Incubator question

[My peeps]

This is my second time incubating chicken eggs. I'm using our homemade incubator. Last time we only had 4 chicks hatch, one had to be put down bc his intestines were out I've been researching to see what I can do better in hopes that I will have better results. I swear everything I read is slightly different from the last. I'm using mail ordered eggs. I let them sit for 24 hrs, fat side up. My incubator is set at 99.5 degrees and 50% humidity. Some sites say anywhere from 25-50% humidity on days 1-18. Last time I increased humidity to 65% for the last 3 days but I just read on another site humidity should be 70-80% for the last 3 days. Any advice? I wish my broody didn't abandon her eggs......it would be so much easier for her to sit on them!!

 

[Alex Coffey]

I have my incubator setting on 100.0 F which it's a circulated air incubator. Is yours still air or circulated? If its still air you need to planet the temperature at 101.5 F on top of the eggs so the temperature of the internally is 99.5 F. Humidity I run 40-45% days 1-18 last three day I run normally 50-65% depend on the species of birds I'm hatching. Hope this helps!!