Barely-Viable Chicks are Hatching and Dying...

[bethann33]

After 11 healthy chicks hatched, I now have had a batch of 4-5 very bad chicks hatch. They have either died while hatching (pipped and/or partial zip), or have emerged with barely any function and have died within 6 hours of hatching. They cannot hold up their head and can barely walk. The chicks that are like this are very smelly and sticky, unlike the others.

What is the cause of this? improper humidity? humidity has been around 80 +/- a few. It is a Little Giant incubator- still air. This happened over night, as there were non like this last night, and I woke to it this morning. So no openings in the incubator to disrupt temp overnight. I turned a couple of times a day- not enough? genetic?

Would not like to make same mistake again, so if anyone can tell me the cause of this, that would be great. Thank-you kindly.

 

[bethann33]

The feathers are all crusty and he is not fluffing up at all- on the one that is still alive. These all had same hatch date, btw.

 

[Silkies~Polishes]

Looks like your humidity is too high. Itshould bein the 60-70% range. Too high humidity causes chicks be really sticky like you described.

 

[bethann33]

Ok- Thanks. That was the case then. The humidity kept jumping up as more and more chicks would hatch. It probably spiked that night causing the 5 chicks to not make it.