I hatch out a few hundred chicks every year. I do give my birds higher protein feed starting at least around a month prior to collecting the eggs for hatching. I do have breeding coops and what I call my general population coops for the birds I'm not using for breeding. I think (personal opinion) that the added protein feed for my parent stock helps to produce good chicks. An accurate hygrometer and thermometer is good. The eggs need to loose some moisture as they develop. Too high of humidity can cause developmental issues as well as too low. During incubation I keep my humidity around 35% and during lockdown around 75%. This is where I have had my best hatches. I don't candle daily, I candle around day 14 and again when I set the eggs in the hatchers. When I put the eggs in the hatchers I take out any infertile eggs. Some that are questionable I mark (X) on the eggs and usually they are quitters but I have had some I thought were quitters hatch. Good luck...
