Emergency need advice

[eestep8]

Its day 22, only 5 out of 11 eggs had hatched. 1 I had to help because he wasn't turned right and couldn't unzip. I decided to candle the rest. I could only see 2 that had piped the air cell and 1 the whole egg was dark. We decided to help them, knowing only 1 had a visable heartbeat. The dark one was dark because the chick was filling it up, he was already dead. The second one was dead, the outer membrane was fine but the inner membrane was shrink wrapped to the chick. The third was alive, the inner membrane again was shrink wrapped to it. I tore a small hole in it and it bleed alittle so I wrapped it up in a wet washcloth and put him back in the bator. There are 3 eggs left and I think atleast 1 may be alive, but I can't see if they've pipped the aircell or not.

What do I do? Should I open the other eggs? What causes this?

Temp has been steady at 98-99, humidity 50% and then 65-70% the last 3 days.

 

[Dirt Road]

If your thermometer is accurate, you may be running your incubator temp a bit too low.
It's always a tough call; it is extremely difficult to judge the right time to help one with the internal pip. Where you have had some hatch, and some die I guess you just go with your gut feeling, and accept that you did your best whether it works or not.

Jim

 

[eestep8]

It didn't make it. I think it may have been my fault. About an hour or so later I realized that the membrane was still accross its beak and he couldn't get any air. I tore it and it was gasping, about 15 minutes later I checked and it was gone. Its so upsetting, but aleast I know now to make sure it can breath if i have to do it again. The other 3 eggs were quitters. I really thought I had my problems fixed this time. I hatched 5 out of 11 this time, which I guess is good although I was hoping for more.

 

[thedoors5to1]

im pretty sure shrink wrapped membranes around the chick means the humidity is too low, i am not positive though. anyone else know for sure?
glad you hatched at least 5, better than nothing!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I agree that shrink wrapped membrane means that your humidity is low. Did you test your hygrometer? When I calibrated mine I discovered that one was low by 7% and the other low by 3%. That would make a difference.

I'm so sorry your hatch was disappointing. My first hatch had three completely formed dead in the shell chicks. It's so sad to see those completely formed babies dead.

Are these shipped eggs or your own? On your other hatches have you opened the unhatched shells to see what is up? (Do be careful of exploders when doing this!!) Give it another day and see what happens with the remaining eggs. Your temps may be low and they might still be viable. You just never know.

 

[eestep8]

I did calibrate it and it was 8% to low, so I do add in the 8%. I opened 2 of the remaining 3 cause when I candled I thought I may have seen movement but one must have been the bad one that quit a week ago cause it was just goo in the membrane, I sure was careful not to break the membrane. The other one was dead, I watched it for a while.

If my humidity was around 65-70% for the last 3 days would opening it to help the one chick have cause the shrink wrapping?

ETA they were shipped eggs, 11 out of 12 were alive on day 18 when I candled. This was the first time I opened any eggs.

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

Hi,
So sorry! That is always very sad.
I think your temp. was a bit to low, from what I have read the best temp. is 99.5 for chicks and duck eggs. I think the range between 99-100 would make a big difference if you decide to do it again as well as the humidity being corrected now that you have it figured out. The temp should also be dropped on lockdown day to 98.5 and the humidity upped. Good luck in the future and enjoy your five special babies!

 

[Katy]

What kind of incubator were you using? If it was a still air your temps were about 3-4 degrees too low. The shrink wrapped chicks means your humidity was too low.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I've also been told that a 50% hatch for shipped eggs is pretty good.

My last round of shipped eggs hatched 3 of 16.

 

[eestep8]

It is an LG still air.

I have tried running it at 101 but it would be up to 103-4 in some places and 101 in others. I have also ran the humidity were its supposed to be and also tried a dry hatch. This was my 4th try. I really think I need more thermometers and a reptile hygrometer and maybe even a pc fan next time. So anyways I tried lowering the temp.


Another thing is that after I took out the turner it dropped to 96 for a few hours before I noticed.