Chicks Are Dying Before They Hatch!!!!

[sandyj]

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I put 30 Couternix quail eggs and 20 chicken eggs in incubator. The day the quail were due, only 1 hatched. After several days (3 -4) 7 more hatched, with my help. They had been pipping for almost 2 days and weren't able to get out of the egg by themselves. Three of those died.

The other 18 died before pipping at different stages of development. Of the 20 chicken eggs I put in, I only got 3 chickens to hatch. They also needed help getting out. The rest of the 17 eggs were also in several stages of development. The temp was at a steady 99 -100 degrees and humidy was around 50% What am I doing wrong????!!!!

HELP!!!!

sandyj

 

[okiehen]

You said the chicks needed help getting out, were they stuck sticky? If so your humidity was too low.

 

[PeepsInc]

Get a spray bottle, & mist them once a day(Wth Warm Water). You'll see a major change in your hatch ratio. You can also add a wet sponge during the last few days to raise the humidity. If I have to assist an egg ,I do it threw the air hole with 2 pieces of fence wire, or a chopstick. So I dont open the bator. I wish you good luck with your next hatch!