How can this be?

[crooked stripe]

Today is 18. Removed the eggs from the turner and placed on cheese cloth screen. Time to make the last candling. Out of 14 I went down to 8 at week 2. Those where all fertile and died for some reason. Today I am down to 3 that look good. The rest are questionable. The 3 where all dark and the rest you could see through the top and bottom of the shell and when I rotated them the insides seem to roll to the high side of the shell. I put all 8 back in the bator and uped the humidity. My question is how can a hen set on a clutch of eggs outside and have a better hatch rate than a bator with almost ideal conditions? So discouraging. John

 

[ksacres]

Because hens are nature's perfect incubator.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

That said it all.....But don't give up hatching..try again...keep a journal and learn from what goes wrong the first, second or third time if need be.....

 

[Katy]

We only think we make ideal conditions in an incubator.....she's the one who does it the ideal way because that's what she was made for.

 

[crooked stripe]

I think I have solved the problem. The humidity meter has a digital thermometer at the bottom. It was always hidden by the turner. Now that the turner is out I see the temperature is only running 93. That said I put my indoor/ outdoor thermometer in the bator and both reading where 93.8 and 94.2 just under the fan. TOO COLD. The thermometer that was shipped with the bator I tested with another alcohol thermometer and the readings where both close to 99.5. I turned up the heat but it is probably to late. What is your thoughts? By the way the alcohol thermometer is running 102-103. John