[sabrina]

We had 18 eggs in our incubator and all seem to be going well. Hatching should have started on Tuesday and the 1st chick arrived easy enough. Wednesday another 2 and last night one with a bit of help. The others were dead. Seem to be the wrong way round away from the air sack. What did we do wrong. Eggs were put in fresh so not stored.

[doganjo]

We had 18 eggs in our incubator and all seem to be going well. Hatching should have started on Tuesday and the 1st chick arrived easy enough. Wednesday another 2 and last night one with a bit of help. The others were dead. Seem to be the wrong way round away from the air sack. What did we do wrong. Eggs were put in fresh so not stored.

I'd guess at humidity - it's been very wet lately and that can affect and incubator's own humidity levels - do you have a meter?

[chrismahon]

What you may be seeing is the chicks head still tucked downwards Sabrina. As Doganjo says that will be too high humidity initially, which meant the air sac didn't develop enough to give the chick room to manoeuvre for pipping.

[sabrina]

Going to have another go. OH been doing a bit of research on the internet so he has a plan. Last summer we had eggs under a broody hen and only half hatched which I put down to the very hot weather. I hate losing any so hope for a better result this time.

[doganjo]

Going to have another go. OH been doing a bit of research on the internet so he has a plan. Last summer we had eggs under a broody hen and only half hatched which I put down to the very hot weather. I hate losing any so hope for a better result this time.

Good luck! Do you have a humidity meter?  I don't think they are expensive.  That might help.

[sabrina]

We do have a meter which OH has checked its working right.