incubating 101....need advise. killed 6 babies about to try a new batch!

[mcanada1779]

Hi everyone I am new to incubating chicks. I ran my first batch with 6 babies. 3 made it to lock down. 2 died before internal pip and 1 died after internal pip. the only thing I can figure out happened was poor thermometer and hygrometer. so I went and bout one from pets smart with a probe. hopefully this will work. I just want to run thru the basics and make SURE I HAVE IT RIGHT cause I really don't want to kill anymore babies

it broke my heart

so:

day 1-18 :
temp. 99.5 (forced air incubator)
humidity- 45%
both red plugs in for the first 10 days. then remove 1 till day 18

day 18
remove from egg turner
remove other red plug
increase heat to 100.0 ????? (unsure of this one)
increase humidity to 65%


I learned not to candle as much only at day 14.

this is REALLY hard for me cause I like to see whats going on. the last batch I looked everyday until day 18.

IS THIS ANYWHERE NEAR RIGHT! I AM TIRED OF READING ARTICLES ONLINE

 

[HardizzlesFlock]

What helped me is to just throw away the red plugs... Eggs need Oxygen. I've never heard about the raise temp thing. Other than that it seems you aren't doing anything wrong

 

[mcanada1779]

so don't raise the temp for hatching, just the humidity?

 

[RedfogsFlock]

I just ran a 100% hatch with these instructions. I usually do a 90 - 100%. Days 1 through 18 99.5 degrees and 45-50% humidity. Days 19-21 97.0 degrees and 70% humidity. Once pipped it takes my chicks up to a few hours.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

I usually lower the temp 2 degrees in lockdown. I have left temp at 99.5 before didnt notice to much difference maybe an egg or two not hatching.

 

[bjd105]

Is this a home made incubator? Baby chicks need oxyge to a greater degree after hatch. If it's a home made incubator cut an oxygen plug you can remove after hatch begins ,(you should have airflow above and below the hatching plate once hatching begins remove the lower plugs for airflow ALT=""]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/6255591/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

 

[mcanada1779]

wow so I was doing the temp wrong, I was raising it at day 19. thank u my babies are going in this morning. maybe I will have better luck