Complete incubation Failure

[mattydski 560]

So..My incubator failed on day 21 due to bulb failure.. I assumed i killed my chicks, but left it another 3 days and ...nothing!!

 

So i cracked open all the eggs and they were all just yolks, not spots or embryo's.

 

Now my first thought was they are infertile...

 

The supplier of the eggs says not??

 

What else could have gone wrong?

 

 

Any comments on the incubator are welcome?? It was a home build? This was during construction, for an overview..

 

 

It was set at 37.5 degress, with a water bowl, and a circulation fan.

[romany52 313]

I can't see any vents, did you make air holes.

[mattydski 560]

Yes there were air holes, but on advice given, they were only opened on day 18 prior to hatching??? (Bad advice maybe??)

[parkstone 24]

i'd change the light bulb head source for a reptile type heat mat more expensive but much more reliable than bulbs which tend to blow.

 

i'd keep the air vents open all though the incubation.

 

you did turn the eggs at least twice a day?.

[Lab 10,979]

Very strange that they had not started and were still yolks............i'd say infertile

[mattydski 560]

i'd change the light bulb head source for a reptile type heat mat more expensive but much more reliable than bulbs which tend to blow.

 

i'd keep the air vents open all though the incubation.

 

you did turn the eggs at least twice a day?.

 

Yes, eggs turned three times a day at 8 hour intervals.

But the light bulb could do with being more reliable, that's a fact!

I'll see if I can find one.

cheers

matty

[romany52 313]

I made a 12v one with two 20watt down lighter bulbs, figured two bulbs were more reliable, if one goes you still got some heat. You might try two bulbs adding up to the same wattage as your single. Can't tell from your pics but the fan needs to be able to draw air in from the back, yours looks to be mounted flush. The best place for the heat source and fan are mounted on the lid with the fan blowing upwards, the air hits the lid and is forced to circulate. I would think with that size box you'll need about four holes in the lid and the same in the bottom, 1/4" is about the size and you need them open throughout, you can close two of them if you need to up the humidity for hatching. The grid for the eggs needs to be off the bottom so air can circulate and don't forget to stand the incubator on battens so the bottom holes aren't blocked. Mike. Ps I had a couple of 100% hatches in mine. I would suggest with nothing in your eggs at all they were infertile.

Edited June 17, 2010 by romany52

[mattydski 560]

Thanks for the info Mike. The fan is on spacers, but I will space it further away from the end wall. Air circulation doesn't feel too bad to be honest... I had thought to put two light bulbs in.. I will alter accordingly, put them in parallel.. that should do the trick, Especially if I can find these reliable reptile bulbs. I have to agree though.. I do think they were infertile..Thanks again for the info!!matty

[nonny 0]

Did you test your eggs after 7 days of incubation for fertility .After a few days a blood spot and veins will appear , can be seen clearly with a strong light under the egg in a dark room

[Dabhand 887]

id just spend some money mate and buy a tidy one if your that serious about hatching eggs

[readie 184]

there infertile if they still have yolk after 21 days ,if you kept constant temp and turned them 3 or 5 times a day you would have at least deen some sign of life in the eggs.