Whole hatching death

[linuxman]

I just attempted to incubate 8 BR eggs in a little giant still air incubator, with optional egg turner. I monitored the temp, and it never went about 100.5, and never went below 98, except for about 5 minuets where it got to 85. Would that have killed the whole hatching? We had a rooster to hen ratio of 3:15 at the time. Any help would be appreciated. This was my second time using this incubator. The first time, I had 19 out of 21 eggs hatch well. Sadly, only three have survived. (Between brooder malfunctions and predatory pigs, it was not fun for birds here until all problems were fixed.)

 

[chicksooner]

Not an expert here but I think a cool down might slow them down a bit. There is a sticky at the top about float testing eggs for viability. What day are you on.

 

[bargain]

I just attempted to incubate 8 BR eggs in a little giant still air incubator, with optional egg turner. I monitored the temp, and it never went about 100.5, and never went below 98, except for about 5 minuets where it got to 85. Would that have killed the whole hatching? We had a rooster to hen ratio of 3:15 at the time. Any help would be appreciated. This was my second time using this incubator. The first time, I had 19 out of 21 eggs hatch well. Sadly, only three have survived. (Between brooder malfunctions and predatory pigs, it was not fun for birds here until all problems were fixed.)

OKAY for a still incubator you should be at 101 for incubation. Your temp was low. That will delay a hatch! What day or you on your hatch??? Also I really suggest getting a digital thermometer and hygrometer! and making sure they are accurate before your next hatch!

 

[Quyen Le]

humidity is more important for hatching

 

[linuxman]

I let them stay in the incubator for 4 1/2 weeks. I just took them our and cracked them (carefully), and none of them had any visible embryo.

I use multiple thermometers, and as for the hygrometer, I have been unable to find one with good ratings that is cheap enough to make it worth while to buy it for the few hatching's I do a year.

 

[Habibs Hens]

I let them stay in the incubator for 4 1/2 weeks. I just took them our and cracked them (carefully), and none of them had any visible embryo.

I use multiple thermometers, and as for the hygrometer, I have been unable to find one with good ratings that is cheap enough to make it worth while to buy it for the few hatching's I do a year.

i would suggest buy a brinsea spot check thermometer (verty cheap and the best out there)

and maybe change to a forced air incubator they are so much easier to use

 

[Texasmja]

I just took them our and cracked them (carefully), and none of them had any visible embryo.

Sounds like a fertility issue, no embryos...

Did you candle them and see veins develop?

 

[silkiechicken]

No embryo or even blood spot = not fertile. Even if your temps were low, fertile eggs will start to develop, just barely, when temps get into the 90's.

 

[linuxman]

Thanks all. No, we are just starting to get into the whole sustainability chicken farming. We are working to get a good candler. Thanks all for the great advice! I will look into all of your wonderful comments.

 

[sumi]

It sounds like your eggs were infertile. Are your roosters very young or very old? I had a hen serviced by a young roo once and her eggs didn't develop. (All her previous hatched went well with a 100% hatch rate.) Roo needed to practice a bit more. Here's thread that tells you how to check egg fertility:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures