My first hatch didn't go so well...

[Serendipity]

Buster, So sorry to hear about your loss!

But, it will go better the next time... and the next time... and soon you will be the incubation expert that everyone consults!

I have had horrid hatches for no apparent reason - and then wahooo!!! I have a great hatch that really should not have turned out at all.

Just remember - God invented the chicken to do this because it is not an easy thing to replicate. It is a learning process and as with all experiences there is a sharp learning curve. Just clean out that incubator and start all over again!

I just buried about 100 undeveloped eggs yesterday. Sad day. But I just got out my bottle of Dawn and cleaned those incubators out - and started all over again.

I have found that I have better hatch results with my newer Genesis 1588 incubator. The still air incubators do not really work well at all - the temps can fluctuate for no apparent reason. I do have a turbofan incubator - and that has also worked very well. I think that the turbofan or fan unit makes a huge difference in distributing the air and humidity equally.

Best of Luck on your next hatch! Keep us posted!

 

[Serendipity]

I am so yacky today! One more thing Buster... Just think... you opened the eggs and they were perfectly developed - just hadn't pipped... That alone says that you did most everything right. Now you can narrow your problem down to the last few days hopefully. Getting that far is an accomplishment in its own right!

And you really must walk over from the dark side and take a look at Shelties!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I just had a problem similar to yours and discovered my thermometer was off. Here is a way of testing them that was past on to me:
To check thermometer accuracy:
Eggseronious wrote: Get a quart of ice and crush it or use a blender make an ice water mix put the thermometer down in about 2 inches and sit for 4-5 minutes should read 32* degrees make sure its a thick slush of ice water.

If you think it is the hygrometer here is a way to test it:
Calabrating hydrometer-from Speckledhen.

1. You can calibrate a hydrometer by mixing in a bowl 1/2 cup of salt in 1/4 cup water. Actually a couple TBSP of salt moistened with water is enough.
2.Place bowl inside a zip lock baggie with your hydrometer. After at least 8 hours, your hygrometer should read 75%.
3. If it says, for example 80% you know that it is reading 5% to high and then you can make adjustments in your readings