First time incubating eggs 4 out of 5 stopped developing

[Charlotte Davies]

long story short.. my dad had a broody hen I bought her eggs to sit on then decided I wanted my own chicks... I stupidly bought a cheap incubator, put 6 eggs in it. I accidentally dropped one egg but the five I had left were developing now I have four that have stopped developing, the one that's still developing looks as if it's doing well. Could my incubator be the reason the eggs are no longer developing? Can I raise one chick on its own? I'm sure I was told chickens can be on their own ( I could be wrong) I'm planning on getting more chicks in the next few weeks but my little egg only has 6 days left. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[PD-Riverman]

long story short.. my dad had a broody hen I bought her eggs to sit on then decided I wanted my own chicks... I stupidly bought a cheap incubator, put 6 eggs in it. I accidentally dropped one egg but the five I had left were developing now I have four that have stopped developing, the one that's still developing looks as if it's doing well. Could my incubator be the reason the eggs are no longer developing? Can I raise one chick on its own? I'm sure I was told chickens can be on their own ( I could be wrong) I'm planning on getting more chicks in the next few weeks but my little egg only has 6 days left. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sure you can raise it alone!
Your incubator set-up could be and probably is the reason they have stopped developing. You have not mentioned what the temp is, what the humidity is which is needed to try and help answer your questions?
Lastly Don't count your chicks before the egg hatches. To many variables.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Wait, if a broody is sitting on them why not keep them like that?

It's best to keep them with other chicks so it grows up recognizing other chooks. They're really social. But that being said they CAN be kept alone just like a some fish CAN be kept in bowls.

 

[Charlotte Davies]

Aw that's great! The temp is at 37.5. The incubator doesn't have anything to check the humidity, when I read the instructions and some online stuff it said to add water every other day until day 18 then add water everyday. I shouldn't have bought a cheap incubator. I don't think after this hatch I'll be doing it again. I've checked the eggs over the last few days and four of the eggs don't have veins anymore and the embryos aren't moving or gotten any bigger.

 

[Charlotte Davies]

Wait, if a broody is sitting on them why not keep them like that?

It's best to keep them with other chicks so it grows up recognizing other chooks. They're really social. But that being said they CAN be kept alone just like a some fish CAN be kept in bowls.

The broody hen sat on different eggs, she hatched 3 lovely chicks 5 weeks a go. I bought different eggs for myself.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Aw that's great! The temp is at 37.5. The incubator doesn't have anything to check the humidity, when I read the instructions and some online stuff it said to add water every other day until day 18 then add water everyday. I shouldn't have bought a cheap incubator. I don't think after this hatch I'll be doing it again. I've checked the eggs over the last few days and four of the eggs don't have veins anymore and the embryos aren't moving or gotten any bigger.

Is your incubator one of the Little Giants with the built in meter? Like this? https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/little-giant-still-air-incubator?cm_vc=-10005
These things are getting bad reviews, with most saying they are several degree's off----going by the built in meter. For sure a egg fryer.

 

[jvls1942]

let me guess, the incubator is plastic, heated with a light bulb, no insulation. no water reservoir.yellow bottom, domed top.. sells for under $10.oo (or at least they did) ..
throw it away, or give it to your worst enemy.
those should be banned from the market.
yes, it was the incubator, and I wouldn't hold much hope for #5..

 

[Charlotte Davies]

let me guess, the incubator is plastic, heated with a light bulb, no insulation. no water reservoir.yellow bottom, domed top.. sells for under $10.oo (or at least they did) ..
throw it away, or give it to your worst enemy.
those should be banned from the market.
yes, it was the incubator, and I wouldn't hold much hope for #5..

Yeah that sounds pretty much like the one I have only there's a bit for water and no light bulb. It cost me nearly £30 though, I thought before I bought it it was too good be true given the price on some incubators but thought because it was my first time doing it that it would be okay just to start out as I did want to make a hobby out of raising chickens. Then I read the reviews after I bought it and set the eggs (another stupid move on my behalf) but then after staying up all night reading a forum I noticed that a lot of people weren't turning the eggs or putting water in so I thought I'd just try and if I get nothing I'll put it down to experience. Do you have any recommendations on any incubators for someone just starting out?

 

[Charlotte Davies]

Is your incubator one of the Little Giants with the built in meter? Like this? https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/little-giant-still-air-incubator?cm_vc=-10005
These things are getting bad reviews, with most saying they are several degree's off----going by the built in meter. For sure a egg fryer.

No it's a yellow dome one. I read the reviews after buying it and putting the eggs in which was a stupid move and there were about two good reviews in every hundred but i didnt want to give up as a woman I always think I know better than everyone else. Hopefully I'll have at least one hatch then I'll have to get a new incubator

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have a Hova-bator 1602n with a turner and it hatches good and its cheap--kinda. You can hand turn and save about 1/2?