Newbie here!

[Hens Solo]

Just sittin' here in my chick maternity ward. Day 21 is almost gone. Is there any hope? What about all these people that have 95% hatches. What am I doing wrong? Honestly 5 or 6 chicks out of the 10 barnyard eggs would be fine. I haven't cracked 'bator and raised humidity to 60%. Will post pictures if any of the little boogers hatch!

 

[ValerieJ]

Just sittin' here in my chick maternity ward. Day 21 is almost gone. Is there any hope? What about all these people that have 95% hatches. What am I doing wrong? Honestly 5 or 6 chicks out of the 10 barnyard eggs would be fine. I haven't cracked 'bator and raised humidity to 60%. Will post pictures if any of the little boogers hatch!

I bought hatching eggs and lost most of them because the shipping was so slow and probably too rough. In fact, I only ended up with one that hatched. I had to go buy a few chicks to help him hatch and to be brooder mates. It's just how it goes sometimes. It was my first attempt, but I figure if he could hatch, then it wasn't the incubator. Most of the eggs never developed at all, others quit in the first 2 weeks. So, don't feel bad. You're doing great. It's up to the chicks now.

 

[Hens Solo]

Had to throw out one egg. It was putrid and ready to explode. immature embryo. Are the rest of my eggs contaminated? In an effort to get humidity over 60% I filled all the channels in the incubator. Some moisture seen on bottem of eggs. Will this kill hatchlings?

 

[ValerieJ]

I don't think so. Just keep doing what you are doing.

 

[Hens Solo]

Day 22 -Apparently the chicken egg executioner has struck again! no pips, no nothing!

 

[rjohns39]

can you candle and take pictures for us?

 

[Hens Solo]

can you candle and take pictures for us?

will do after day 25

 

[Hens Solo]

They say if you keep doing the same thing with no results, you might be insane. If I get nil out of this hatch, I'm going to raise the temp .5 degree(100), use my cabinet incubator, get better eggs, get a better reference thermometer. One thing that gives me little hope is that the eggs seem to be in a different position everytime I check through the plastic. Could be my imagination.

 

[Hens Solo]

They say if you keep doing the same thing with no results, you might be insane. If I get nil out of this hatch, I'm going to raise the temp .5 degree(100), use my cabinet incubator, get better eggs, get a better reference thermometer. One thing that gives me little hope is that the eggs seem to be in a different position everytime I check through the plastic. Could be my imagination.

I've got 3 thermometers working in cheap chinese incubator. Machine says 100 degrees-cheap dollar general thermometer says 96 degrees- digital hygrometer says 91 degrees. Could be the source of my problems. Which one do I trust?

 

[Hens Solo]

Day 25 report. It appears all eggs are dead. I lost the entire hatch of barnyard eggs. Thankfully I had just $6 invested. I'm trying to logically figure out why I cannot get hatching success. I've struggled to maintain heat and humidity, so I don't think that is the problem. The eggs were fertile. Most embryos died between day 7 and 10. I saw some movement on day 10. Some of the eggs had dirt on them maybe leading to bacterial infection. The eggs came from a laying farm where laying mash was used for all chickens. I intend to sanitize incubator better, regulate temperature a little higher, try "dry" hatching and use my cabinet incubator next. Thank you for anyone reading this or posting advice. This new obsessive hobby has got me stymied. It's not about the money, it's about seeing new life develop from these previously inert eggs.