I have been hatching chicken eggs for 8 months now in batches of 960 eggs. However, 20 to 25% of the embryos die during the early stage of development. I have checked and double checked my humidity and temperatures and they appear to ok. For day 1-18, the humidity is at 65% and temperature at 37 deg C. Turning happens automatically every hour through 90 deg. Air circulation within the incubator is about 600 m3/hour
Please advise what else I should be checking to get to the root of this problem.
Hi Binmak,
Sorry that you have had problems with incubating the eggs.
Here are some handy tips to help achieve successful hatching, although I am sure that you are following all these tips.
* If keeping eggs prior to incubation then store in the correct conditions. http://farmingfriends.com/choosing-and-storing-eggs-before-incubation/
* Turn eggs regularly prior to and during incubation (turn eggs at least 3-4 times a day and remember no egg turning in the final three days of incubation). http://farmingfriends.com/final-day-of-egg-rotation-for-different-species-of-birds-eggs/
* Make sure eggs are stored and placed in the incubator with the small end facing down.
* Regularly check the temperature in the incubator.
* Try to maintain the correct temperature in the incubator at all times. http://farmingfriends.com/a-temperature-guide-for-different-species-of-birds-eggs-in-the-incubator/
* Regularly check the humidity in the incubator. http://farmingfriends.com/humidity-levels-for-egg-incubation/
* Try to maintain the correct humidity levels in the incubator at all time.
* Note that the required temperature and humidity levels are not the same throughout the whole of the incubation period.
* A wet bulb thermometer maybe a good purchase to help accurately measure the humidity and temperature levels in the incubator. http://farmingfriends.com/a-wet-bulb-thermometer/
* Check that the incubator is working correctly and has a constant temperature throughout the whole of the incubator.
* Make sure that there is ventilation in the incubator and incubation room, but avoiding drafts.
* Check breeding stock are healthy and free of infection and disease.
* Feed poultry on a healthy and balanced diet – commercial pellets usually provide the poultry with their dietary requirements and grass/green vegetables provide added vitamins and minerals.
* Ensure that the incubator is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to use. http://farmingfriends.com/preparing-the-incubator-before-incubating-eggs/
http://farmingfriends.com/reasons-why-fully-formed-chicks-may-not-hatch-out/
Where do you get the eggs from? How old are the eggs before incubation, how old are the breeding stock, what is their diet?
Where do you store your incubator when in use?
Hope you have sorted out the incubating of your eggs.
Kind regards
sara @ farmingfriends
Im worried, eggs in the incubator should be pointy end down, all my eggs are on their sides. as the bottom is just a flat mesh, should I put in an egg box and sit them up in that, then how would I move them around 3/4 times a day?
Thank you
Hi Laura,
I have an automatic egg turner tray for my hovabator incubator and the eggs are placed with the point down and then they rotate 3 - 4 times a day. In the last 3 days I take the egg turner out and they are laid on their side.
The egg box in theory sounds a good idea my concern would be that it may transfer some bacteria from the box into the incubator. I wonder wether you could buy a plastic egg tray. I have a green one and then cut it to size to fit the bottom of your incubator, then the pastic can be washed after use. An ordinary egg box may get wet and this may affect the humidity.
Best Wishes
Sara @ farmingfriends
Not having incubated before, why do they need to be pointy end down? When my ducks sit on their eggs they turn them of course, but they are always on their sides.
Hi Sarah,
Good question. Not sure but I think it's something to do with the air sac. I will look into this.
Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends
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