Horrible experience with first incubator run.

[tank1970]

I bought the Little Giant incubator and was very excited to make some fresh chickens. I followed the instructions religiously and only got 3 out of 31 to hatch. I opened many of them and they were perfectly formed, but dead. The ones that did hatch were two days late and one died since hatching. I started a new, smaller batch yesterday and got my new digital thermometer/hygrometer in the mail today. The thermometer that came with the incubator was 5 degrees high. There were three that came with it and one out of three was all that read right. I was so disappointed and it wasn't due to anything I did. I am hoping for a better hatch this time.

 

[chickedydoodaa]

I hope that this time you get a bigger hatch

Good luck!

 

[tank1970]

Thank you. I was worried sick trying to figure out what I did. I thought originally that I had messed it up by putting the thermometer on the screen instead of on the eggs for the last three days. I was relieved, but still upset for the chicks.

 

[Huny]

I read on here that those thermometer/hydrometer things have accurate humidity but are horribly off for themometer readings. I wouldn't trust it. My hovabater came with a mercury thermometer and I would trust that before I would trust that digital one. Just a thought.

 

[Huny]

Also if they are fully formed but didn't hatch doesn't that have something to do with the humidity being too low?Someone chime in here!

 

[tank1970]

I took the mercury one that came with the bator and put it in ice water and it was 5 degrees high. There were three and each one was different. I checked the digital and it was closer than the other. These are cheap ones with the numbers on a piece of paper and the thermometer glued on top of that. two of them were glued to the wrong spot.

 

[the_eagle69]

I have had some great luck with the LG's my first hatch this year i had 2 out of 41 about 10 pipped and nothing more. my second run went very well i got 26 chicks 25 made it 2 piped did not make it out on day 23 4 were not fertil and the others had some forming but did not make it through. every thing concidered im happy with this hatch.

 

[clayhillcouple]

I feel for you-Tomorrow is day 21 for our 1st batch. I bought a digital thermometer and in the instructions it said that it could take up to 30 minutes to get a proper reading.. I made a 2nd home made bator for last 3 days from threads that I read here. Hoping for the best!!!!!

 

[tank1970]

I did have the humidity up. I was just off on the temp.

 

[streemers]

that just is yucky for so many to not make it. wishing you all the best