Struggling with success and need tips/advice

[Poetastic]

Hello everyone! I've been hatching chicks for many years, however, my last two attempts have gone badly. I have followed all of the temperature and humidity specifications, but with terrible results. In past hatches, most of the chicks/ducklings didn't hatch, and the ones that did start hatching would not be able to break free without my help. That being said, I have some leghorn eggs I've been gathering for the last few days that I'm planning on hatching. I really want this hatch to be successful, because I am planning on showing some of them. What can I do to increase my chances of a successful hatch? How come in the past many didn't hatch and I had to help most of them? What is the best temperature and humidity level I can use? Sorry about all the questions, I just really want my babies to hatch and be healthy! All tips, advice, and comments are welcome! Thanks!

 

[aliciaplus3]

I am still a novice myself as I have only been incubating a little over a year.... I have seen my own success increase over that time.
I guess its best to start with a few questions??
what type of incubator?? ie still air or forced air
do you have an extra thermometer/hygrometer inside to double check the numbers?
is it a calibrated thermometer/hygrometer?
have you talked to others in your area to find out what humidity is working well for them?
My biggest failures happened when I failed to take into account that I live at a different elevation than a lot of the folks that I was taking advice from. I tried the dry hatching method and failed badly, but I am at 6000 feet above sea level and in a very dry climate.

My basic understanding is that a still air incubator needs to be run at 101ish and move the eggs around as you may have hot and cool spots.
I run my forced air incubator at 99.5 and use an auto turner.
I have seen some folks state that they have better luck turning by hand 3-5 times per day.... I work away from home, and I am forgetful and sometimes just lazy so I prefer the turner.

 

[Poetastic]

I am still a novice myself as I have only been incubating a little over a year.... I have seen my own success increase over that time.
I guess its best to start with a few questions??
what type of incubator?? ie still air or forced air
do you have an extra thermometer/hygrometer inside to double check the numbers?
is it a calibrated thermometer/hygrometer?
have you talked to others in your area to find out what humidity is working well for them?
My biggest failures happened when I failed to take into account that I live at a different elevation than a lot of the folks that I was taking advice from. I tried the dry hatching method and failed badly, but I am at 6000 feet above sea level and in a very dry climate.

My basic understanding is that a still air incubator needs to be run at 101ish and move the eggs around as you may have hot and cool spots.
I run my forced air incubator at 99.5 and use an auto turner.
I have seen some folks state that they have better luck turning by hand 3-5 times per day.... I work away from home, and I am forgetful and sometimes just lazy so I prefer the turner.

Thank you for all the information! It's a forced air incubator. It's a Hovabator Genesis and has a digital thermometer. I don't have any other thermometers inside besides from the one built in. Sadly, no other people in my area hatch, so I can't get their advice. I too use a turner because I might forget to turn them myself lol. Thanks for your input!

 

[aliciaplus3]

I personally have 2 bators, one brinsea that is rock solid and one cheap one that needs constant attention when I use it..... get another thermometer/hygrometer and check those numbers, I run my bators at 35-40% depending on how big the air cells are.

 

[Poetastic]

I personally have 2 bators, one brinsea that is rock solid and one cheap one that needs constant attention when I use it..... get another thermometer/hygrometer and check those numbers, I run my bators at 35-40% depending on how big the air cells are.

Will do, thanks for the advice!

 

[h2oratt]

Have you read the instructions from sally sunshine on her thread? She goes over everything. You must calibrate your thermometer.

 

[Poetastic]

Have you read the instructions from sally sunshine on her thread? She goes over everything. You must calibrate your thermometer.

I have not, so I will check that out! Thanks!

 

[aliciaplus3]

just be careful hatching is an addiction! lol

 

[Poetastic]

just be careful hatching is an addiction! lol

It is!!

 

[aliciaplus3]

next thing you know you will have 24 2 week olds in the house and 22 7 week olds outside under a brooder and 18 that are 3 months old in another grow out pen. not to count the 20 that are just starting to lay and the 50ish that are between one and four years old..... and talking about adding more pens.... and hatching both ducks and turkeys starting soon.... did I mention the 28 chicken, 9 duck and 3 turkey eggs in the bator due feb 28th???? ok maybe I should find a group............ or a different group that can help me with the subtraction instead of enabling me to set more?????