Is hatching to low

[DK]

I had 42 eggs in the bator and 25 hatch out 1 died in the shell that a little over 50%. Is that about the average number that hatches out ? That about all I ever get to hatch out when I put eggs in the bator.I dont have one of the fancy bator my is a hova-bator 1582 with a fan and a egg turner that i set up in the basement could it just be to cold down there it stay about 60 all the time but the temperature run about 98.7 up to 100.4 when I check the bator. I do A form of the dry incubation I let the water dry out then put more back day 18 move the eggs off the turner fill up the water tray and shut the lid till day 22 is all that about right DK

 

[Intheswamp]

Were those eggs you had collected from your chickens or were they shipped to you from somewhere else? For shipped eggs 50% hatch is good....for your own eggs that would be a bit on the low side from what I understand.

Did you determine if the eggs that didn't hatch ever developed or were they simply clear? Fertility issues?

Ed

 

[DK]

There not shipped eggs there from my chicken. I will candle them and see if the roosters are laying down on the job . DK

 

[Intheswamp]

Well, if the hatch is over with and sufficient time has elapsed that the stragglers should have hatched then you might crack the unhatched eggs and examine the state of development. Did some stop early on? Mid-term? Late-term?

You could also check fertility by randomly cracking some fresh eggs and looking for the "bullseye" or lack of it. After checking for the bullseye the eggs can then go on into the frying pan, bowl for scrambling, cooking, cakes, cookies, et.,.

50% on your own eggs is rather low. I would think that it should at least be up in the 70-75% range.

Ed

 

[bigstack]

I hatched out 52 of 62, all came in the mail. 4 got lost in the mail and it took them 10 days to get here. they all 4 stopped developing on aroung day 4-7. So I don't count them. LOL I did a staggerd hatch. 6 different seting dates. I know this is a great hatch! First timer too! I'm not bragging I just think that its beginners luck. This was my first time hatching. I started out with an LG ( HATE It!!!) Then I got a used sportsman for $200 More than I wanted to spend being a beginner and all. But it was well worth the money in the end. Hatch rate sounds a lil low to me. May try more hydration. temp sounds great.

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[DK]

I will crack them open and look it been 2 day after the hatching day . The chick are bantam cochins and frizzle and silkies mix together do thay have a lower hatch rate than bigger chicken ? and thank for the help DK

 

[bigstack]

Personally, I kept the humidity around 28-40% till day 18. Then tryed to get it as high as possible! Lock down was 70-80%. Once they began popping I opend the vents and just let them use the humidity they got from the eggs. It stayed around 65%. I had some straglers that took 25 days to hatch. All are doing great now! They move out to the coop the weekend of easter if it freezes by then. I want to wait until the next freeze befor I move them out. Unless its later than the 10th. LOL They gotta go soon. They are getting so BIG! Plus DW wants her exercise room back Hahahaha

Good Luck and God Bless!