Contrary to the above regarding number 3, folks are seeing air cells reattach over the resting period on the Easter hatch a long thread. The sad truth is that you will not have good hatch rates with eggs treated roughly and not packed well. If you would, please change number three to let the eggs rest for 2 to 5 days based on the air cell condition. For eggs too dark to see the air cell(Do not get mad but it is worth the investment to get a ova view high intensity candler if hatching dark eggs) base the days on the condition of the box. I would rest all shipped eggs for 2 days.
Not turning the eggs does not make the chicks stick it causes deformities like missing eyes and etc. and a lower hatch rate. That does not happen unless you do not turn the eggs from days 8 to 16. Eggs do not need to be turned before or after. If they are getting real serious about turning, the bear in mind that many on that thread make their own incubators and do not have accurate thermometers. The studies and text books have all listed temperature during incubation as being the number one cause of hatch problems.
1 Temps too low
2. Temps too high
3. Humidity too high
4 Humidity too low
5. ventilation
not turning enough is way down somewhere on the list. Take care of the first three and you will have much better hatch rates.
Sticking is most often caused by incubating too low for the first 18 days and too high of humidity. Sticking is a symptom of the yolk not absorbing completely.
The cooling is simply that--the eggs are cooled for two hours a day from day 7 to 2 days before hatch. My Octagon 40 has cool down built into the controls now. This has information and links to research and articles about cooling.
http://www.brinsea.com/cooling.html
The diary thread might make a big deal about a lot of things but most of them are only going to make hatch rates a bit better better.
I have had a lot of success following the recommendations in this thread.
