Chicks Pip then die

[charles2213]

I have no idea what I am doing wrong. The chicks will pip then 24 hours later they die I have lost 3 so far. The Humidity stays between 50 to 55% and the heat stays between 99.5 and 100.2. I have note opened the hatcher. Can anyone please help me with this.

 

[MetalSmitten]

try raising that humidity. sounds like they may be getting stuck.

 

[charles2213]

Ok will do

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Ok will do

Also check the position of any dead chicks head. At piping the chick should have its head tucked beneath its right wing. This is the optimum position for the peep to cut cleanly through the eggshell while it turns itself inside the egg. This positioning should allow the chick to cleanly cut the top off the big end of the eggshell with its egg tooth. Then with a few kicks the chick is free.

Another thing to consider is that too high an incubation temperature may result in chicks that grow to big to move freely inside the eggshell resulting in exhausted or mushy chicks and a failure to hatch.

75% humidity in the incubator or hatcher the last 3 days is IMHO just barely sufficient.

If natures' children, including baby chicks did not need lubrication to get into this world, then mammals would not spend their whole fetus hood swimming in a sack of amniotic fluid that just luckily happens to ruptures at the exact time that an infant is ready to be born.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

The recommended humidity rate for hatch is at LEAST 65%. I shoot for 75%. I feel even 65% is on the low side for hatch, especially if something happens and there's a need to open the bator. Too easy to drop it too low. 75% gives me piece of mind that they have the moisture they need and I have wiggle room if I think I need to meddle for any reason. Had an excellent hatch last time. I used sponges in the bator at lock down (and filled the water wells), then just pulled out the sponge wet them and stuck them back in to keep the humidity up. Hope you have better luck.

 

[dheltzel]

I aim for at least 80% humidity, often it goes to 99% while they are hatching because earlier chicks are drying off. Since starting this new high humidity procedure, I have lost almost no chicks that got as far as pipping. With the humidity that high, it's also safer if you absolutely must open the hatcher before they are all out. No saying you should, but some late hatching chicks are saved when I absolutely must remove the early hatchers.

I recommend reading the incubation instructions on the Porter Heritage Turkey website. Turkeys are harder to hatch than chickens so conditions must be more optimal, and that's what we want for our chickens too.

 

[MetalSmitten]

any luck?