Disappointing hatching season, so far!

[twentynine]

Guys I'm having a rough go of it this year.

4 hatches under my belt, the best hatch ratio so far is 61%.

I've had a thermostat failure, fan failure and a thermometer failure.

Got a hatch busting out right now. This hatch had a fan and thermometer failure. The thermometer gradually began indication low temps, I gradually increase thermostat setting, until I reached a point of saying- hey wait a minute. Placed a standby thermometer in the incubator: presto chango, 102.5. Took me couple days to get there, but they were at 101-102 for atleast 12 hours.
I am completely amazed that this morning I have some hatching on schedule. Started 41, 32 made lockdown.

 

[davemonkey]

I had an 87% hatch rate recently (if you don't count the 3 non-fertiles). 13 out of 15 hatched and are now 2 weeks old. But, I was wearied with fussing with that tiny turn-knob on the Little Giant I used, and I'm tired of having to hand-turn each egg. My next hatch will be with auto-egg-turner, fan, and auto-thermostat. My main curiosity is whether it's beneficial to open the incubator a couple times a day to let in "fresh air" during the normal incubation cycle (up to lockdown).

 

[MySweetChickens]

dont open the incubator to let fresh air in just open the holes at the top if you are worried about it you can open it to candle but not to just let air in

 

[twentynine]

Well, much as I feared. Today's hatch is coming on slow, only 11 out of 32 so far, with deformaties galore. Bad legs, crocked knecks, several dead after pipping. I believe this is due to the temperature control issues I experienced during the term of incubation. In the morning I will decide what to do with this hatch. A hard decission might have to be made.