We are using our Brower Top Hatch. We are brand new to incubating. We had some issues, questions, etc. Myabe some of you more experienced can help us. Please!
1. We seem to have trouble keeping steady temp. Ran it for 2 days with no eggs to test & was steady but after about the 1st week we've really had trouble. It's been 95 to 105 and we can't seem to fix it.
2. we didn't know about the "lock down" and put in eggs at 3 diff hatch dates. 1st set we hatched 1 out of 3. 2nd set we got 6 of 8. 3rd set is still in and due next weekend. The ones that did not hatch I opened and they were fully formed with feathers & looked perfect but never pip'd and were dead. The ones that did hatch are doing great, eating and very lively. We did not help the hatch at all. So why did the fully formed dead ones never pip? We did turn the auto turn off and only opened real quick to turn the ones that were not due yet 2 xs daily. I know that's not the right thing & won't do that next time.
FYI, the 1st 2 hatches were from our mixed layer flock. Including RIR, Leghorns, and some other hybrid production type. Roos are an americana and a bantam cochin. (only bantam left after the chicken massacre one night- racoons). Seems to be no diff in the hatch of diff breeds. I can tell by 3 diff egg color. And I know that one chick is from the bantam roo as it's got feather feet. And every single egg we attempted to incubate was fertile & grew to full size.
Suggestions?? Thanks!
Also, is there a way to pick your own password for sign on to this site? I can never 'member the weird one it give me.
1. We seem to have trouble keeping steady temp. Ran it for 2 days with no eggs to test & was steady but after about the 1st week we've really had trouble. It's been 95 to 105 and we can't seem to fix it.
2. we didn't know about the "lock down" and put in eggs at 3 diff hatch dates. 1st set we hatched 1 out of 3. 2nd set we got 6 of 8. 3rd set is still in and due next weekend. The ones that did not hatch I opened and they were fully formed with feathers & looked perfect but never pip'd and were dead. The ones that did hatch are doing great, eating and very lively. We did not help the hatch at all. So why did the fully formed dead ones never pip? We did turn the auto turn off and only opened real quick to turn the ones that were not due yet 2 xs daily. I know that's not the right thing & won't do that next time.
FYI, the 1st 2 hatches were from our mixed layer flock. Including RIR, Leghorns, and some other hybrid production type. Roos are an americana and a bantam cochin. (only bantam left after the chicken massacre one night- racoons). Seems to be no diff in the hatch of diff breeds. I can tell by 3 diff egg color. And I know that one chick is from the bantam roo as it's got feather feet. And every single egg we attempted to incubate was fertile & grew to full size.
Suggestions?? Thanks!
Also, is there a way to pick your own password for sign on to this site? I can never 'member the weird one it give me.
