Americana eggs not hatching

[jillpetr]

We hatch our eggs the "old fashioned" way and while we have an excellent hatch rate with most of the eggs, the Americana eggs are an issue. The birds develop fully, but die in the shell .. they never hatch. Other eggs in the bunch all hatch just fine. Any idea why we have issues with one particular breed? Thanks!

 

[FortCluck]

What’s the old fashioned way?

How long had the eggs been sitting before you set them?

Are these new layers or how long have they been laying eggs?

What do you feed them?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Are these eggs from your birds?
Are all your hatching eggs from your birds?

 

[jillpetr]

What’s the old fashioned way?

How long had the eggs been sitting before you set them?

Are these new layers or how long have they been laying eggs?

What do you feed them?

The "old fashioned" way is a hen sitting on them as opposed to an incubator. The eggs were fresh, less than 2 days and not refrigerated. The hens are just under 2 years old, and we feed them layer food (and scratch). They are free range and have about 3/4 of an acre of fenced in area to call their own.

 

[FortCluck]

I would say increase their protein intake before you get eggs next time and try again... Sounds to me like your Americanas are lacking nutrition or they’re not suitable to breed.

 

[FortCluck]

Not every fertile egg is suitable to hatch. I would look at the breeding stock of the Americana eggs closely and see if there is anything different between them and the others you bred.

Not all chickens can breed and make offspring.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with FortCluck. It is always a good idea to revisit nutrition. Layer feed is suitable for producing eating eggs but not quite adequate for taking embryos to term. Add to that, not all layer feeds are created equal. There can be big differences in vitamin A, D and E content.
Add scratch to their diet and you are cutting vitamin and amino acid content further.
That's why I asked if your successful hatches also came from your birds.