Tips for Hatching? Particularly in a Hova Bator? All advice is welcome!

[cochins1088]

I have a standard Hova Bator model 1602N without any of the extras like an egg turner or fan. The first time I used it ended in a 95% hatch rate, but the rates have been lower since at about maybe 50 - 60% which has been driving me nuts. Well I just ordered some expensive hatching eggs from some gorgeous silver laced cochins ($40 for a dozen) so I really want this hatch to end well. They should arrive on monday. The incubator is fairly stabalized. I say fairly cause I have 2 thermometers in it, one saying 98 and the other say 102. How can I tell which is acurate? I'm going to run humidity a bit lower this time like others have suggested with 35% the first 18 days and about 60-65% the last 3. So any advice? Any ways to keep the tempature more stable? I will be gone for two separate 2 day periods so I need to trust it. Also should I do any thing different because the eggs will have been shipped? Like I said, I really need this hatch to go well and 50% hatch rate isn't going to cut it, I also know that shipped eggs are more fragile. I know the basics of hatching eggs but any advice is welcome. Thanks

 

[Marty1876]

Remember, hatching eggs that have been shipped will not enjoy the same success as your fresh eggs.

Also, not turning the eggs at any time will adversely effect hatch rates.

I've had excellent luck hand turning eggs every eight hours in the one hova that doesn't have a turner (but it does have a fan). If yours has nothing, you'll want to put in several eggs, or small jelly jars with water, to help stabilize the temp. The fuller the bator, the more even the temp will be.

If you must leave your eggs unturned, don't do it the first 10 days. Thats the most critical time for turning, but I must say, I'd feel nervous not turning my eggs a few times daily. You don't want your chick stuck to one side of the egg.

 

[cochins1088]

Yes I realize the first 10 days are most critical, it will be after that point as far as the 2 days of missed turnings and it would be more like a day and a half really. I ended up doing this with my first hatch as well with no ill side effects (95% hatch rate). I actually read in a few places that turning is unessisary after day 14, though I wouldn't trust that myself. I realize not turning can cause deformities, which I did experience once. The incubator climbed to 108 for hours, so I assume they were all dead, I left the incubator on, but I didn't turn them, 5 days later I finally decided to candle expecting to throw everything, but found 5 survivers. One of which hatched with only one leg. I assume that was from the 5 days of no turning in the beginning of incubation, but the other 4 hatched as perfectly normal chicks.

Also you really think that more eggs would help stabilize the tempature? I've had the opposite experience. I should experiment with this before the eggs arrive to find out which is right. It claims to hold 42 eggs, and I put in close to that, like about 38. And I could not control the tempature at all. It ended up at 107 at day 4, turning it down would keep it really low and then the temps. would slowly creep back up. Obviously I lost those eggs. So I assumed it was from lack of air flow since I didn't have the fan and it was near full, I then only put in 25 the next time and the temps. were much more stable. I'm getting 1 dozen + so if you're right, I can add some of my cochin eggs to the incubator, I don't mind the extra chicks. Not sure what to do on this one, like I said, I'll try to experiment with that, thanks for the info though!