Thunder Storms & Living By The Sea

[Greatauntbleach]

Hi. I'm new to hatching. Just completed my second batch with a poor success rate of 4 out of 20

A few questions I need help with please :

(1) Two chicks broke through the shell to create their air holes then died? Any idea why they died and should I have stepped in after a period of time to assist ?

(2) We were due thunder the night they were hatching, someone told me the static in the air from the potential storm can affect the humidity in the incubator even though the incubator showed the correct humidity? We had a heap of rain too. This might have caused the poor hatching by increasing humidity?

(3) We live half a mile from the sea, should I run the incubator at a lower humidity because of this ? I run it at 50 -55% up to Day 18 and 65% after that.

(4) Is it best to keep the incubator indoors or in an outbuilding ?

(5) My incubator has a drill size hole for air only - is that sufficient?

(6) What is the best incubator to buy in the uk for small hatching of up to 20 eggs?

Hoping someone can please help

 

[Mom 2em All]

I do not have the answers to most of your questions but I can try a couple.
What kind of incubator are you using? DO you have a thermometer in with the eggs besides the one on the incubator?
I dont believe the storms caused the poor hatch. But I am going to let someone better versed answer that.
Did you candle the eggs at any point during incubation? Is it possible you didnt have high fertility?
I believe the incubator should be kept indoors where you have a better way to control the temp and humidity.
Good luck