1 chick hatched out of 52 eggs

[CottageChic]

Today was day 21. Yesterday morning one egg (out of 52) had pipped. It hatched this afternoon. The chick is almost dry and there are no other signs of pips in any of the other eggs. Any ideas? Is there hope for any of the other eggs?
I have a circulated air Hova-Bator incubator. I have not opened the lid since day 18 when I took the eggs out of the automatic egg turner.

 

[Joshua G]

Hi and welcome to BYC!
What have the temperatures been lately and what has the humidity been in the incubator?
Don't give up on the eggs yet as you will normally have late hatchers.

 

[CottageChic]

Thank you! I had been reading a lot of the forums and am very excited to find this website.

It's been a pretty steady 99 degrees. The humidity is a little harder because I am in the dessert. I did add a good amount of water on day 18. Can you add more water through a valve?

I'll be patient. Can't wait to take a look in the morning!

 

[mothersin2ition]

Hi, I am on day 21 today as well! I had 2 hatch so far, and absolutely nothing else happening (besides one egg that I saw rocking a little). I believe you and I will both have some activity tomorrow, I'm definitely not getting stressed yet Hang in there, it's not over by a long shot!
Good luck and we can compare notes in the morning

 

[Farmer Viola]

wow, 52 eggs is quite a few!
if you have NO external pips, you can safely open the incubator. the danger is when an external pip has been made, opening the membrane up to the air. if the humidity drops, the membrane will dry up and harden. when you have no external pips, no eggs are open to the air and there is no risk. be sure there are no external pips before proceeding.

you can candle the eggs (after sunset, in pitch dark room) to look for an internal pip. it will look like a dark triangle within the shell:

once you see internal pip, it will be 12-24hrs to external pip. during this time, the chick is breathing the air within the air cell. part of the yolk absorption process is also happening, abdomen closing. the chick is finishing it's final stages of growth (still very important).

to get the humidity up afterward, use a soaking wet paper towel (if you have room) in a dish.

the only time I had a chick fail between internal and external pip, I think the shells were extremely thick (too much calcium) and unpenetratable. I wish I had opened that sooner, but no way to know. they ran out of air..
knowing the time of internal pip is useful.

 

[CottageChic]

Still nothing else happening. How about you?

 

[CottageChic]

I am going to try candling the eggs when it gets darker out this evening. Then I can rescue the one hatched chick and get it some food and water and under a brooder.
Thanks for the info!

 

[CottageChic]

Well the one chick has been taken out of the Bator. She's under a brooder and a little lonely. Still no signs of pips in any of the other eggs. We decided to take a look at candling the other eggs. What we saw wasn't great. Mostly a lot of liquid I didn't candle on day eighteen. I am am first timer.
It just seems so odd to me that just one egg would hatch out of 52. How can conditions be good enough for one egg but all the rest failed?
I'll try again next year. I think I've learned a few things and have enjoyed reading through these forums.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Well the one chick has been taken out of the Bator. She's under a brooder and a little lonely. Still no signs of pips in any of the other eggs. We decided to take a look at candling the other eggs. What we saw wasn't great. Mostly a lot of liquid

I didn't candle on day eighteen. I am am first timer.
It just seems so odd to me that just one egg would hatch out of 52. How can conditions be good enough for one egg but all the rest failed?
I'll try again next year. I think I've learned a few things and have enjoyed reading through these forums.

I am sorry.. I know how hard it can be *hugs*

if any of the remaining eggs look developed, by all means keep them in - chicks can hatch late... was humidity high?
I have had good luck with the dry incubation method.. it is practically the opposite of the instructions that came with my incubator. There is a link in my signature called the Dry Incubation Method. here is the short version:

day 1-18: 25-45%
day 19-21: 55-65%
need 1-3 hygrometers (humidity gauge) to test against each other for accuracy, and thermometers. humidity is that important.

the idea behind dry incubation is to allow the eggs evaporation to regulate the humidity without adding any water. as long as it falls within the range of 25-45%, you add no water! until lockdown at day 19.

for your single chick.. some people like to put a mirror in with them so they can see another chick. they also like to snuggle/get under stuffed animals for comfort you might consider finding her a friend on craigslist? maybe better when she is a week old so she is strong. good luck!

 

[lvp1963]

I don't know if there is a Tractor Supply near you but they have chicks for sale right now. Also a lot of your local feed and seed stores will be getting them or have them. It might be a good idea to buy her or him a few friends. Just a thought. We bought 15 BO's from them and they are doing great.