Dying at Day 18 Why??

[Delaneygraces]

I’ve incubated over 30 eggs so far this season, and have NO chicks. Most weren’t fertile, but about 10 of them were, and 6 of those developed and survived to day 18. But ten, on day 18, they died. I set another 12, and two of those survived, and died on day 18. They were fully formed, developed, and they had almost fully absorbed everything in the egg (Day 18, wouldn’t be fully absorbed by that date anyways)
I set two more, and closely watched these two. On day 17, one stopped moving a lot, and by the next day, was completely still. Throughout the day, the other chick slowly stopped moving.
I have no clue why they are dying only 3 days before they hatch.
Does any one have an idea of why this is happening? If you need more information, I can give it. Thank you for any help! I’d like to get chicks this year!

 

[Danielle2006]

What kind of eggs are you setting? What temperature are you keeping them at and humidity? I'm so sorry your having a hard time with the chicks

 

[Delaneygraces]

What kind of eggs are you setting? What temperature are you keeping them at and humidity? I'm so sorry your having a hard time with the chicks

They are Modern Game Bantam (Chicken) eggs. They are mostly at 99.5-101 degrees F. I’m not too sure the humidity, I think about 50, I’ll have to check.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Where did you get the eggs? I had a clutch like that once, where they all died on days 4 and 19, and after the one survivor hatched, I found that he had a riboflavin deficiency. When chicks don't get enough riboflavin, blood doesn't circulate as well, and they die. This can also happen with other vitamin deficiencies.

After that, I started supplementing vitamins when hatching season began.

EDT: This is a good site. https://extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html I hope you solve your issue. Good luck.

 

[Danielle2006]

They are Modern Game Bantam (Chicken) eggs. They are mostly at 99.5-101 degrees F. I’m not too sure the humidity, I think about 50, I’ll have to check.

Oh one of my fave! Are you locking them down on day 15? Bantam eggs hatch usually around day 19 (wasn't sure if you knew that I promise I in noway intended to be rude)

 

[Danielle2006]

Oh one of my fave! Are you locking them down on day 15? Bantam eggs hatch usually around day 19 (wasn't sure if you knew that I promise I in noway intended to be rude)

I'm sorry I misread your post just seen where it was stated I'm crazy this morning.i usually have my incubator around 35 to 40 percent humidity during incubation I only add water when I first set the eggs then don't add any more until lock down I found that I have better hatch rates this way I tried keeping my humidity at the suggested rate and my hatch rate was crazy low never quite figured that one out.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

your problem may be the heat 101 is too hot they need to be 99.5 you can get away with between that and 100 if for short time,but the more consist you are able to keep it at 99.5 the better hatch you will have.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

.... When chicks don't get enough riboflavin, blood doesn't circulate as well, and they die. This can also happen with other vitamin deficiencies..... After that, I started supplementing vitamins when hatching season began..... EDT: This is a good site.

https://extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html

Poor storage, poor nutrition, and other husbandry issues can all affect the hatchability of hen eggs. The full skinny would require that the poster hire a literary agent so I hope that you do some research. The Land Grant Colleges' and Universities' poultry science departments are a good place to begin.