Oh, I also thought that I would let you know that not a single one of these eggs pipped in the right spot. One of the last three came close to being there, but every single one of them came out on the side. It was usually right towards the middle, but a few of them were down towards the pointed end too. I believe that taraan said that most of hers were that way too. Is this a silkie thing? I know not to stress it now.
I am really, really disgusted that I lost my chicks. I am blaming myself, as I was too quick to think that a raccoon could not open that dog crate. That was dumb and a really hard lesson to learn. Honestly, it never even crossed my mind. You know what really blows my mind. That crate sat on the other side of an uncovered sliding glass door, so I could see them at all time. This is also the room where the dog sleeps. That raccoon sat out there and destroyed my chicks and that stupid dog never even barked!!
I have been covering them every night, before I went to bed, because the weather here has been miserable and you never knew when it was going to rain. I did it for weather reasons, never even thinking that it kept them safer too. The past two nights have been beautiful, without a chance of rain and so I left them uncovered. I never dreamed that I would wake up to an empty kennel because of it.
In light of this loss, not only have I learned never to underestimate a raccoon - if my 9 year-old can open it, so can they - I am in the process of ordering another dozen eggs and purchasing a better hygrometer. I realize that a hatch rate of 50% is supposed to be okay and I got 6 of 11 eggs, but I think that with better equipment, I can do better. Heck, if I hadn't been too late on those 4 eggs and they had hatched, I would have had 10 of 11! lol
So, if you don't mind, even though I am done with this hatch, I am going to keep posting, continue asking questions and stick around, as I am going to be trying it again.