chicks not hatching when almost fully developed

[Avonshire]

Did you read that link? It has great info on what you need to do for your humidity. I did not have a hygrometer either until after my first chick hatched and a friend said I needed to know what was going on with the humidity and the other eggs. I also kept water in mine the whole time so my humidity was probably too high the first half. I have 20% humidity right now with it empty and no water.

 

[newchickinflock]

I was not pulling the plugs. I am using a new bator this time I got from a friend and it is still a styrofoam one but it has a fan. Should I still pull the plugs on day 18?? Thanks for all the info!

 

[newchickinflock]

I did, it was great! Thank you! I think I probably had to high humidity in the beginning as well, and not high enough at the end. I'm going to try the paper towels at the end. That was a great article. Thanks!

 

[teachininthesun]

We started hatching eggs 21 days ago. We started with 36. It is a classroom project for my students. We narrowed it down to 30 fertile/viable eggs. We turned the eggs 2-3 times a day. Each egg showed growth and movement during candling. We are now at day 21 and nothing :0(

The humidity during the first 18 days stayed around 50-60%
Now it is around 70-80 percent when I first get started. There are a few eggs that "move" but no noise. Will any of these babies hatch? We are using a still air incubator that had a fan installed (so I guess it's no long still air) The 2 air plugs have been removed. WE haven't turned them since day 18.

Any suggestions? I am so worried that none of these babies will hatch.

HELP! :0)

 

[Peter1975]

Thats high humidity for 18 days....you will have fat swollen chicks that cant move to pip the egg. 60 degrees is hatching humidity.

I'd put the eggs to your ear, if you hear and chipping or peeping start looking to give them a hand.

 

[teachininthesun]

Oh noooo....we don't hear a thing! Well, we haven't touched the ones we have seen moving b/c we are afraid to disorient them. They are moving, but how do we help them get out :0( OH NO!!! I read on here to keep Day 1-18 at 50% and I tried-but there was a little fluctuation.

Are they ALL going to die? Will they drown? Are they probably dead already? How do you tell if they are alive or dead? If we candle the eggs will we be able to tell??? We read different articles and different sites but it seems like everyone has different methods. Will they survive if we "help" them...I read not to help them b/c they are more likely to die once they are out.

If we were to do it again is it best to buy a good incubator that has a turner?

 

[Avonshire]

Teachinthesun--I agree it seems everyone has a different method. I do think it might be different for forced air vs still. Did you read that article I linked to? It says something about forced air too--maybe in the comments? OK if your eggs are rocking you might be OK. It is about 24-48 hours before they pip. THat is pretty high humidity for the beginning stage and what temperature did you use? I used 99.5(I homeschool and we too were doing it as a project) and apparently that is actually not hot enough and will cause them to hatch later. I also probably had a higher humidity in the beginning(I was not even monitoring it so you were one better than I was!) but I had water in my bator so I am sure it was too high. I hope that some hatch and that they are healthy. It was pretty traumatic here when they would pip but then not progress, then I helped and then they died anyway! Well they were sick and then they died. KUP! Oh and I do think there are better incubators but plenty of people do it without the turner. However I did not turn mine but once a day in my first hatch so my second hatch I am using the turner. What are you going to do with the chicks if they hatch?

 

[teachininthesun]

Avonshire-if 99.5 is not hot enough and will cause later hatching, maybe that is part of the many issues. I have 3 thermometers (again-I read all different things about temps-some said 99-101.5 some said no more than 100.5 other no hotter than 102 degrees....confusing! So, in the beginning all thermometers stayed about 100...now the one on top is at 100 and the one below seems to be around 97-99-it seems to vary-so maybe it's too cold-but the eggs are warm (not hot) to the touch....but I was afraid to cook them. Maybe they are just slow.
Since we had 36 we thought we would have a good group of chicks...neighbors around my school and friends with property said they would take them. I never thought it would be this stressful-after all-it's a Hen...all she does is sit on them...we are in Florida-so it's HOT and HUMID here...oh dear...I am a bad chick mommy.
I sure do hope some make it. I may have to purchase some chicks so the kids aren't completely devastated.

 

[Avonshire]

I feel the exact same way!! I had no idea it was so difficult and I am a terrible chickie mommy so that is why I have to do it again. I failed miserably. Now Let me tell you because my temp was kept at 99.5 my chick did not hatch until day 23. You may still get something but it might be over the weekend. Can you check on them over the weekend. I am about to get a second chick for my one chick so it is not so lonely!

 

[teachininthesun]

I have someone on "duty" tonight, I will go in the morning and again on Sunday morning/afternoon to make sure everyone is OK....then I have their "brooder?"(dry area) all ready to go with water and feeder ready...here's to hoping. I will have to do again, as well....I can't take failing-although I feel awful that they were viable and may not be b/c of me!!! :0(