Failure to Pip

[wilsomom]

Hi, my hatch rates have been around 50% although 100% were alive at lockdown. I can't figure out why so many are dying right before hatching. I did eggtopsies and found the following:

1. Shrink wrapped chicks
2. Head tucked under left wing
3. Head at wrong end of egg
4. Perfectly normal looking full term chicks

Most were number 4. On one hatch I assisted 5 chicks and they all made it, on another hatch I "let nature take its course".

Just wondering if there are any helpful tips or ideas what's gone wrong.

Thank you!

 

[HuskerHens18]

I have the same issue you have! All chicks are alive at lockdown, but only half hatch.
I discovered I had too high humidity, too much liquid inside the eggs. My tempature was too low, the chicks seemed small compared to the ones that hatched, and the yolks were huge. (I made a thread if you want to compare)
If the head is at the wrong end of the egg, I was told that can be a sign of too high humidity.
Shrink wrapping happens if you open the incubator during lockdown and the humidity drops really fast.
As for the perfectly normal looking chicks, I don't have any clues. I'm pretty new to incubating still

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

What kind of incubator are you using? Are you opening it after lockdown for any reason?

 

[wilsomom]

I'm using the typical Styrofoam one from a farm store. I do open if needed, like I had a chick that got it's foot stuck once, but if I do , then I spray a hot water mist before shutting it. I try not to though.

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

Do you have a hygrometer? Id say if you are going to open it have a hygrometer inside and outside and verify similar humidity levels. Also good to verify the temperature because most all incubators show poor reflections of that.

 

[wilsomom]

That's a good idea, I need to get a hydrometer for sure.

 

[wilsomom]

I have the same issue you have! All chicks are alive at lockdown, but only half hatch.
I discovered I had too high humidity, too much liquid inside the eggs. My tempature was too low, the chicks seemed small compared to the ones that hatched, and the yolks were huge. (I made a thread if you want to compare)
If the head is at the wrong end of the egg, I was told that can be a sign of too high humidity.
Shrink wrapping happens if you open the incubator during lockdown and the humidity drops really fast.
As for the perfectly normal looking chicks, I don't have any clues. I'm pretty new to incubating still

I bet I've been adding too much humidity trying to keep it from getting too low! I'll have to get a hydrometer for sure! I'd love to look at your thread, I'm new to this forum so haven't quite figured out how to get around.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I bet I've been adding too much humidity trying to keep it from getting too low! I'll have to get a hydrometer for sure! I'd love to look at your thread, I'm new to this forum so haven't quite figured out how to get around.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-pipped-wrong-end-of-egg.1233192/page-3#post-19799216 Here's the comment section where I posted my eggtopsy pictures.
I'm new too so don't worry

 

[wilsomom]

Thank you!