Bad Hatch rate.

[p54jes]

For some reason I seem to have a very poor hatch rate with both my last two attempts 1 from 6. My incubater is brand new and I have followed instructions semi auto (turned at least 3 times dayly),temp 37.5, humidity is 40% ish. Any clues where I might be going wrong or could this just be the norm?
Cheers
P54jes

[Hilary B]

Did you put cold eggs in a warmed-up incubator? this sometimes leads to condensation on the eggs, and that can cause problems.
Is the incubator TOO new, and still got traces of something leftover from manufacture?
Where are you reading the temperature (among the eggs, or where the built in thermometer is)?

Just a few possible causes of problem.

[davefromthechipie]

I suck at incubating eggs 2 you're not alone The problem i found is bad testing gear from hydrometers to thermometers .I have just spent out on new gear A Brinsea spot check digital incubation thermometer ( 20 times more accurate then other digi ones so they say) and noticed my old ones are 2c out >< . next is the digital humidity meters >< they are crap unless you spend £150 + on one ,I have 3 and all tell me dif readings lol I have now gone for a dial hair hygrometers , Waiting to see the outcome of this new gear 'but now i know the conditions are right

[chicken slave]

I have fantastic results with a cheaper incubator, a glass thermometer and no meters for humidity. I run the incubator dry (or nearly) for the first 18 days at a temp of 35-36 and then put 2 kitchen sponges in soaked once a day and a saucer of a 5" plant pot filled with water. The last 3 hatchings have been between 95% and 100%, I have even hatched goslings that require a much higher humidity this was acheived by dipping the eggs during there last week and then spraying twice a day.
When I first started with the incubator I had really bad hatchings because I was trying to get everything exactly right now I keep the temp at an average and don't fuss about and I only turn the eggs twice a day the thing is IT WORKS.

[Hilary B]

I have fantastic results with a cheaper incubator, a glass thermometer and no meters for humidity. I run the incubator dry (or nearly) for the first 18 days at a temp of 35-36 and then put 2 kitchen sponges in soaked once a day and a saucer of a 5" plant pot filled with water. The last 3 hatchings have been between 95% and 100%, I have even hatched goslings that require a much higher humidity this was acheived by dipping the eggs during there last week and then spraying twice a day.
When I first started with the incubator I had really bad hatchings because I was trying to get everything exactly right now I keep the temp at an average and don't fuss about and I only turn the eggs twice a day the thing is IT WORKS.

Simple is often best.
There is a practical reason for turning eggs an odd number of times a day. There will nearly always be a longer interval overnight, but with odd numbers of turns per day, the long interval will not be on the same side every night.....

[Snadger]

I'm only using my inccy until I get a broody hen to do the work for me!

Day 5 in the snadger hoose at present!

[flowerofshona]

I have just hatched 3 out and had my humidity for the last 3 days at 60% and over.
Maybe your humidity needs to be higher ???
I found it very stressful to be honest and as i can get 6 week old chicks for £5 already sexed out i think i will stick to getting them that way

[di]

I'm only using my inccy until I get a broody hen to do the work for me!

Day 5 in the snadger hoose at present!

For our sins....we're about as far gone with both...long story,but thought that Marigold had gone off the idea of being broody & also thought she'd rendered the eggs we gave her useless.As the kiddies were finally ready to try hatching we borrowed an incubator & got more eggs,were then told the first eggs were prob OK & also Marigold decided as soon as we put her back in with the others,she wanted to sit!She's now in an enclosed part of the main coop.
Although I'm totally stressed to the eyeballs with the incubator(did you know if you look at the thermometer with your left eye shut it gives a different reading to when your right eye is shut!),I've got to say that I'm finding having a Broody hen even worse...obviously we'll be thrilled if we have chicks,but I'm worried sick about Marigold....I know she's supposedly got it built in to her what she should be doing,but each day she refuses to get off the eggs for a little exercise or food the anxiety gets worse....and absolutely dreading that first elusive poo!!!...she's not done one since Saturday!
Quick question to anyone that knows...before we put the eggs in,we had a constant reading of 37,however some days it's dropping to just over 35...I've read & been told to avoid turning the thermostat & some old timers have said that the fluctuation is fine...what should I do?(my major panic started when I read that wrong temps don't necessarily mean no hatching,but could mean deformed chicks!)

[chicken slave]

Fluctuation is fine as long as it does get too hot, going cooler is natural and they can be at a cooler temp for a number of hours (some broodies get off there eggs and go out for a walk)so it is fine. Mine even hatched when we had a power cut.
I have found if you stress and fuss trying to get it perfect then it doesn't work, just set it to a constant(ish) temp put in a small bowl of water turn the eggs each day and wait for due day

[p54jes]

Thanks for the replies, Guess I just need to let things take there course & let them get on with it.
Cheers
p54jes

[lynda66]

if you have been buying eggs through the mail are you leaving them to stand round end up, in a warm room for 24 hours before incubating? make sure the temperature you are taking is at middle of egg level i had 2 failed hatches due to the temp where the thermometer was actually giving a reading 2 degrees higer than the egg temp, humidity is only really important in the last 3 days .... most of the online stuff yo read will be american, and they are a much drier country than us in general, just stick a small pot of water in every couple of days, then use sponges at the end

turn the eggs a minimum of 3 times a day so it rests on a different side each night, the more you turn the better, chooks turn their eggs about once an hour, so you won't overdo it

[RichmondHens]

Don't always blame your incubator, especially if it is new. Maybe the eggs were substandard. Good luck next time.