I'm sorry for your loss, it's happened to me and I know that unfun feeling. it's not all that unusual to have eggs grow out to maturity and not hatch if the humidity or temperature is off. If the eggs are shipped, people often say to be happy if 50% hatch, or even less. I would make double sure you had the humidity and temperature right. temperature can be a funny thing. I used 5 different thermometers and got 5 different temperature readings. temp varies also with placement in the incubator, especially if it's a still air incubator, so I swap the eggs around at least once a day. a couple of computer fans can do wonders to even out the temp. this years hatch I made a study of temperature and humidity and found a reliable thermometer and hydrometer and watched the temperature and humidity like a hawk. even with a thermostat, the temp is relative to humidity and I've seen big swings in humidity cause big changes in temp (dryer=hotter). I found the basic laminated paper backed thermometer sold by Hova Bator to be spot on, I think it's calibrated. the dinky plastic hydrometer sold at
petco seemed pretty reliable for humidity. my first hatch last year since childhood resulted in "mushy chick" syndrome, with most eggs making it all the way to pipping only to drownd, due to too high a humidity in the first 18 days. this year I drastically curtailed the humidity in the beginning, I think it fluctuated between 30-50%, till the air sac was on track with the common charts out there, then upped it a little as needed, and then during "lock down" I raised the humidity to about 75% and resisted with all my might to not open the incubator to take out the chicks as they hatched. this was rather difficult since I had a 5 and 7 year old begging to either "help a chick hatch" or "hold the cute little fluff ball, please!". I kept a close eye on temp throughout, shooting for 99.5. if the temp goes over about 103 or thereabouts, it's curtains, if it stays low by a few degrees, you may still have a good hatch, but likely delayed. what I've come to understand is that if you take the time early on to get the humidity and temp dialed in, the chicks will not need any assistance come hatch time. expensive embryo's not withstanding, extraordinary measures should not be necessary. all that said, in the wild, survivability of hatchlings all the way to sexual maturity, of any bird, is remarkably low due to one type of threat or another, in other words, don't beat yourself up, jump back in and do your best to learn from your mistakes. the one antidote to failure is the triumph of hard earned success!
