Incubating Fail!

[CHKNSnDUCKS78]

I was having a similar problem with the same LG incubator. I happened across a thread,maybe on here, talking about fresh air circulation. I then realized my plugs were in on the top of the LG. I took one out and my eggs started hatching. I went thru over 50 eggs before I got one to hatch. They always died in the shell.

 

[CattleRancher]

If you have a fan, I wouldn't worry about cold spots. the air is circulating in a small area.
I used to run 8 LG's and Hova"s at one time.
then I got three large GQF's.

chalk this hatch up to a bad experience and try again..

LG"s and Hova"s are notorious for air leakage.

I always ran a piece of duct tape around the crack where the top set on the bottom
I never candle. you lose too much heat and humidity by opening the bator.
it takes those styro bators forever to recover. my GQF's recover in about 5 minutes.. I can hatch about 1400 eggs at a time..
I usually hatch over 300 guineas per season.
to add water, use a funnel with a tube attached and poke it through a hole in the top of the bator. do not get the eggs wet.
poke the tube between the eggs and fill the reservoirs that way..
preset the bator to 100F to 100.5F without having any water in the reservoirs
bone dry.
once you add water, the temp should drop and that is the temp you will use for incubating.
if the temp rises up to 100.5F it just means you are out of water. do not adjust the thermostat,, just add water..
super dirty eggs can be washed.
don't get hung up on bluhm,, it is over rated for your small operation.
keep things clean and you won't have any trouble with infected eggs.
when/if you smell a bad egg, get it located and removed asap.. your nose is the best detector for this.
stay away from shipped eggs. pick them up in person , if possible..
don't hold eggs for more than 5 or 6 days before setting them..
you don't have to turn held eggs more than once per day.
I have been hatching eggs for more than 50 years. these things have worked for me.
I started out hatching with a kerosene heated incubator from Sears and Roebuck,
(used) .
still have it in the garage..
AND use just ONE thermometer ..
when you get one that you can trust, guard it with your life....
....jiminwisc.......

Thank you, it has been pretty humid here lately so if I add any water at all, it brings the humidity up to high. I have the 2 that were still active embryos on lockdown now. So I only filled one reservoir and put a sponge in as well. So far today it has been pretty consistent (using the new thermometer/hygrometer, not the built in one.) i put a straw directly into the small air hole and it goes down into the reservoir so when I need add water, I have a syringe that fits in the straw just right. What percentage do you keep you’re at and what temp for guineas? I have been told from some people that they use different guidelines for guineas than they do chickens. Also, my guineas lay in the same nesting boxes as my hens do, so the eggs are clean, so that’s not an issue. I never even considered ordering and having eggs shipped, a local friend of mine is who I got the eggs from (except the 12 I got from my own Guineas.) I appreciate the tips and if you have any more, I am all for it. Thank you again.

 

[CattleRancher]

I was having a similar problem with the same LG incubator. I happened across a thread,maybe on here, talking about fresh air circulation. I then realized my plugs were in on the top of the LG. I took one out and my eggs started hatching. I went thru over 50 eggs before I got one to hatch. They always died in the shell.

I was somewhat ok with the infertile eggs because that’s out of my hands, but the ones that died in the shell are the ones that I kept trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. I was super excited hoping out of 32 eggs, I’d get at least a 40-50% hatch rate, not 1 possibly 2 love chicks. It’s definitely a bummer. I kept one plug in closest to the fan the whole time, but never had the other one in, and now that I have them in lockdown, I took both plugs out. I was told at lockdown to put both plugs in, so I’m not sure which way is correct.

 

[Incubating4life]

That’s sad. Next time get a trusted thermometer and when candling only take out for about 8 seconds. Some incubator's are NOT TO BE TRUSTED. Personally, diy incubators are my favourite. You don’t know if’s store bought incubators are reliable or not, and they’re usually overly expensive. But if a person you know (online reviews aren’t always reliable) recommends one, go for it!

 

[Wimomof2]

I had the same problem. Started with 45, then down to 31 fertile. At day 19, I was down to 20. All were moving. Great air cells. I was going to lock down at day 25 and one hatched. Then another, but she didn't come our of the egg, so on day 28 (yesterday) I helped. I waited to long, she has splayed leg really bad. I have splinted it, but I don't think she is going to make it. I candled some of the eggs today since there haven't been any more pips and there is no movement in any. I opened one, and it is fully developed, just didn't pip. It was dead. I will give it another day or two to see what happens. But I have one guinea so far. Not a good first time incubating. And I was so excited. I don't know what I did wrong either. Probably humidity? temp? I don't know. It is sad. Especially with kids. Good luck to you.

 

[CattleRancher]

Thank you. I ended up the same, out of all of them, I had one that was still alive and growing, but then after 28 days no action, checked it and it was no longer alive, so I waited a few more days the cracked it open and it was fully formed, but did not Pip at all. I’ve got more eggs to try hatching, but I just don’t know what else to try to have better luck. I have 3 thermometers: the built in one in which apparently is not accurate, a hygrometer/thermometer I ordered and a little giant mercury thermometer. Other than that, not sure what else to try. Or if I just need to get rid of the LG incubator and use something else.