So TOTALY frustrated!!!!!!!!

[pawtraitart]

I suggest getting a fan kit before starting new eggs. It's soooooooo much easier to keep the conditions stable than still air, at least for me.

 

[Arielle]

Sorry this hatch did n't go well. WIth more knowledge you will have better hatches. I keep a log book of info: when I turned the eggs, temperatures in the incubator and the room, humidity even though I dry incubate. Special notes. Temps really need to be as stable as possible. I can use jars of sealed water in my LG. I pick the most temperature stable room in the house. WHen the weather changes, I check the LG more often for fluctuations. I set fish tank thermometers in a number of locations: top of eggs, bottom of eggs and a couple at midegg height. I turn 3-4 times a day. If your eggs are shipped eggs, they need a different protocol for handling. Like let them sit still in turner for a week before turning on the turner.

I collected a number of websites that I found useful. It's a lot to read. Try the two trouble shooter guides and you will see how important the temp is. I hope you will try again. It is frustrating and anger provoking. But when you get it right it is thrilling.


BackYardChickens Forum / Links to university info on incubating and hatching eggs

 

[spatulagirl]

I am sorry! I totally feel your pain. I just did my first hatch and only got 2 Silkies out of 24 original eggs. By lockdown day I thought 10 of them were viable. I was hoping for closer to that ten.

 

[silkiechicken]

Don't worry about the beak deformity. They happen more often than you'd think. Just a developmental issue. I've had missing eyes, missing beaks, exposed brains.... it happens.

Just try it again and see if you can keep track of temps. With multiple dead ones at varying stages, perhaps there are hot/cool spots in the bator? A fan would help.

As for classroom hatches. I've participated in a number of them. Many don't end well, especially if the school shuts heat off during nights/weekends... so if you do it, have back up chicks.

 

[PAchickenlover]

Well I did the classroom incubation. We got to day 20 and realized that the incubator had malfunctioned. The temp spiked to 112 then the bator shut down. I called the store where I bought the bator and they gave me a new one. But now the kids in the class are devistated, we had 25 eggs in it, ALL DEAD!

This was just last week. I have not yet had the nerve to try to set eggs again. Even in the new bator. The kids in the class do not want me to bring the bator back in. I can understand, They were soooo excited to be hatching chicks and then they all were gone........ I may try it again here at home.... Just need to figure this thing out. Thanks for all of the support, tips and encouragement.

Mollie

 

[silkiechicken]

Don't be discouraged. Sounds like the wafer went bad. It happens, especially in clasroom hatches. Just have chicks on the side lined up for slip in replacements. Put 12 in the one at school, and 12 in one at home or at someone's place who does have a reliable bator. Then if the class hatch fails, you can bring in the others. Just note that just because you can get the bator to work very well at your home, it does not always mean it will work the same at school. If temps swing at school, it can be much much harder for the bator to maintain temp. Not to mention the many more variables there are when in a classroom. \

Good luck!

 

[PAchickenlover]

I have my bator on right now. I decided to take a few eggs away from my one duck hen that has been dillagently setting on for the last month. I wanted to have a few hatch here in the house because I know we can make them more social. I also had a Show Girl that was sitting on three eggs, unfortunatly today I went up to my coop and found only two eggs, one of which had dried yolk on it. So i decided to bring the last two eggs in (im hoping they are still good, the one was cold). I'm not giving up on trying to figure this bator out... I am going to figure it out eventually... My ducklings are only days away from hatching so I think the risk is lower of something going wrong, plus it is here at home now and I will be checking it regularly.....for sure!!! LOL
Thanks every one. I'll let you know as soon as this happens...

HEHEHEEE

 

[PAchickenlover]

Ducklings hatched!!! YAY I am so happy!! Would post a pic but my phone is out of order right now soo, as soon as I can I will post pics of them.

 

[PAchickenlover]

We ended up with 12 ducklings. Here are some more pics of them. they are for sale.