Bad Luck/Need Help - Hatching Eggs

[Torre87]

Hello,
I have a question about the lack of eggs hatching. We have set eggs three times and the number of hatched eggs is ridiculously low. The first time we set 12 eggs and 3 three hatched, the second time we set 12 and 1 hatched and this last time only 4 out of 13 hatched. They are all being set naturally under a broody hen, and I do not know what is causing the numbers to be so low.

Does anyone have in advice?

 

[dekel18042]

Hello,
I have a question about the lack of eggs hatching. We have set eggs three times and the number of hatched eggs is ridiculously low. The first time we set 12 eggs and 3 three hatched, the second time we set 12 and 1 hatched and this last time only 4 out of 13 hatched. They are all being set naturally under a broody hen, and I do not know what is causing the numbers to be so low.

Does anyone have in advice?

There are many possibilities. Obviously the eggs are fertile as some are hatching. Where are you getting your eggs? I've never had much luck with shipped eggs. 0 to 60%. But are ALL the eggs fertile or just some? In extreme heat and cold, fertility drops. What breeds? Are you giving them to an experienced or first time mommy? If you're watching her, how often does she seem to be off the nest? How old were the eggs when you gave them to her? Did you try candling them at various times to see if they started, never started, or just didn't make it at the end? If shipped, did you candle them before setting to see the shape and position of the air cells?
If we can get some more information, maybe we can figure out what is happening.

 

[Naser]

If you need a good hatch rate buy a good incubator
I had great success with RCOM SURO Egg Incubator
I never had great success with broody hens.
I found the easiest way to raise chicks is: When the hen gets broody put some eggs under her and fill the incubator. when the eggs in the incubator hatch put the chicks under the broody.
Shipped eggs have low hatching rate
If you have less than one rooster for 15 hens, fertility will decline.
Fertility declines with storage as well

 

[Torre87]

Where are you getting your eggs? All the eggs we have used are laid and fertilized by chickens we have in our flock, none are shipped or purchased.


Are ALL the eggs fertile or just some? I am new to hatching/raising chicks, most chickens I have had I got as adults. If there an easy way to tell if they are fertile?

In extreme heat and cold, fertility drops. What breeds? I know that we had some good high temps over the last month or two hovering around 90-105 degrees. All the eggs are Rhode Island Reds

Are you giving them to an experienced or first time mommy? Yes, the hens that have been setting the eggs have raised at least one set of eggs in the past. (They came from my father in-law).

If you're watching her, how often does she seem to be off the nest? From what I can tell, she is only off the nest long enough to eat, drink and stretch then she goes right back to it.

How old were the eggs when you gave them to her? The oldest egg couldn't have been more than 14 days old, what is the ideal age?

Did you try candling them at various times to see if they started, never started, or just didn't make it at the end? I didn't do any candling. Can you explain this concept to me and the importance of doing this? Like I said, I have never tried to hatch my eggs until these three tries, always got chickens that were weaned and ready to go.

Thank you