Embryos dying

[babsbag]

I have been hatching one or two batches a year for the last 9 years and have a decent success rate, about 80-90%. I have a hovabator 1588 with an egg turner that has always worked very well. The last batch I did, about 2 months ago, was a bomb, 6 eggs out of 40 hatched, the others developed and then died, probably around day 10. After that hatched I cleaned the incubator and turner with bleach and rinsed well. I couldn't figure out what went wrong, but thought that it must be a bacteria of some kind. Temperature and humidity are always good. The eggs look good when I set them, no cracks, wipe off dirt, only a few days old, not refrigerated, and look and taste good if I use them for eating.

So I set another batch. I am on day 18 today and I have had 5 eggs die and leak. I have not candled the others but based on the number that are dead so far I am suspecting that I might be having the same problem. I seldom have exploding eggs as usually the ones that don't hatch never develop at all. This developing and dying is a new issue for me. I also have 12 eggs in another incubator, but I just set those last week so a ways to go.

Any ideas on what is happening?

 

[hysop]

Are they from your flock? Are your chickens overall healthy?

What do they eat?

 

[babsbag]

Are they from your flock? Are your chickens overall healthy?

What do they eat?

The chickens are from my flock and very healthy. They free range on about an acre and eat 16% chicken feed from a local feed mill and I also throw out scratch. They also get any kitchen veggie or fruit scraps. Occaisionally they get a Purina Flock Block too.

 

[hysop]

The chickens are from my flock and very healthy. They free range on about an acre and eat 16% chicken feed from a local feed mill and I also throw out scratch. They also get any kitchen veggie or fruit scraps. Occaisionally they get a Purina Flock Block too.

Is it possible it’s your incubator since you’ve had it for 9 years. (I’m assuming you’ve had it for that long I don’t know).

Maybe trying a new one would help determine if it’s an incubator issue instead of a flock issue

 

[hysop]

I had a Little Giant still air incubator for less than a year and it ended up going haywire in the middle of my second incubation. Some people say styrofoam incubators are a hit or miss with them. Is it possible maybe it’s time to upgrade?

You say the temp and humidity are good. What temperatures and humidity % have they stayed at? And have you confirmed with a second thermometer and hygrometer?

 

[babsbag]

This generator has an electronic temperature/humidity display and also a fan. I have not checked the temp, I should do that. I am pretty sure that the humidity is good as I have used it enough times to know the drill. The temp says that it is about 100° and humidity is between 40-45 and higher right before hatching.

 

[hysop]

My incubator worked great for a while then went crazy and never read the right humidity. It’s possible your built in thermometer and hygrometer are acting up that’s why your batches are coming out so bad recently