Dead embryos before hatching time

[shirley rosenbaum]

Hi , my name is Shirley I am trying to breed Pekin ducks in Harare, Zimbabwe My hatching rate has gone from 60% to 20% The embryos are forming (eggs are fertile) but are dying before hatching time is up. I fumigate after each batch and have had swabs taken of my incubators which show no infection.Incubation temperature is 37.5C and humidity set at 60%The dead embryos seem to have too much fluid in shell Has anybody any advise
Many thanks

 

[Sneebsey]

Your humidity is too high. Until lockdown, you want it to be around 50% depending on your altitude. If it is too high then the eggs will not lose enough moisture for the chicks to survive; when they pip into the air-cell they will drown.

 

[Kiki]

I agree...I think you should lower your humidity until lockdown.

 

[shirley rosenbaum]

Your humidity is too high. Until lockdown, you want it to be around 50% depending on your altitude. If it is too high then the eggs will not lose enough moisture for the chicks to survive; when they pip into the air-cell they will drown.

Your humidity is too high. Until lockdown, you want it to be around 50% depending on your altitude. If it is too high then the eggs will not lose enough moisture for the chicks to survive; when they pip into the air-cell they will drown.

 

[shirley rosenbaum]

Thank you for your reply Harare is at an altitude of about 5000 Ft I will try lowering the humidity to 50% and let you know the results Thanks once again