Unsuccessful hatching

[Legacy Farm]

Hello, my wife and I have a Pro series model 4200 incubator. We have had it for a few years but this is only the third time we have attempted to hatch our own eggs. The first time we had no idea what we were doing and hatched 4. (out of 24 if I remember correctly) so the next spring we tried again with a little more success and we hatched 6.

This year now after having some experience nothing... When we candle them in the beginning stages they are viable and growing yet die before the end of the incubating process... We keep our incubator at 99.5 F @ 50-60% humidity. What am I missing? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[2 many chickens]

What kind of egg are you hatching?
Your humidity seems too high to me. I keep mine no lower than 35% and no higher than 45% until I up it lock down to 65%

 

[sylviethecochin]

What's the diet of your breeding flock?
Have you got ventilation in the 'bator? (They need it.)
Have you got a backup hydrogometer/thermometer
You are turning the eggs regularly?
What's your altitude? Unless you're very high up, that's a very high humidity.

 

[Trux]

Temp is right, humidity is to high, 40 to 45% is where it should be. Also have you calibrated your thermometer and hydrometer ?

 

[Legacy Farm]

Ok, going to try and answer all with one thread... We have multiple breads of hens... Australorp, Orpinton, Araucana, Plymouth Rock and a few others. Yes, the incubator is ventalated and I do have a stand alone thermomitor inside made for incubating.... We feed our hens layer feed crumbles... And they roam free so what ever bugs they eat... I could have swore I was told the humidity should be between 50-60. Maybe that's it... 0h and it has an automatic Turner

Ok, here is another thought what about rinsing them off to remove dirt an poop before putting them in the incubator?

 

[Trux]

Also handling hatching eggs with bare hands can clog pores of the egg with skin oil...I just recently learned this myself, and it can have an affect on hatch rate and egg development.

 

[2 many chickens]

I still think your humidity is way too high. Take advice and for your next hatch, don't let it get that high until lock down.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Have you checked/calibrated your thermometer and hygrometer to determine that they are reading accurately?

 

[Legacy Farm]

Yes but will have to check again... It seems the humidity is the debate... I have watched several professional harchery videos and most are calling for 50-60%... I have no clue... Will try lower humidity next batch.

 

[Legacy Farm]

Ok another question... When people say Lock Down... What day three days before the 21st day? Also, to keep the temp the same and increase the humidity, are you referring to just adding more water? I appreciate all the replies... Hopefully this will help me and for those that join which are new as myself. Thanks again everyone... Oh, one last question. Looking to purchase a digital hydrometer/thermomitor for incubating... Which would you recommend? Thanks again!