developed chicks that don't hatch

[L&Schickens]

Every time I put eggs in the incubator I always end up with soem eggs that have fully developed chicks, but they don't pip at all. What is the deal?
Thanks!!

 

[L&Schickens]

anyone?

 

[kid-n-chickens]

What kind of incubator are you using?
Is it still air or circulated?
Using a turner or not?
What temperature are you running?
What humidity days 1-18?
What humidity days 18-21?
Are you opening the incubator after day 18?
How many are hatching vs. not hatching?

With these questions answered they may be more likely to help you trouble shoot. If nothing else it will bump you.

 

[Egg_newton]

I'd like to know too. My last two hatches I've had really poor hatch rates. Upon opening eggs I have had several that looked fully developed that never pipped and a few that pipped internally but then died.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Here is an excellent hatching troubleshooter. I keep this in my favorites.

http://www.poultry.msstate.edu/extension/pdf/troubleshooting_incubation.pdf

 

[L&Schickens]

What kind of incubator are you using? hubavator styrofoam incubator
Is it still air or circulated? circulated
Using a turner or not? yes
What temperature are you running? 98-100 but mostly at 99
What humidity days 1-18? about 40%
What humidity days 18-21? about 50-60%
Are you opening the incubator after day 18? no
How many are hatching vs. not hatching? 15 hatched 8 did not, but were fully developed. I did open the incubator to remove shells and dry chicks.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Depending on what day you opened the bator to remove the shells and dry chicks., it's possible that the ones that were developed and un-pipped were shrink wrapped in the shell. When you open the bator before the hatch is done, it can be an instantaneous think where the membrane constricts around the chick. Once that's happened, they can't turn or position themselves to pip. This isn't always the case, but it definately happens.

 

[L&Schickens]

Thank you.
I am getting ready to fill it up again and I will try and not open it. I have had piped chicks not be able to break out due to another open shell being moved by hatched chicks and covering one end of the unhatched egg. so that is why I want to get the shells out asap.

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm in W. WA too and just hatched 22/24 in a still air lg and hand turning. I know opening the bator is a no-no and always advise people to sit on their hands, BUT I noticed my humidity shot up crazy high (90%) when the bulk of the chicks were hatching. My theory is that the humidity around here is already so high that the wet chicks and the messy shells sent it over the edge. I went ahead and opened the bator and pulled chicks and shells out a few times. The temp came back up in minutes and the humidity dropped to an acceptable 72. I think I would have drowned some chicks if I hadn't done that. I did have to put a sponge in for the four chicky-come-latelys, but had no problems with shrink wrapped chicks. The two that didn't hatch looked like they quit late in the second week. I didn't get a chance to candle before lockdown like I planned because a few eggs had already started pipping by then so I just quickly put the shelf liner down over the rack and the eggs into the cartons. I hope this next try goes better for you!

ETA: I guess you might be East of the mountains so if that is the case what I did might not be such a good idea.

 

[kid-n-chickens]

I also am using a hovabator incubator but mine is not circulated. I was having the same problem so I raised my humidity by 10% I now run my humidity days 1-18 at 50% and days 18-21 at 60-70% and had only 2 out of 14 not hatch and they pipped but was on the bottom of the egg. I would try raising your humidity. When I looked at the trouble shooting guide that Chicky Tocks put on here it also listed low humidty being a cause. To take care of the broken eggs or to move them out of the way you might be able to use a bamboo stick for Kabobs thru the vent hole or a flexible straw. But definitely dont open the bator till you are done hatching.