Chicks never pipped & died

[LuvMyPolish]

I received 24 Light Brahma eggs by mail (from NC to WA). All eggs were intact & looked great. After not progressing we ended up with 13 that looked promising. Six of the chicks hatched out great, no problems. We finally opened the others to find all but one as fully formed chicks, feathered and looked ready to pip............but dead. We have successfully hatched several of our own RIR and Polish chicks, but I'm curious as to why chicks would come so far, then not hatch and just die in the shell. I'm fairly new to this and trying to learn all I can. I'm thrilled with my new little babies, but sad over the loss of the others. I have a still air Little Giant, temp is kept right around 99.5 and humidity about 30 or so until day 18, then raised to about 60. Thanks for any input.

 

[Bravo]

Did you have any temp spikes or power outages? Did you calibrate your hygrometer?

Sometimes this happens when we are learning. Hopefully you can figure out what went wrong so you can move forward. Congrats on the 6 babies! Here's hoping they are all girls!

 

[LuvMyPolish]

Thanks Bravo. Hoping for all girls and just ONE boy! I bought 6 other Light Brahma pullets a few weeks ago so one roo would be perfect! No power outages or temp spikes. How do you calibrate the hygrometer? I just put it in the 'bator and keep an eye on it. Only had a few eggs of my own not hatch and end up being ready but never came out. Just wondering if I can improve something the next time around.

 

[perolane]

Up your temp to 100.5 for a still air...99.5 if you have a forced air incubator. Sometimes these things happen, especially with shipped eggs.

 

[LuvMyPolish]

Thank you! Just can't stop wondering how they got so far then never came out

 

[MtWashFam]

I have an LG still air too. No problems with temp spikes although did have some issues with the humidity. fixed that with sponges under the grate fed by straws from outside, use an eraser from a pencil to cap the top.

Had six eggs in it, started small knowing they might not hatch at all. 1st time hatching too. Had two eggs hatch perfectly, even had a night where it got unplugged and temp dropped to 60. one egg drowned, two quit, and the last one got broken by the hatched chicks. Have a bator and a hatcher now. the two that quit were dancing around. seemed fine when we looked at them.

Don't give up. I start my next hatch on Sat. Good luck.

 

[Bravo]

Here is a link on calibrating your hygrometer https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3769492

I am guessing your hygrometer is off and humidity was a little higher than you thought it would be. It's happened to me too. Humidity that is too high can kill chicks trying to hatch.