Incubating Troubleshoot Help

[MissTracy]

Hello fellow chicken people

I have had chickens and guineas of all different breeds for over a year now, and recently started trying to hatch some yard mix birds with a small 7 egg incubator. (Just chickens)

My first hatch, 6 of 7 eggs were viable at 15 days before my incubator shorted out.
I tried to return it but was given a refund and told to tweak it and try it again. I checked to see that it would hold temperature, and I tried it again. 5 eggs: 1 not fertilized, 1 red ring at 6 days, 3 viable. Of the 3, one was much smaller almost bantam, so I kept turning and went into lockdown at day16-17. Day 23 the littlest one hatched and died four hours later. Other two water tested day 24 and full eggs with blood under the air sac no movement.

What am I doing wrong? All of my chickens are under 3 years old and healthy Turn 3x a day, keep water in tray, 38c until lockdown at 37.5c .... thanks for any help!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

The first question when trying to troubleshoot incubator issues is always, do you have an additional calibrated thermometer and hygrometer other than the ones on the incubator itself? The primary things to go wrong are usually those two. With that said I think it's unusual that one hatched successfully and then passed away a few hours later, making me wonder if you may actually have a genetic issue. Have you only tried hatching chicks from the one flock?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Also what brand of incubator are you using? A picture would be helpful if you're unsure. Some of the Chinese make incubators are extremely unreliable.

 

[007Sean]

Sorry your having such poor results in hatching eggs.
As @CluckNDoodle , mentioned, get several thermometers and hygrometers and calibrate them. The cheap foam and Chinese makes of incubators electronics are notoriously unreliable.
Also, don't perform a 'float test', it doesn't tell you much and can do harm to the embryos. Besides washing the 'bloom' off the egg, it can absorb moisture in the air cell. When the chick internally pips, it can drown if enough moisture has been brought into the egg.
The fact that the one hatched on day 23, is an indication that the temp was a little on the low side. The ones with 'blood rings' would indicate rough handling or a bacterial infection.

Make sure the bator has been cleaned and sterilized as best you can, set up the bator and do dry runs, experimenting with your settings until you fully understand how the adjustments made affect the bator.
Good luck with your next hatch. HTH

 

[MissTracy]

Thank you so much. I do not have a nice incubator, it’s probably definitely Chinese. It’s one of the yellow dome ones I got on Amazon. I wanted to see if I could hatch before I bought a bigger one for my silkies, Cochins and guineas to hatch out in the Spring. I feel pretty crappy about it, because I love these birds so much.
Some of my chickens are adopted from people who couldn’t take care of them anymore. The one that hatched and died is one of those, believe it is a Colombian Wyandotte but not sure. They are lots of different breeds with a Buff Orp rooster (have buff orp hens but don’t think any of the eggs were theirs).

They have a varied diet, lots of space, a clean home and 3+ hours of free range time every afternoon.

 

[MissTracy]

Thanks, 007Sean.
It is plastic and seemed to be reading the temp well, it would change 0.1 degree occasionally when the a/c turned on or something. Do you have a recommendation for a small-ish incubator? 20-30 eggs? Also therm/hygrometers?

 

[007Sean]

Thanks, 007Sean.
It is plastic and seemed to be reading the temp well, it would change 0.1 degree occasionally when the a/c turned on or something. Do you have a recommendation for a small-ish incubator? 20-30 eggs? Also therm/hygrometers?

Either, the Harris Farms Pro Model 4250 or the Nature Rite 360 incubators are fairly good for the price. They are fairly reliable for 'holding' the temp and humidity but as previously stated, you'll need to set them up and experiment with them to get the optimum results from the bator. Make your corrections based on your independent calibrated thermometer and hygrometer.

I use antique mercury thermometers (Taylor and SureHatch) and the Accurite humidity monitors.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thanks, 007Sean.
It is plastic and seemed to be reading the temp well, it would change 0.1 degree occasionally when the a/c turned on or something. Do you have a recommendation for a small-ish incubator? 20-30 eggs? Also therm/hygrometers?

I've been experimenting with different tabletop models of incubators all year and the Nurture Right 360 is still my favorite by far. I was also happy with the IncuView.

Farm Innovators was ok but I didn't love it. A lot of people recommend Hovabators but I personally have mixed feelings about it. They work well but in my opinion, it's not as beginner-friendly because my friend that is an experienced hatcher had terribly failed hatches in the Hovabator 1602N (she then gave it to me) and it wasn't until I started asking other members here at BYC to walk me through adjusting it that I was able to get it satisfactory.

I would stay away from Little Giants, though I didn't have too much trouble with mine I intentionally got an older model with a hand dial because the new digital ones are known for going bad, even with the old one I only use it as a backup incubator.

I hope your future hatches go more smoothly!

 

[MissTracy]

I've been experimenting with different tabletop models of incubators all year and the Nurture Right 360 is still my favorite by far. I was also happy with the IncuView.

Farm Innovators was ok but I didn't love it. A lot of people recommend Hovabators but I personally have mixed feelings about it. They work well but in my opinion, it's not as beginner-friendly because my friend that is an experienced hatcher had terribly failed hatches in the Hovabator 1602N (she then gave it to me) and it wasn't until I started asking other members here at BYC to walk me through adjusting it that I was able to get it satisfactory.

I would stay away from Little Giants, though I didn't have too much trouble with mine I intentionally got an older model with a hand dial because the new digital ones are known for going bad, even with the old one I only use it as a backup incubator.

I hope your future hatches go more smoothly!

Hello! I got a Nurture Right 360 for Christmas, waited for the Spring to spring, and I just hatched 13 out of 15 fertilized eggs! I am so happy and thankful for your help! Four black bantam cochins, four buff orps, and five adorable yard mixes
Thank you!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Hello! I got a Nurture Right 360 for Christmas, waited for the Spring to spring, and I just hatched 13 out of 15 fertilized eggs! I am so happy and thankful for your help! Four black bantam cochins, four buff orps, and five adorable yard mixes
Thank you!

Yay!! I'm so glad you had a great experience! Congrats on your hatch!