Why can't I hatch eggs?!

[enola]

Whst kind of thermometer are you using?

 

[barnyardmommy]

I always turn my eggs at least 3 times each day. I wonder if only turning them 2 times a day is effecting the hatch ?

 

[lenz48]

Thank you all! I appreciate it! I have an electric thermometer and after the second set didn't hatch a went and bought another one with probes to see how the temp is close to the eggs. I will def try a diff bator and the dry incubating. I don't have any broody hens. I have good egg layer but not so much at sitting. They have been laying since feb.

 

[dekel18042]

From what I've read (no personal knowledge, my incubator turns automatically) turning three times a day might be better, but turning twice is what people did and eggs still hatched. Turning only twice might have a slight effect, but I don't think it would keep each and every egg from hatching during that many trials.
I'm trying to figure what would let an egg start to develop then stop.
Wonder if the higher humidity at the end has a negative effect? I know if the humidity is too high and the egg hasn't lost enough of it's moisture the peep will drown, but that happens at the very end, not half way through.
I know some people swear by keeping charts on the percentage weight loss of each egg and mark and monitor where the air cell is during incubation.
I haven't done this, but I haven't had problems so haven't felt the need to. But I do think the humidity problems would play out more at the end.

 

[AmericanMom]

From what I've read (no personal knowledge, my incubator turns automatically) turning three times a day might be better, but turning twice is what people did and eggs still hatched. Turning only twice might have a slight effect, but I don't think it would keep each and every egg from hatching during that many trials.
I'm trying to figure what would let an egg start to develop then stop.
Wonder if the higher humidity at the end has a negative effect? I know if the humidity is too high and the egg hasn't lost enough of it's moisture the peep will drown, but that happens at the very end, not half way through.
I know some people swear by keeping charts on the percentage weight loss of each egg and mark and monitor where the air cell is during incubation.
I haven't done this, but I haven't had problems so haven't felt the need to. But I do think the humidity problems would play out more at the end.

The only thing that just popped into my head with them starting and stopping is a bacteria effecting the eggs.. I have had some quitters during incubation but never the whole bunch..

As far as turning only twice a day a lot of working folks do that and they still get great hatches.
I also thought the 75% humidity might be too high, but that would result in the chick having problems with hatching wouldn't it, like sticky chick??, from what I read hers are quitting halfway through.

 

[enola]

How old are the eggs when you put them in the incubator? How many hens are laying the eggs you are incubating? Are you only using one rooster?

I only turn my eggs two times a day, so I don't think that is a problem.

Is there any chance that your incubator temperature is spiking?

 

[Sonya9]

What are you feeding the hens? Do they have a high quality diet with greens? Since there is obviously a problem I would also look at the diet, can't hurt and a very healthy diet with enough calcium makes for healthier eggs.

 

[russellsthree]

I am also very interested in finding answers to these questions. I am on my 3rd batch of 12 and it's not looking so good. I can give my eggs to someone else and they hatch fine, but in my bator its a no go. This time I kept my humidity at 25 - 30% until lockdown (which is happening right now). I could see life until about the 3rd week. Then the eggs get quite dark and my flashlight can't show anything. I also have tried 2 different thermometers. Some days I was able to turn them 3 times, but because of work, most days was only twice. The last batch of 12, I finally opened myself and found 7 ducks that had developed most of the way. If anyone has any more pointers, let me know. This is very discouraging.

 

[Bazy]

Just something to add about what I learned about my incubator. My first hatch went great. got 16 chicks from 24 purchased eggs that I went and picked up. My second hatch was a disaster. 9 chicks from 40+ eggs picked up from a KNOWN proven source. The incubator was so full that only the outside eggs got moved much during turning three times per day, and the thermometer was right against the wall the entire hatch. to turn, we picked up an outside egg and rolled everything to the left or right respectively. WELL, only the outer most eggs pipped and only a few of those went on to hatch...candling showed late quitters in various stages of development.

Bottom line is the eggs nearest the thermometer were the ones that hatched fully. The rest were cold. During the first hatch of 24 eggs, we juggled positions all the time..just picking them and moving them all over three times per day until we learned that you should not handle them that much...that was our downfall.

I purchased an egg turner, and two remote thermometers and a fan kit for my Little Giant. I am so much more confident now!