Day 26 and still not hatched!

[chickenbike]

Quote:
My hatch is halfway because a Canada Post mishap delayed my second set of eggs. As a result, half the eggs went in to the incubator 21 hours after the others. The eggs did not start all at the same time. I have 3 thermometers, all reading accurately and the same. Likewise I have 3 hygrometers, all reading accurately and the same. My temp and humidity have been fine. I didn't go into details about earlier about my "halfway" batch and the 21 hour setting time difference. My last chick is making his way out now and I've hatched 23/25 eggs total. I'm pleased with that.

 

[DANNY]

It sounds like you have your bator running great. Good job !

 

[chickenbike]

I've been quite impressed with how the Hova-Bator held temp and humidity actually. But I did have it up and running for 3 days before putting any eggs in. And using the multiple thermometers and hygrometers has made all the difference. My first time hatching I did not have a hygrometer and only managed 4 chicks out of 20. This time around, things are much better!

 

[4everfarmgirl]

It's day 26 and still nothing. I think it's time to give up

. I have some more due this weekend so I hope I have more luck with them!

 

[walkswithdog]

How many thermometers are you using - did you check them against a medical thermometer? Did you check your hygrometer? Still air or fan? Where were your thermometers positioned. I'm sorry about the hatch, lets see if we can find what needs changing. You can do it. My first hatch was one bird, so I know the feeling. What did you do for ventilation at the end?

Best of luck with the next batch, glad you're keeping on trying.

 

[4everfarmgirl]

I have one thermometer that is positioned right behind the eggs at the same level as the eggs. I may invest in a digital one. It's easier to read as well. I also have a humidity gauge. It is a forced air incubator. I have some more due this weekend, so I will see what happens with them!

 

[walkswithdog]

One may be your problem. I had immediately better hatches when I had two, one in a water wiggler and one with the eggs. Knowing exactly the temp it would be inside the egg allowed me to set my thermostat much more accurately.

I also checked the temps that one gave me by inserting a medical thermometer into the wiggler and check accuracy. Medical thermometers are quite accurate in general. And the actual temp was a degree lower than the digital was giving me. I had run an entire hatch an entire degree below where it should have been. Medical thermometers are "contact" thermometers and won't help you check the air temps. You can also insert it into playdoh that's come up to bator temps to find out...

I also hatched the first tim at the higher humidity recommendations and those don't work well here. Now I dry hatch, and get better results but it depends really on your climate and even your own house. So you have to get a feel for it.

Great luck with the next batch!!!

 

[4everfarmgirl]

Thanks. I will try that next time. It seems to be all trial and error and finding out what works and what doesn't. It's a fun learning process as well!