Developed but dead chickens. HELP

[Suzieswaff]

I'm having big problems with incubating eggs. OUT OF 10 ILL GET 2 TO HATCH. I JUST HAD 18 fertilized eggs two peeps but they could not zip and get out. I had to rescue all 3 that lived. After awaiting 25 days I broke into the other 15 and found out every one of them was fertile and developed all the way but they had the yoke sak still not absorbed. 2 was still alive and moving then died the next day. What am I doing wrong? Do you all have any recommendations on a certain incubator? I have used 3 different thimoerters and it's set at 101.00 and the humidity stays over 49 to 59% and I cant get it any higher. What is going on with me loosing all these chickens? If you have a recommendation on a incubator please tell me. Im using a little giant sold by tractor supply with several different thermometers. Its staroafome and automatic Turner but it is still air kind. I am spending a lot of money in these eggs and loosing them all. Helo please
Susan

 

[Pyxis]

From what you're saying I'd guess your humidity is too high. Is that 49% - 59% during the first 18 days? I know for my area that would definitely be too high and I'd have them drowning before they hatch. You may want to try weighing the eggs to track moisture loss, as detailed in the Humidity section of this article.

Also, if you're looking to upgrade on your incubator I would definitely recommend the Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 that is also sold at TSC.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Did you take out the red plugs for more air circulation like you are supposed too? That and too high of humidity would be what I would wonder about. Are you taking the temperature on top of the ggs?

 

[FortCluck]

Sounds like a humidity issue to me. I had to start dry incubating (no water) because on my first hatch o had the same issues and everyone told me not to add water until I see the first external pip.

I stay at 30% throughout until the first external pip then I add 30 ml of water which brings it to about 40%. I've been getting usually getting 90% of the eggs to hatch.

I set my incubator to 100.5, but it is 99.5-100 according to the extra thermometers that I use.

I have the farm innovator 4250 and I really like it.

I'm sorry that you've lost that many chicks, but you will get the hang of it. Just continue to try and eventually you'll know what's right for your area with humidity and such.

 

[Rosie65]

From what you're saying I'd guess your humidity is too high. Is that 49% - 59% during the first 18 days? I know for my area that would definitely be too high and I'd have them drowning before they hatch. You may want to try weighing the eggs to track moisture loss, as detailed in the Humidity section of this article.

Also, if you're looking to upgrade on your incubator I would definitely recommend the Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 that is also sold at TSC.

I’d certainly recommend that incubator. got one for Xmas and I hatched everything fertilised. I’ve put another 18 in tonight. It says keep humidity at 50 until day 18 but I know I found mine down as low as 30 a few times and just topped it up.

 

[CindyinSD]

First, consider ordering the mixed barnyard eggs if you have no choice but to ship, and order them from the nearest seller with a good rep and a decent price. If you can possibly do it, buy locally. Search the net for a nearby poultry club. Someone will sell cheap or maybe even give you mixed-breed eggs. I have several mixed breed birds that I got in just that way. They’re among my favorites. It’s no good ordering expensive purebred eggs until you’re comfortable with hatching.

Second, the recommended temp is 99.5. Much over that and your eggs may die. I’m guessing your thermometer is reading high and your surface temp (where the eggs are) is not that hot or I don’t think they’d have gotten as far as they apparently did. It may still be hotter than optimal, though, causing the chicks to grow too fast. (That is my speculation only.)

It does sound like they’re drowning from too much humidity. Weighing the eggs as FortCluck suggested will help you monitor moisture loss. You must have slow, timely moisture loss in the egg in order for the chick to develop properly and to give it an adequate breathing space for it to use during hatching, in the time between the internal pip (the chick breaking into the air pocket) and the external pip. It will also help you to trace the line of the air cell in pencil or felt pen on the shell when you candle. You should see a gradual enlargement of the cell. Too much humidity can also (I’ve read) cause them to grow too big without maturing sufficiently.

I feel confident this has been your problem. We have a very dry climate and I do add humidity. I try to keep it around 35-45% during incubation and 60-80% during lockdown. Make sure your thermometer(s) and hygrometer(s) are accurate.

Your incubator probably has several canals or channels which you can use to hold water. If the humidity stays too high, you may be using a channel with too much surface area. Go to a smaller channel. If too low, choose a channel with more surface area or use more than one channel. If you cannot seem to get the humidity high enough (as in for lockdown), you can add dishes with small pieces of wet sponge in them. Don’t add the sponges without the dishes, though. I’ve heard of chicks drowning by falling asleep with their little faces buried against the wet sponge.

I’m really sorry you’ve been having such a rough time. Hatching is a joy when you have a successful experience. It’s truly worth it to persevere. You’re gonna get this figured out—just keep trying. Mama hens don’t always do that well, either, so don’t get discouraged. You’ve got this!

 

[CindyinSD]

BTW, I have the Incuvue from Incubator Warehouse (their in-house model) and am very happy with it. Look them up online. Plus, the price is right.

 

[Suzieswaff]

Did you take out the red plugs for more air circulation like you are supposed too? That and too high of humidity would be what I would wonder about. Are you taking the temperature on top of the ggs?

 

[Suzieswaff]

Thank you. Yes I just took those out and forgot about them. The humidity never got above 60% and it was just that high at the 18 day mark. Is that too high? And the tempature gauge is sitting right on the eggs.
Its strategy tho how the chicks fully develop then die and do not zip on their own. I've had about 10 different hatches and it's always a low hatch rate and only one chick has hatched on its own.

 

[Colez]

I'm having big problems with incubating eggs. OUT OF 10 ILL GET 2 TO HATCH. I JUST HAD 18 fertilized eggs two peeps but they could not zip and get out. I had to rescue all 3 that lived. After awaiting 25 days I broke into the other 15 and found out every one of them was fertile and developed all the way but they had the yoke sak still not absorbed. 2 was still alive and moving then died the next day. What am I doing wrong? Do you all have any recommendations on a certain incubator? I have used 3 different thimoerters and it's set at 101.00 and the humidity stays over 49 to 59% and I cant get it any higher. What is going on with me loosing all these chickens? If you have a recommendation on a incubator please tell me. Im using a little giant sold by tractor supply with several different thermometers. Its staroafome and automatic Turner but it is still air kind. I am spending a lot of money in these eggs and loosing them all. Helo. please
Susan

Ive been their, going ro follow your thread to se what people say. I had same happen to me when i used the nonstill air kind....

Wishing thou luck, i have gotten much better results with a more expensive incubator ....