Please tell me what I am doing wrong-hatch rate stinks!!

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Karen do yourself a favor and don't increase it too much for the ducks. I used to, because that was what I learned. This last time, I kept it 55% for lockdown and they all hatched.

I have it about 48 now, was planning on about 55 or so for hatch. Nancy told me no real need to raise it a bunch.

I recently was able to hatch my first silkies ever. So many times I tried to no avail. I lowered the humidity and they hatched. 40% at lockdown. I am a fan of lower humidity.

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

I was told shipped eggs need to rest before going into the incubator to recover from shipping. That might help the initial number of eggs developing.
That said, I feel your pain. I got one chick out of 32 eggs and HE wasn't even the color he was supposed to be.

 

[fatbassetvineyards]

I am trying lower humidity this time. I added no water and it is at 37%. I let my shipped eggs rest 18 hours, then I did not start my turner until day 48 hours after I started. I put some of my own eggs in just as a constant. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[IroquoisEgg]

Thanks guys! Yeah, I let the eggs settle for 24 hours before setting, and no I haven't calibrated temp or hygro yet! So, that may be the issue...I just ordered the Caliber III from Amazon because I read alot great reviews about it-some bad ones too-but I am going to give it a shot. This far, I have been using Wal-Mart specials.

OKay-so this hatch I am going to keep the humidity lower and use the Genesis as it is preset for temp. So, 50% for lockdown, right? How much for the 1st 18 days...40%? I would love to try non-shipped eggs but, the breeds I want are hard to come by locally-but MediaZeal is local and I know she has some Barnevelders, Orps and Ameraucanas among others so I could possibly try some of those. OKay so will update this thread after hatch and let ya'll know!! Wish me luck!

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
My bator on days 1-18 sits at anywhere from 10-30%. I do just fine with that too. Lockdown has been an issue with me, until I started lowering the humidity. Just what works for me.

 

[brahmapapa]

I think your humidity is running too high, what do the air sacks look like when you candle before lockdown. are you familiar with the weighing of the eggs and checking weight to see if they are losing the correct percentage. i run dry till day 18 on chicken eggs. then go to 65-70 percent. If you run dry for the first 18 days you can afford for humidity to be high in lockdown and not be damaging. Are the eggs particularly large, or do they have proportionately large yolks, either of those things can be a problem also. I use several combination thermostat/humidity gages that i buy at WallyWorld. they work fine and generally are very close in temp readings as well as humidity. They are not expensive either. GOOD LUCK HATCHING

 

[CCourson05]

Quote:
My bator on days 1-18 sits at anywhere from 10-30%. I do just fine with that too. Lockdown has been an issue with me, until I started lowering the humidity. Just what works for me.

I just leave the humidity alone for the first 18 days too. Then, day 18, I add water. Personally, I don't ever check my hygrometer much until chicks start hatching, so I know when it's too low due to me opening it.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
My bator on days 1-18 sits at anywhere from 10-30%. I do just fine with that too. Lockdown has been an issue with me, until I started lowering the humidity. Just what works for me.

I just leave the humidity alone for the first 18 days too. Then, day 18, I add water. Personally, I don't ever check my hygrometer much until chicks start hatching, so I know when it's too low due to me opening it.

Me too and it works out best for me.