Did the chick die?

[Uff Da]

So all these have been with a makeshift incubator? How many thermometers and hygrometers do you have in there to verify that the temperatures and humidity levels are consistent and accurate?

This is my second batch. I have yet to actually hatch a single chick successfully. The first batch was what I considered to be a practice batch with a very janky makeshift incubator consisting of a brooder plate and a plastic box with a sponge in it. I'm not really very surprised none of them hatched.

This second failed hatch used a harris farms incubator. 16 eggs I bought and had shipped, and 6 from my own hen. Only two from my hen were developing at all, the purchased eggs were all duds. The current theory is they were x-rayed somewhere along the line by the post office.

The next batch in the brooder is another breed (Red Dorkings) I purchased and I drove 3.5 hours each way to pick them up personally just so I could be absolutely sure x-rays could not be at fault if this batch doesn't hatch at all.

I'm relatively certain I'm doing everything right, but it is pretty frustrating to have a 0% hatch rate twice in a row.

I have a broody hen that is sitting on a batch that I hope will have better luck.

Second batch was in a Harris Farms Incubator. Which one, the Nurture Right 360?

 

[kelseyk]

Do you have an extra calibrated thermometer and hydrometer in the incubator to double check the incubator settings are correct? What was your temp and humidity set at for the last hatch?

 

[Heritage Hen]

No. The first batch started in my makeshift incubator, but it was obvious pretty quickly that we wouldn't be able to keep the temperature reliable enough. We finished that batch in the Harris Nurture Right 360 and I wasn't too surprised or depressed when they didn't hatch out. What can you expect from a random, on a whim attempt at mcgyvering what we had around the house. The eggs too were of random backyard matings and weren't what I knew I'd want in the end, so I'm not heartbroken about that too much. It would have been awesome if they'd hatched, but I wasn't super invested in the outcome so much as "can I do this?"

The second batch was entirely in the Harris Farms Nurture Right 360.

 

[Heritage Hen]

I don't have an additional thermometer and hydrometer, just what came in the box. In my McGyvering attempt I was using a digital all in one unit designed for checking room temperature and humidity. I did not put it in the Nurture Right.

Temp and Humidity for the last hatch was 99.5 and between 45 and 55% humidity. Checked twice a day not touched until second week.

 

[hysop]

I don't have an additional thermometer and hydrometer, just what came in the box. In my McGyvering attempt I was using a digital all in one unit designed for checking room temperature and humidity. I did not put it in the Nurture Right.

Temp and Humidity for the last hatch was 99.5 and between 45 and 55% humidity. Checked twice a day not touched until second week.

Wow I’ve gotten great hatches from my Nurture Right 360. And your temperature and humidity looks good too. I would keep trying with backyard eggs before attempting it with shipped eggs because shipped eggs tend to have a smaller success rate even for experienced hatchers.

On lockdown day 18 did you maintain the humidity at 75% the last 3 days and open the vent hole completely?

 

[kelseyk]

Venting was also going to be my next question. That was the mistake I made on my first couple hatches. I had almost all my eggs make it to lockdown and all but a couple died in shell....all because I had the vent holes partially blocked trying to keep humidity up.