Bad Hatch?

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I have had a wierd hatch - first chick popped out, acted fine, I moved after 12 hours to breeder box (too soon?), then acted like it couldn't stand up, then died 8 hours later. 2 more hatched (I assisted one, didn't make it) the other was fine for 26 hours, then died. 2 more hatched, one is just laying there twitching & cheeping. The other one has been out 6 hours, still looks sticky. I don't know whether to just cut bait & try another batch. If that doesn't work out just figure my incubator is bad & move on?

 

[aveca]

Boy thats awful, I feel bad for you...What was the temp toward the end of the hatch? If it goes too high they seem to have more problems, develope perfectly then that. Maske sure your vents are open for circulation, there are plugs that can be removed. Give them some time make sure temp isnt too high or too low give a little more time.
Sorry Im just getting upset with you.

 

[kathyinmo]

Do you have a heat light in your brooder? The temperature at 90 - 95 degrees? Maybe they became chilled?

 

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The brooder is solid @ 96 degrees. The incubator has been crazy-fluctuating temps the last 4 days. Mayve that is the issue? It flucuated at the beginning, then was perfect day 5 - 18. I hate thinking of the chicks suffering. Maybe I am just better off buying hens as I am not cut out for the gard-core parts of chick hatching.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
That was my first thought.

Did you get water into them right away? Dip their beaks in it and make certain they got some?

 

[kathyinmo]

On the other hand ... could they be too warm? In the brooder, do you have heat at one end, and then a way for them to move away from the heat, if they are too hot? I have noticed some of my chicks don't do well with too much heat.