Help did I ruin my hatch with wrong temperature??

[UThobbyfarmer]

I found through another post that the eggs were not developing when I candled them and I threw them away. It sucks but oh well I'l try again another day maybe, I don't know this stuff is too complicated for me. Thanks for all the help and tips everyone I'll definitely take them into account if I incubate again.

Definitely don't give up. Some of the best advice I read on here was "incubating is not for the faint of heart". Boy have I ever found that to be true.

While I've never had a complete hatch failure I've gotten close 3/48. Looking at old posts I bought my little styrofoam incubator in about August of '17. Since then I've had maybe 8-10 hatchs. Each one I learn something and improve my knowledge. But there has been a lot of heartbreak along the way too. All part of the process. Hang in there. Your first good hatch with put it all right again.

 

[pineapple416]

Definitely don't give up. Some of the best advice I read on here was "incubating is not for the faint of heart". Boy have I ever found that to be true.

While I've never had a complete hatch failure I've gotten close 3/48. Looking at old posts I bought my little styrofoam incubator in about August of '17. Since then I've had maybe 8-10 hatchs. Each one I learn something and improve my knowledge. But there has been a lot of heartbreak along the way too. All part of the process. Hang in there. Your first good hatch with put it all right again.

Thank you. Helps to know I'm not the only one that has a hard time figuring it out.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you. Helps to know I'm not the only one that has a hard time figuring it out.

It was still kind of early to be throwing eggs out, especially if your temp was too low.. they would have been a little behind expectation.

Did you crack any open to see what was going on inside?

Just saying a still air needs to be at 101 or 102 and not specifying that should be measured at the top of the egg and then if the thermometer is off by 2F, (which is common) will doom the entire hatch.
101 on the floor with a thermometer that reads 2F low likely won't have any hatch.

Agreed I should have specified as measured at the top of the egg. Thanks for the reminder.

Using the 102 setting I have gotten 100% hatch rates, not every time but often.

Floor reading is always lower in still air and MUCH lower closer to the vents (98 in mine). If OP is using still air and incubating at 100... might be part of the issue.

While I get what you are saying about heat rising and all... there is more to it with convection or at least it seems to me. See what you make of this example..

In a Jacuzzi tub with no jets your body adjust to the water temp and it seems just the same. But when you turn the jets on, suddenly you can feel that it's actually fairly warm still.

Thanks for taking the time to try and set my brain straight!

 

[aart]

I would let the humidity drop more.
Most people candle to insure air cell is growing but I weigh eggs to determine proper humidity. I don't even own a hygrometer.

How often do you weigh?
Do you weigh instead of candle and trace air cells because of dark shells?

I found through another post that the eggs were not developing when I candled them and I threw them away. It sucks but oh well I'l try again another day maybe, I don't know this stuff is too complicated for me. Thanks for all the help and tips everyone I'll definitely take them into account if I incubate again.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/day-6-candling-pictures-are-they-fertile.1302709/
If you decide to give it another go.....Test your therms and hygros:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How often do you weigh?
Do you weigh instead of candle and trace air cells because of dark shells?
.

I try to weigh when I collect but usually don't get around to it.
I weigh the day I set and usually again at day 7 and 14. That way I can adjust the amount of water added or if I need to let it dry out.
I have never traced air cells and I probably wouldn't, even if I had white eggs.
IMO, tracking weight is the most accurate way of determining proper humidity.
I do plan on getting some good hygrometers soon for each incubator and hatcher so I can use weight loss to determine proper humidity since all my eggs now are from the same breed.
But I haven't used a hygrometer in years.

 

[aart]

That way I can adjust the amount of water added or if I need to let it dry out.

Do you measure amounts of water and when added....or just wing it?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I wing it. They are really big units. In one of my sportsman, I use the base of a gallon water fount in the top by the fan and add water every few days. In the hatcher, I have a large pan that holds about a gallon of water that I fill when I add eggs. It holds water till they hatch.
In my homemade cabinet, there are two water sources in the hatcher. One large pan that the air passes over and another down next to the eggs with one of those waffle humidifier pads. I can fill both of those without opening and one fills automatically.
There is so much humidified air passing through that I can open the hatcher drawer a couple times quickly without causing shrink wrapping.