Setting some eggs 5-13-15. Looking for some folks to hatch a long with me.

[matlock585]

The sense of community on this thread is outstanding! A very great collection of people to hear from for sure.

 

[NTBugtraq]

@NTBugtraq - Incubation is just not the same as Mother Nature. It is in no way natural to make life from a light bulb, but, having said that, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I put together my little home made bator in a small gas station cooler and hatched 4/5 even with 10-15 degree temp swings, remade it into my current incubator which holds 3 dozen easily and I've set more by "stacking" them. I've had great hatches and I've had crappy hatches. Point is, you'll find what works for you and get it dialed in. As far as taking the hatched chicks out, I usually leave mine in there until I see no pips anywhere, then I scoop them out quickly and put some water in there to raise the humidity back up. Most of the time I scoop out my dry chicks really quick and drop a tablespoon of water in the bottom of the bator and the humidity rebounds almost instantly. I never keep my humidity too high. I don't use any water until day 18, then I raise to 50% at lockdown. It spikes and gets to around 70% when everybody starts hatching, then lowers back down after their done for a minute. I also drop my thermostat so that the temp falls to 97 degrees for lockdown. The high heat and humidity are just a deadly combo. I also usually put a dish of food and water in there for the chicks just in case I do have to leave them in for a bit. Over this last hatch I had the babies in the bator without food or water for about 2 days, and they were glad to see it when I took them out.
Also, the thunderstorms will definitely ruin a hatch, but not usually hatched out chicks to my knowledge. We had very severe thunderstorms during this hatch and I had 6 eggs that looked perfect at lockdown not do anything. I blame the storm. I'm not an egg opener though, so I can't tell you for sure what stage of development they were in, I can tell you they looked perfect at lockdown.
Anyway, the point is, what we do is not natural by any means, and "success" can be measured in only one chick out of a hundred. You hatched all those chicks before, so I undoubtedly believe you'll hatch plenty more. Don't get discouraged and don't feel like you killed a Nobel Peace Prize winner. You lost some chicks and you can make more.

Thanks for that Matlock585, I set another 41 yesterday, so I am not deterred...;-]