I actually have done dry incubation recently. I add water only just before they hatch. Maybe its too humid then(?) Maybe the first chicks that hatch make it because the humidity is not as high then and the ones hatching a little later drown(?)