Sad :'(

[silkiechick05]

I had 41 eggs in the bator. Half of those were not fertile or died in the hatching process.

I now have 20 eggs in the bator. Some of which are debatable.

This is my first hatch and I am not doing well at all!

 

[rancher hicks]

Have you done your research on incubating eggs? Did you follow the instructions for your specific incubator?

 

[silkiechick05]

Yes, I have a Hovabator Genesis. I bought it used and sanitized it when it arrived. The humidity is about 45% and temp at about 99.7˚F

There is an automatic turner also.

I don't know what could be going wrong...

 

[debilorrah]

My dear this is the "Getting to know you bator" stage. Incubating depends alot on how much attention you give it, the climate where you are, the way the bator performs, etc. My first three hatches were COMPLETE failures. Do not give up!!! Take notes about temp and humidity, calibrate the hygrometer....

 

[MissD'uccle]

Were the eggs shipped? Shipped eggs usually do not have a stellar hatch rate to begin with.

Also you do have to learn your 'bator. Mine came with instructions for 45-55% humidity before lockdown but I have found that 55-65% humidity gives me much better hatch rates (from 1 egg hatching the first time to only 2 NOT hatching the second time!

You'll get it, don't give up

 

[Elite Silkies]

What kind of eggs are you incubating?

 

[lillypug]

I agree- if they are shipped you can expect a low hatch rate. I know it is saddening, but the trauma of shipping really affects the eggs. I won't even begin to tell what an obscene amount of $$$$ I've spent this year with just a few chicks to show that I have hatched myself. Depressing, I know, but keep your chin up!

 

[Lotsapaints]

I've just had 3 sets of eggs that if I hadn't hatched before I'd think I was a complete failure. First set was rock/cornish cross one egg was cracked in shipment one egg was porous and only 2 developed for a while none hatched. Next was a postal egg soup and the seller did have them packaged well but when the box is crushed it is not a good sign from 18 eggs I have 5 that are still good who knows how many will make it. Then I have some more White Rocks I might have 6 that will make it from 12. So don't feel like it's just you. I did just have a great hatch from 14 good eggs I had 11 hatch and these were shipped eggs too. If you could get some local eggs from somebody who cares for their chickens good enough to raise chicks because they must be fed properly with all the vitamins and minerals in order to hatch too you could try again. How are your temps and humidity? If those are good it could just be the eggs were not the best and there are many reasons why eggs can be not good enough to hatch. I always figure if I get 50% I'm doing great and with all the eggs I have going maybe it's a good thing they don't all hatch because I would have to quit incubating

Don't feel like a failure you can't learn if you don't make mistakes. We all had to crawl before we could walk

 

[rancher hicks]

I have a Genesis too. My first hatch I watched it, Temp fluctuated but since the instructions said to trust it I left that alone. The humidity I went by the advice in PP mag and kept it near 35% until day 16. Then elevated it to 55% and then on day 18, 65%. Out of 32 eggs, of which 26 were shipped I got 6 EE's not shipped and 7 of the 26 shipped eggs. Since the eggs were shipped I thought that was good. They were packaged excellently.

Someone mentioned a cracked egg? I recently had one that I thought had a small crack? I took a white candle and rubbed it along the crack. Not sure which it was but it hatched and I now have a cute EE chick.

If you have a fax on your printer I can send you a copy of the information from the PP mag.

So the next hatch? Out of 23 eggs. Dels, CM and bantam friz. I got 20 live hatches. One of each breed failed to hatch. The hatch started 2 days early and lasted 4 days. Temp fluctuated from 98.7 to 100.0. Humidity went down into the 20's up into the 40's but for the last lockdown days I monitored it to the 65%.

So what's my point? There is a lot of advice on this forum but you have to find what works for you. If I fax you the article tried to follow all the advice as best you can. But for shipped eggs if you get 25%? Consider that good. Honestly I think folks are messing with the incu, opening and closing it. Candleing to much. Not monitoring the temps and humidity ever time they open the darn thing. Candleing once should be enough and never open it to add water.

All the best
Rancher (pm your fax number and I'll try to send the article)

 

[silkiechick05]

They are my own eggs and a fellow's who works at my Dad's office. So I know they were properly taken care of. It's just most of them weren't even fertile. The temp WAS good until today where it wants to be at 98.7.

I have to find a way to bring that up