7th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2016 Hatch-A-Long

[darkbluespace]

Don't worry, I am right in there with you. Final count of those that made it to lockdown was only 2/9 eggs.

First week my incubator was too close to an outside wall. After moving it had a temp spike of 111 degrees. I am just glad one of the two that made it was a cream legbar, and a girl at that! E other is an Ee or OE, boy I think by wing feathers. Glad for two babies. Plus, it would've been rude to not have a chick for my broody after sitting on eggs for so long.

I love seeing a mama with babies, so adorable! I am so glad you got a couple!

 

[darkbluespace]

I have had a couple more quitters : ( One was the egg with the biggest air cell. I think I have 11 silkie eggs and 3 Serama eggs left. Some air cells are pretty small, so we'll see. I can't believe how close we're getting!

 

[BullChick]

I know! It's been dragging, and now it's almost time to welcome the babies!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

The incubator shuffle has begun here. My HAL eggs all went into my hatcher today. I'll have to turn them by hand for a couple days still but I had 22 turkey eggs and 14 Black Copper Marans eggs to get in lol

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sorry to hear about your eggs!! How is your temperature? A high temp is the only thing I can imagine making them all quit early.

High temp is likely but there are many other things that can cause early quitters:

High temp
Low temp
egg or incubator contamination
Eggs stored too long
breeder flock disease
breeder nutritional deficiencies
breeder medication or pesticide exposure
inbreeding
embryological development accidents
improper turning or turning angle
poor ventilation or sealed shells
low humidity
lethal genes

 

[darkbluespace]

High temp is likely but there are many other things that can cause early quitters:

High temp
Low temp
egg or incubator contamination
Eggs stored too long
breeder flock disease
breeder nutritional deficiencies
breeder medication or pesticide exposure
inbreeding
embryological development accidents
improper turning or turning angle
poor ventilation or sealed shells
low humidity
lethal genes

I realize there can be other causes, but I think it would be unlikely for most things on that list to make every or nearly every egg quit.

 

[ronott1]

High temp is likely but there are many other things that can cause early quitters:

High temp
Low temp
egg or incubator contamination
Eggs stored too long
breeder flock disease
breeder nutritional deficiencies
breeder medication or pesticide exposure
inbreeding
embryological development accidents
improper turning or turning angle
poor ventilation or sealed shells
low humidity
lethal genes

Notice that one of the causes on the list is low humidity--You can incubate at too low of humidity.

20 to 25% is the low limit.

 

[prizepete]

Tomorrow is day 18 for most of my eggs and I will candle tomorrow. I got the brinsea spot check and it said that my incubator was at 97... I turned up the temp a little bit, one degree. so eggs will probably be a little late

 

[RoodyRodchester]

Sorry to hear about your eggs!! How is your temperature? A high temp is the only thing I can imagine making them all quit early.

I have 2 thermometers reading 100.5-101 but it has dipped down because the weather has been crazy here and my house hasn't staid consistent. 30 degrees at night for a about a week then 68 the night of Christmas. This is not normal by all means. I do have a still air and my humidity has been reading 35.7% and the air cells looked perfect. They slopped down the correct position and everything.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

High temp is likely but there are many other things that can cause early quitters:

High temp
Low temp
egg or incubator contamination
Eggs stored too long
breeder flock disease
breeder nutritional deficiencies
breeder medication or pesticide exposure
inbreeding
embryological development accidents
improper turning or turning angle
poor ventilation or sealed shells
low humidity
lethal genes

Quote:

I realize there can be other causes, but I think it would be unlikely for most things on that list to make every or nearly every egg quit.

I said temp is the likely cause but the majority of those things are also very possible.
Improper handling or failure to fumigate an incubator can cause contamination that will seep into the pores. Could make every egg quit.
Unless one stores properly or keeps eggs over a week, eggs stored too long is a likely cause.
Flock diseases can go undiagnosed. Could make every egg quit.
Flock nutrition can be deficient. It takes better nutrition for breeders than that for general egg laying. Could make every egg quit.
It's best to use a good breeder ration. Lots of people like to give their BYC lots treats which can diminish overall nutrition.
Deficiencies in breeder diets of any of the following can cause early quitters - riboflavin, biotin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, B12, phosphorus, boron or linoleic acid.
Many people are too quick to medicate. That and pesticide exposure is always possible. Could make every egg quit.
People with small flocks who don't keep breeding lines in separate quarters can easily have inbreeding issues. Could cause many quitters.
Unless one has a reliable turner, turning can be an issue.
Poor ventilation, unless addressed can also be a problem. Forgetting to remove air plugs, etc.. I've had eggs with sealed pores. After the first few days CO2 above 1% is a problem.
Hygrometers are notorious for inaccuracy so humidity can easily be a problem.
While not likely to make all quit, embryologic development accidents can happen in any species at any time.

I'm just saying that there are so many things that can go wrong, telling someone it is always temperature may mislead them and lead to multiple failed hatches until all possibilities are considered.