Hatching Malfunction - Incubated Chick *PICTURE*

I'm expecting a few chicks to hatch tomorrow 9/11. I''m using a Brower still air Incubator, the temperature has been steady between 99-103. Humidity has been between 35-45% (due to unusual thunderstorms in Colorado these past few weeks.) I've turned the eggs three times a day doing quarter turns each time.

Today (day 20) I went to check on the eggs and noticed one had pipped on the OPPOSITE side of the egg. Immediately I checked to see if it was still alive... No signs from that little pip hole. So I candled it, still saw no movement. Upon realizing it had died earlier sometime this morning, I decided to perform an autopsy to see what had happened. As I carefully chipped away the egg shell and inner soft material, I noticed no blood however the yolk was completely unabsorbed. So I see two causes: 1. Pipped on the wrong end 2. Unabsorbed yolk

I'd be really interested in hearing about your experiences and knowledge of why this may happen? Which issue was the cause of death do you think? Are chicks able to survive either issue? I just want to learn more!




I quickly candled the others out of curiosity and one has already pipped the inner membrane.. Glad the next to hatch seems to not be repeating the same method.

Kristin Brown said:

I'm expecting a few chicks to hatch tomorrow 9/11. I''m using a Brower still air Incubator, the temperature has been steady between 99-103. Humidity has been between 35-45% (due to unusual thunderstorms in Colorado these past few weeks.) I've turned the eggs three times a day doing quarter turns each time.

Today (day 20) I went to check on the eggs and noticed one had pipped on the OPPOSITE side of the egg. Immediately I checked to see if it was still alive... No signs from that little pip hole. So I candled it, still saw no movement. Upon realizing it had died earlier sometime this morning, I decided to perform an autopsy to see what had happened. As I carefully chipped away the egg shell and inner soft material, I noticed no blood however the yolk was completely unabsorbed. So I see two causes: 1. Pipped on the wrong end 2. Unabsorbed yolk

I'd be really interested in hearing about your experiences and knowledge of why this may happen? Which issue was the cause of death do you think? Are chicks able to survive either issue? I just want to learn more!




I quickly candled the others out of curiosity and one has already pipped the inner membrane.. Glad the next to hatch seems to not be repeating the same method.

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I'm very curious to see what people say on this. I just had my second hatch. My hatch day was tomorrow but my eggs started pipping yesterday and today. After the last one hatched that was pipped I decided to candle the last 8. I went ahead and made a pip thinking at least they can breathe and I would put back. When I did that only 2 chicks were alive the other 6 were dead. I had one that died before lockdown but the other 5 were perfect, 2 malpositioned and 1 for sure that looked like it was right there to pip. I have a brower still air also with temps 99/102 and dry hatch meaning I left my humidity around 25. My first hatch I lost 5 at hatch and thought it was too high humidity but I just don't know.

It's a shame that a few of yours didn't make it, but I'm happy for you that you did have successful chicks too! We will have to stay in contact since we both have similar incubator set ups. What are you brooding your chicks in? I have a galvanized but eventually they will be moved to a sheep sized galvanized trough that they can have space to grow in until I can integrate them into the flock.

Kristin Brown said:

It's a shame that a few of yours didn't make it, but I'm happy for you that you did have successful chicks too! We will have to stay in contact since we both have similar incubator set ups. What are you brooding your chicks in? I have a galvanized but eventually they will be moved to a sheep sized galvanized trough that they can have space to grow in until I can integrate them into the flock.

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I have them in big tote with heat lamp and I have shavings down. My last group are 4 weeks but were much bigger chicks and I had to move them out after 2 weeks and only brought them in at night now they are officially in outside cage with heat lamp at night. I have a couple cages that are chick secure but I'm going to need another coop/run for them. It just doesn't seem like there is never enough coops and space for what I want...lol I mainly have wyandottes but I have a R.I.R. and some barred rocks and would like to get a R.I.R. rooster for them and have black sex links.

I think my problem with the incubator is too high temp. Maybe my thermometer is off. Also someone said in still airs you have to move the eggs around and try to keep smaller eggs by the element and larger eggs away.

Okay out of my four eggs due to hatch, every chick pipped on the wrong end of the egg! Two died before I could do anything. I'm assuming because of becoming too dry and lack of air into their small pip hole. The other two I assisted, I just couldn't resist! One is thriving well. The other is really fatigued because it struggled for so long after it pipped. Why are all my chicks pipping upside down? If anyone has ideas why I would appreciate it! Thanks.

How are the positioned? They need to be positioned air sac up or they will turn to the wrong end. I use an egg carton to position them correctly at lockdown.

Great suggestion. During the entire 21 days the eggs were positioned laying on their side on the hardware mesh surface . I turned them daily (besides the lockdown period.) I can try using a egg carton to position the eggs with the air sacs up for my next hatch

Before I got my egg turner I would put them in an egg carton the entire time. I'd put an empty toilet paper roll under one side in the morning, then let it sit flat in the afternoon and then put the roll on the other side in the evening. It's easier to turn them all at once by tipping the carton.

I like the concept, because it seems easier. Do the eggs still receive proper air flow though? Also, I'm worried it wouldn't replicate how a broody hen would tend to her clutch of eggs.