terrible hatch rates!

[Jmiller429]

So when using the egg cartons for hatching, the eggs should be opposite what they come from a store? point down in bottom of carton?

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
I DUNNO ANY EGGS I EVER BOUGHT IN THE STORE CAME LG END UP... WHICH IS THE WAY YOU WOULD SET HATCHING EGGS AS WELL

 

[Jmiller429]

hmm. its been forever since ive actually bough eggs. maybe they do come that way ;p

 

[missred871]

eggs at the store .... hmmm.... I think they come little end up.... hmmm..... I dunno I too havent bought eggs in ages.... bwahaha.. I still have eggs comin out my ears. Well, I shall try that with my next bunch and see what happens, stick em in a carton

 

[Riffecreek]

Quote:
Use a thermostat and it doesn't matter what temperature fluctuations are in a room it will always keep the heat source you use with it within 1 degree like this....
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p143/ncchopperguy/SDC10910-1.jpg

X2 Wafer thermostats will fluctuate, but electronic thermostats should be the same no matter how big the temp swing on the out side is within reason.. I have the multi turn thermostats in the cabinet incubators, Set them to dead on 100deg and forget it. No matter if it's 65 deg or 85 deg in the house, they are dead on!

 

[casuarius]

A possiblity that alot of birds have but most dont know about it is Salmonella Pullorum. This usually doest affect adult birds, but it kills the chicks either during the developmental stage in the egg, or while it's hatching, sometimes not long after they hatch. A few chicks may survive, but they will only pass it on later. If your birds keep dying then I would send a egg shell off to a vet or lab to get it tested for pullorum. If they have it then the parents are worthless for breeding, and should be kept well away from any other birds, or put down since there is no cure.

 

[bluegoose]

if the room temps change the temp in the bator will change.many a egg has been cooked because of this.

 

[missred871]

Quote:
Thanks for the advice but I am aware of pullorum. None of my birds have it, it is seeming to be an incubation issue and I hope we get it cleared up. I have hatched out hundreds of quail and chickens and ducks but not pheasants, I am new to pheasant breeding, I think anytime you get into a new bird and breed you find issues at first LOL. But I am glad you mentioned pullprum so others may be able to solve any hatching issues in the future. Thanks!

 

[whiterooster]

Hi I have been hatching eggs for 10 years now. I'm using GQF sportsman incudators and hatchers. I keep them all at 99 degrees. I don't even worry about the humidity
because it is always humid next to Lake Michigan and I don't use the wicks they say to use. When the temperature goes over 90 degrees here in Michigan then I run into problems
because then my chicks come out early and some of them die after a week and some in the shell. I raise chickens,turkeys,quail,pheasants,guineas, and partridges. I also hatch peafowl
eggs, ducks, and geese for people. So, be carefull about room temperature. To high or to low can really make a difference.
GOOD LUCK.

 

[PoultryRocks]

I have 79 chukar eggs incubating now and 40 pheasant eggs in another. I don't measure the humidity or really mess with at all and so far I have had very successful hatches but recently I had some chicken eggs shipped through the mail and incubated 50 and only 9 hatched, the gameird eggs are from my own birds and I think that my problem with the chicken eggs was that something happened in shipping to weaken the embryos. If your eggs were shipped this might be part of your problem.