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@aart, yes same batch as before but the chicks were from 2 different breeders. In looking up ascites in chickens, I see it can be caused by poor quality feeds. There is one older hen in with this flock of chicks and she has here own feed (chicken feed from the local grange, relatively new bag...

@aart, @WVduckchick @Wyorp Rock Hello my friends, I am revisiting this page because this morning once again, one of these chicks/pullet up and died in exactly the same fashion as the original chicks. Sitting hunched and shaking and seemingly unable to get a good breath. Died after spasming and...

Are you relying on an independent trusted thermometer or the one on the incubator? What kind of incubator are you using? When was the last time you checked the temp? A day at that temp would probably not end well for the eggs but why would your incubator push the temp that high? The eggs...

Seems like 7month old pullets are very young to be relying on fertilized eggs but that's just my opinion. Shipping absolutely can wreak havoc on eggs. Your temp and humidity appear just right so I doubt that you had trouble there. Sorry about your hatch.

As there are no visible veins developing in that egg, I would say scrambled, sadly. I dont think I would take a chance with any of the leaking eggs. It's not worth risking your whole hatch especially if the Buff's are progressing nicely. Good luck with them.

Fascinating! I have not seen this before. Are these the only eggs in the incubator that are doing this? Is there any odor to these eggs? Are the eggs getting misted by water that is hard? When you candle these eggs, can you see hair line fractures or even tiny holes?

I think it also helps to buy from sellers who are no more than a state or two away from your own. Folks will argue about this but from my experience, and Papa's Poultry have been great for me, I got the best hatch rates from sellers either in California or Washington.

Ugh, I hate this 'test'. No it wont tell you if a chick has shrinkwrapped and if you float test after an external pip has occurred you will drown the chick because there is a hole in the shell. Shrink wrapping occurs when an egg is exposed to a continual reduction in humidity as happens when...

They all seem fine, thank you! Such a weird situation. I went and examined the pine shavings bag at my friends house and could not see anything, but the bag has been in her coop since November and even though it is under cover it is outside so I suppose something nasty could have got into it...

Thanks for all the support. I will report back again if anything further happens, good or bad.

You can get one from Amazon, but, you are going to have to test it for accuracy. Google the salt test for a hygrometer, it's super easy. That way you will know exactly what is going on in the bator. Good luck with your hatch!

They seemed perfect during the day, I mean typical chicks, haring around, falling down asleep, eating and starting all over. And then I uncovered the bedding. Initially they all seemed fine. They, of course, kicked up the bedding into the waterer but they seemed absolutely normal. Early...

You should be just fine, your incubator will heat up. I hope you have an independent thermometer and hygrometer to use though, the instruments on the styrofoam incubators are usually wrong.

Sorry if this is a silly question but are you asking about the chicks drowning once they hatch or in the shell before hatching? You said you are using the waterer as a humidity source, is that correct?

@WVduckchick so happy you chimed in here. You know, the question about the water is an interesting one. I am living in town right now, not at my homestead, and I have noticed that the town water here grows algae really quickly. However, the chick water is fresh several times daily so I cant...

The bulb that I am using is a Westinghouse clear incandescent R40 bulb. Used it before with no issues at all, its not one with the shatterproofing finish on it.

How far can fumes from a shatterproof heat bulb get do you think. I just realized that my bathroom has one of those heat lamp bulbs in it which I use a lot. The bathroom is right next to where the chicks are. Possible?? Wouldn't they all succumb to this? Silly question??

Well this morning everyone else is alive and appearing to be normal. Poop is, and was normal all yesterday, the ONLY change that occurred was that the shavings were exposed again. Yes, chicks need grit. They need it for prevention of pasty butt and if they were out in nature, their mother hen...

They have been eating like regular chicks. Lots of feed with grit. Definitely not starving to death..

No, they are standard pine shavings. The same type that come in a big squeezed block from the local grange. I just dont understand what the heck this is. I have never had anything like this happen. Such a bummer. Such a waste of little lives...