Help! What did I do wrong?

[Nupine]

Hello, I just set my first hatch of the year a few weeks ago, and most didn't pip until day 21, but I understand thats ok. I set about 20 eggs, all but 4 were developing when I candled on day 7. They are mostly cochin eggs, with some sultans and sebrights. Out of the 16 eggs, I now have 10 chicks. 12 hatched, but 2 died. And there were several sebrights that piped but didn't hatch. Once all the chicks were out, they didn't dry off very well, is my humidity too high? There is a lot of water in there, and alot of water vapor on the windows. Also some of the chicks don't look quite right, many are a little weak in the legs, on has an eye glued shut, and 1-2 have sortof red backs. I am no master hatcher, so what did I do wrong? Thanks!
Ashlyn

 

[WingingIt]

I'm not an expert on incubating at all, but from what I've read here on other threads my guess would be that the humidity might have been too high.

At the very least, I can bump this up for you.

 

[countrybum]

If you had moisture showing everywhere, I would say your humidity was way to high and that would cause problems with your hatch and any chicks that did hatch.

 

[Nupine]

Well, I sure learned a lesson, over yesterday evening and the night, I lost 9. I am left with 1. It is a cochin, and he might be ok, but I don't know, I sure hope he survives. I am not letting this get me down. I am a bad hatcher, but I am cleaning out the stinky bator tonight and starting up, I already have about a dozen eggs ready, maybe more. You just have to learn, I am trying to keep a good attitude about it all. I have had about 9-10 hatches at least in my career, and none have been very good, they all kerplunk at the end. But I will get better, hopefully. Thanks!
Ashlyn

 

[countrybum]

Here is a good website for basics of incubation.

Make sure you not only have a temp reading but a humidity reading also and do not have your incubator near a window (I learned that lesson the hard way).

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=62