Hoping I haven't ruined the batch

[Sarafena1982]

From your picture, it looks like a pip in one egg to me... is it???  Not the egg closest to the wall, the other one. 

I really do understand your frustrations. I have no idea how many people are successful on their first try, but I would bet the number would be fairly low.  It seems so easy, but then it can be so frustrating!  Be we learn, and we move on.  You will try again!  We can't be perfect to start!   My sister-in-law tried to hatch ducks several years ago and none made it.  She wouldn't try again, because she was scared.  But then I hatched some ducks so she tried again.  She got 9 beautiful little fuzzbutts out of 12!  Its a downer when it doesn't work, but its soooo rewarding when it does work!! 

Anyway, I wish you the best and hope you will try again.  I am still hopeful for the ones you have left too!

No. No pip in that egg. In fact that's the one that I think hasn't made it

but you are right I will try again.

and thank you for your support! !!

 

[WVduckchick]

Well, whatever happens, after these are done, and your bator is empty, try changing the set temperature to 38.1 and check the thermometers. That's about 100.5F, but it never stays that high very long. I also pulled the probe from its little zip-tie on the top grate, and let it dangle about an inch or so down. I think all the way up top is too high. But I'm still testing that theory with this current batch.

 

[Sarafena1982]

Well, whatever happens, after these are done, and your bator is empty, try changing the set temperature to 38.1 and check the thermometers.  That's about 100.5F, but it never stays that high very long.  I also pulled the probe from its little zip-tie on the top grate, and let it dangle about an inch or so down.  I think all the way up top is too high.  But I'm still testing that theory with this current batch. 

That's actually a good idea. I am going to try moving the probe on mine also. I had to set mine the highest it would go just to get it to say "around" the right temperature without the heater in the room. But I always have to keep it on anyway because it drops too low.

 

[Jrose]

So I have 4 marans out. They seem to be thriving, though are very quiet, which I find disturbing. I've brooded 5 sets of chicks, and normally even if there are only 2 or 3 in there they're talking away, but not a peep from these 4. They're dead quiet. But, seem alright, like I said.

I candled last night and found no rotten or smelly eggs. The incubator smells fine. Several of the eggs appeared to have different levels of development, many had enthusiastic movement inside still. This was reassuring. So I re-filled with water, refreshed the moist rag I have balled up for extra humidity, and sat on my hands over night.

I had another Marans pip this morning. Got excited and checked it when I got home this evening. It had pipped on the pointy end (upside-down) and was dead. Its beak was out of the shell but the chick had passed.

No other pips, peeps, or pecking to be seen or heard, but no rotten smells.