Second time hatching, first time didn't go very well, any advice is welcome!

[Allthefloofs]

A couple years ago we tried hatching eggs from a hatchery that were shipped in. We received 6 eggs, two were broken upon arrival and so 4 went into the incubator. We did basic reading but I in hindsight I should have just signed up here and started asking everyone for advice and started reading threads. We only got one chick out of that hatch out of 4 eggs, most of the eggs stopped developing. Fast fwd to now and I ordered some Tolbunt Polish eggs and would really like to get a better hatch rate. While I completely understand there are going to be variables out of my control I would like to try to get the ones I can manage in line. I have looked at a lot of the info here so I have done a lot of reading lately but I was wondering if people can chime in on their best practices. I'm really nervous and really excited all at once, but if I can help it I would like more than one or two chicks and I'm not sure if I was the problem last time. I can't find my incubator records from the last hatch so I can't tell you what I did unfortunately, I looked all over for the records. I also wasn't solely responsible for the checking on things/finding info, and this time I will be.
We have a Janoel 12 incubator, which I know isn't the best, but it is too late to get a new one to test so I am going to have to fly with this one as best I can.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Multiple thermometers, test the incubator empty for a few days prior to setting the eggs...room free from drafts/temperature changes... ummm, follow basic knowledge on incubating the eggs (turning, temperature, humidity is a variable depending on who you talk to)...

 

[Xouie]

Well you’ve got the most important skill down already— asking questions! Hang out in the forum, read questions, and do searches. Sometimes we discover there are things we didn’t know we didn’t know.

And think about what Ruby Rogue says about running empty for a few days. That will give you a heads-up about any irregularities and quirks in the incubator.

 

[lu bantam chickens]

Hi while I am looking at getting an incubator - this one or another found this video on Youtube really good info, let us know when you start the eggs and how things are going

 

[Allthefloofs]

Hi while I am looking at getting an incubator - this one or another found this video on Youtube really good info, let us know when you start the eggs and how things are going

Thank you, I have watched a few of these, but I haven't seen this one! I appreciate the link

 

[aart]

The most important thing with incubating is making sure your thermometers and hygrometers are accurate. Compare your therms to a human medical therm.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Or buy one of these and never look back.
https://www.thermoworks.com/RT301WA

 

[Allthefloofs]

The most important thing with incubating is making sure your thermometers and hygrometers are accurate. Compare your therms to a human medical therm.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Or buy one of these and never look back.
https://www.thermoworks.com/RT301WA

Thank you so much for the links. I will read them tonight. Eggs are in the mail as of today

 

[mcdze]

the mail eggs are your biggest variable, eggs from your own birds are going to give a much higher hatch rate ... those little auto incubators are pretty much set it and forget it but you do need to verify temps .. i assume it sets up the same as mine and theres a high and low range temp setting which will affect the actual range you can adjust the temp on a normal basis with .. i assume this is to prevent someone from just inadvertantly changing the temp out of the safe range, without going through the process of setting the limits ... but it needs to be verified with another gauge .. and things are going to change along the way depending on ambient, egg development, and how much water is in the unit and how spread out that water is .. so you got to keep an eye on it .. mine tried to go both higher and lower than i wanted at points so i was regularly adjusting it up or down a degree or so .. last little point is, if it vents on the bottom, set it on something thats not affected by water, the humidity coming out of it can damage say a wood end table, yeah i got a spot on mine now lol ...and at hatch time the last issue is its crowded and the eggs can roll around if you dont put something under and around them to keep them steady .. a little chick bouncing around on rolly poley eggs that are pipping isnt a good scenario imo, plus with the forced air i think it gets them cold .. my strategy was i just grabbed them out with the spent shell as they were hatching and put them under the light in the brooder .. so lockdown .. what lockdown lol .. i think it was the best move in that case imo ..