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movement, handling, lack of heat & lack of or sudden lack of humidity.
I guess all that is possible but other people argue that the mother hen is turning eggs and off the nest so whats the harm? I did read that you should wear gloves to keep oils and bacteria off the shells but if the hen gets off the nest each day the lack of heat and humidity was a natural regular occurence. I usually candle on day 7 so I can throw out the clears and make room in the bator then on day 18 before lockdown. Any more just takes up my time and is unnessesary but when I first started hatching I questioned my judgment and checked all the time. LOL, just couldn't take it. So eggciting.
I cannot argue about that, I have watched my broodies & sometimes they are off the nest for 10 minutes or more.
In fact, I have heard it is almost necessary for her to get off the nest everyday so the eggs can 'breathe'.....anyone else heard that ?
I also do not understand why they say to raise the humidity at day 18, the hen certainly cannot raise her humidity ?!?!
Like she has a knob somewheres, and alot of top hatcheries (like Stromberg) recommend you lower the incubator temp a few degrees on day 18 to pip, so the chicks are not too hot when they are trying to hatch out.
Hens can't raise their temps either.
