hatching problems.

[poultryteen17]

I love to hatch my own eggs its just that not very many fertile ones make it. I've heard that flashlights can kill the embryo. my main problem is the chicks pecking through the egg. I usually have about 35 fertile eggs after candling them on the 17 day, but only about 15 of those hatch. any idea on what I could be doing wrong??

 

[ChickenCanoe]

First of all, I hate all thermometers and hygrometers. IMO being off by a couple degrees from accurate or off by 20% humidity can be enough to cause the problem.
Check this out.
http://www.natureform.com/kb/index.php?article=1011&o=save