I think I made a terrible mistake..

[AmyLynn2374]

I have a Farm Innovators 4200. I have not been using the thermometer it came with, I am using one that I know is accurate and have kept it at 99.5 the whole incubation. No spikes, no drops(I am a stay at home mom and have been watching it like a hawk)

It's forced air, right?

 

[Chick-A-Holic]

Yes, it has a fan.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I watch mine like a hawk too. lol One day I will upgrade my incubator and have one that doesn't need to be watched, (and will probably still watch it...lol).

Your temps are good. I would say the problem lies in the humidity. Are these local or shipped eggs? If you do eggtopsies note whether there is significant moisture/fluid in the egg and sticky chicks. That will be the biggest sign of high hudmidity. Moisture/fluid in the air cell of any that may have internally pipped as well.

 

[Chick-A-Holic]

All the eggs were from my personal hens. I will be doing eggtopsies. Really debating on putting a pip hole into the thump egg.. I'm pretty sure it internally pipped and died, but then again I hate to take a chance and accidentaly kill it if it is still alive. Gosh, incubating is nerve wrecking!!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

All the eggs were from my personal hens. I will be doing eggtopsies. Really debating on putting a pip hole into the thump egg.. I'm pretty sure it internally pipped and died, but then again I hate to take a chance and accidentaly kill it if it is still alive. Gosh, incubating is nerve wrecking!!

It can be. Once you figure out what works for you, though, and have a couple successful hatches it's worth it. You usually still end up loosing a couple after lockdown, which can be hard to take, but it's something you come to expect. Loosing an entire hatch though is really hard and discouraging. I ended up with one out of my first hatch due to a faulty thermometer, (and I was running my humidity 50-60% as well). I almost gave up and decided not to try again, but I am glad I did because all my hatches since have been great, even had a 100% hatch at the end of last year with my pullets' eggs.