HELP! Can't incubate !!

[lazy gardener]

And even if you buy those, they MUST be calibrated. You can walk into any hardware store or pet department, and view the selection of thermometers in the display. There can be as much as 5* variation. How would you ever know which one is correct, unless you have done a comparison with a known to be accurate standard? Most bulb or digital medical thermometers are guaranteed to be +/- .2*F accurate. Unless you do the salt test with a hygrometer, you will not know if that is accurate. And, IMO, you should replace the batteries in your digital thermometers before starting to incubate.

 

[lazy gardener]

I do not see a blastodisc or derm in that egg. Could be due to light reflection or it could be on the bottom of the yolk. Try cracking the egg into a plate, and flipping the yolk over if you can't see it on the top.

What I do see is a very anemic looking egg. I would get that flock on some good grass, or other greens, and give them some multi vits.

 

[Stacyoung13]

Hmm what breeds are your roos and hens and what age are they?

I have a silver laced hen and roo, Rhode island reds, and a Plymouth Rock roo.

 

[Stacyoung13]

That does not mean that your eggs are fertile.

1. Have you cracked an egg open to check for the blastodisc? If you don't know what that is, do a google search for "blastodisc in chicken egg".

2. Have you calibrated your thermometer and hygrometer? You must calibrate in order to know that your temperature/humidity are accurate. You can't trust the reading on the thermostat, or even on a thermometer if you have not calibrated. I use a good medical grade submersible bulb or digital thermometer in a bowl of water at 100*F to calibrate any other thermometer which can then be used to check the bator for accurate temp. Put your thermometers in the water, wait for them to equalize, then check the temps. Do the salt test for your hygrometer.

3. Does that bator have a fan? If not, you need 102*F measured at the surface of the eggs.

4. Only one egg? Chickens are flock animals. Plan on a 50% hatch rate, if your eggs are fertile, and plan on at least 60% of your chicks being male. Based on that info, you should be setting more than one egg. Do you have an exit plan for those males? Do you have the room to put more pullets in your flock?

5. Before you attempt to hatch eggs again, please read "Hatching Eggs 101" in the learning center. It will help you to manage your bator so you get a successful hatch.

I was trying more than one egg at a time, but after so many failures, I went to one at a time. I have enough room for at least 20 more babies in my flock. And any roos Wii be rehomed.

 

[CCUK]

This is a fantastic article. It's well worth a read.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/