Fully formed chicks will not hatch!

[sunflower7]

I don't consider myself a hatching expert by any means, but I used to have pretty good luck hatching chicken eggs, but this year has been a disaster! Last year, I used a little giant incubator in my classroom with the kids and all our eggs hatched except 3. When I hatched more at home, we had pretty good luck as well. This year out of 72 eggs, only 20 hatched when I tried to hatch them at school again. I bought a new little giant incubator, put a thermometer that read temp and humidity and tried to hatch some at home. Out of a full incubator (about 35) I only had a few hatch. This week, I tried again. Today is hatch day. I had 3 hatch like popcorn and thought we were off to a good start. There is no more pipping going on in there with about a dozen eggs left.. We candled all of them before lock down and they are full ready-to-hatch eggs. I'm afraid we're going to see the same thing again. As far as humidity, the humidity is about 45-50 in the beginning. I raise the humidity to about 70-75 during lockdown. I do not know what else to do. Can someone please help! This is soooo disappointing!!

 

[feedman77]

I assume you are using the digital model.

Did the eggs that hatched hatch on schedule?

Hatch in a specific area?

If you are using a new model the worst problem is the temp probe is attached to the plastic sheet. It will catch while the eggs are turning and when you open it for any reason. Never set back to an exact same spot. That creates hot and cold spikes.

When I used mine I got better results with low humidity during incubation 20 to 35 percent.

These can work well but can require some tweaking

 

[sunflower7]

I assume you are using the digital model.

Did the eggs that hatched hatch on schedule?

Hatch in a specific area?

If you are using a new model the worst problem is the temp probe is attached to the plastic sheet. It will catch while the eggs are turning and when you open it for any reason. Never set back to an exact same spot. That creates hot and cold spikes.

When I used mine I got better results with low humidity during incubation 20 to 35 percent.

These can work well but can require some tweaking

Yes, it is the digital model. And yes, the ones that hatched were

 

[sunflower7]

Yes, it is the digital model. And yes, the ones that hatched were

My crazy computer!! It posted before I was ready! Today (8/8/17) is the hatch day and I had one hatch last night and 2 hatch today. This new one I have now doesn't have the temp gauge on the plastic square like the old ones. It came with a little round gauge that hangs from the top. It doesn't touch the eggs or the bottom anymore. I thought that was a good improvement in the incubator as I did not like the plastic square thing. As far as where to hatch, at least here at home, it is in the same room we always hatch. I am just so puzzled. I hope the humidity isn't too high and they are drowning. I had good luck with it before, though. Any other ideas?

 

[feedman77]

I'm not familiar with the newest models. The last ones I had were square plastic sheet. Got last year.

If the hatched on time temp was good.

I would lean toward humidity being a little high during incubation.

 

[sunflower7]

I'm not familiar with the newest models. The last ones I had were square plastic sheet. Got last year.

If the hatched on time temp was good.

I would lean toward humidity being a little high during incubation.

I had read an suggestion on this one time, that suggested dry hatching eggs - don't add any humidity. I'm afraid to try it, but I'm not having any luck this way so maybe I will, if I try this again! Thanks for your help!

 

[feedman77]

That the way I incubate everything.

My rates went up after I tried it. I've upgraded to cabinets now. Still use this method.

I hatch chickens, pheasant, quail and turkey. Of these the only one that makes me pull my hair out is pheasant. The rest hatch great.

Give it a shot.

As humidity is a thing that you have to find what works best for your area.

 

[Cntry1958]

Awww don't give up yet some may still hatch for you.

 

[sunflower7]

That the way I incubate everything.

My rates went up after I tried it. I've upgraded to cabinets now. Still use this method.

I hatch chickens, pheasant, quail and turkey. Of these the only one that makes me pull my hair out is pheasant. The rest hatch great.

Give it a shot.

As humidity is a thing that you have to find what works best for your area.

Thanks a bunch! I will try it!

 

[sunflower7]

Awww don't give up yet some may still hatch for you.

I hope you are correct! Thanks!