Third try

[NewToTheFlock]

This is my third try with incubating. My first try was a complete bust with 12 eggs. I had 2 of those hatch out but one died almost immediately and the other had deformed feet. The second time I only tried 7 eggs and got 1 healthy bouncy chick from that hatch. This time I'm going with 20 eggs. I'm really not sure why my hatch rates are so low. My temp and humidity stay perfect. Most always make it to at least day 19 and then decide to quit on me. Any advice for those last few days?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

This should help guide you to possible answers.

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00008570/00001/3j

Were the chicks that hatched early, late or right on time?
One thing I would caution is to not necessarily trust your thermometer or hygrometer. They're both notorious for inaccuracy.
Deformed feet is often a temperature issue.
Other reasons for late deaths are poor ventilation, high temperature, insufficient breeder nutrition.

I don't use a hygrometer but rather weigh eggs for proper humidity and weight loss.
They should lose 0.65% of weight each day.

http://poultrykeeper.com/incubating-and-hatching-eggs/weight-loss-method-forl-incubation
http://www.sciencecompany.com/-w136.aspx

I didn't have good results till I got 2 guaranteed accurate thermometers and they both agreed, I knew I was on the right track.
These are the 2 I use.

http://thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html

http://www.ruralking.com/spot-check...mE1sRjgGhs7-1jSy6B2EI_7N1zGuJY1v74aAnTF8P8HAQ

Thermometers have widely different response times so keep that in mind.

 

[darkbluespace]

If you are incubating with water in the incubator you might want to try leaving it out. If most of your eggs fully develop but don't hatch... too high of humidity is often the reason. Good luck this time!!

 

[NewToTheFlock]

My second try was a dry hatch. I only added water at lockdown to bring my humidity up to 65% from 45%.

 

[darkbluespace]

My second try was a dry hatch. I only added water at lockdown to bring my humidity up to 65% from 45%.

Well, I haven't figured out why 45 to 50% humidity works fine for some people, but if I don't incubate around 25 to 35 % my chicks are nearly all mal-positioned and don't pip. Maybe it depends on where you live... but I have to run my bator with vents wide open to keep the humidity way down. That is what is working for me... I hope you find what works for you!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

all that stuff isn't necessarily humidity
I again refer to this list of problems.
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00008570/00001/3j

Also, the thing to consider is that some eggs are more porous than others so that would explain why there's a difference between flocks and settings.