Fully developed chick did not hatch - Help!

[Cuban Longtails]

If you're wrapping it with towels, you're likely blocking the vent holes along the very edge of the bottom of the incubator. These help regulate humidity and airflow, so it is possible the eggs are not getting enough oxygen.

 

[quailbrain]

If it is both shipped and your own it is an incubator problem I'd almost bet. As suggested by others I'd be looking at ventilation if you are sure your gages all are working properly. If they aren't getting good oxygen to replace whats lost maybe that's the issue? If you aren't opening it a lot.... which is good... the oxygen wouldn't have a chance to enter possibly. Good luck!

 

[Jubaby]

I just ordered a new RCom 20 incubator, and the person who shipped me the eggs, is willing to send me more. So we're going to try again very soon.

It might be the towel/airflow issue. I'm going to sterilize the incubator good, and try it again this spring when the temps are a little warmer. I wasn't able to keep the temps up to 99-100 until I was covering the outside of the bator with the towels.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[spikennipper]

It depends what the chicks looked like when you broke the eggs open, were they sticky? if so this is most likely due to low humidity, if they were wet it was most likely due to too much humidity and they may have drowned once they pipped.

 

[Jubaby]

They were wet and juicy. Never pipped, just dead and fully formed.

 

[Jubaby]

My best hygrometer was reading 65-70% during hatch.

 

[Bluemoon420]

Hygrometer might be off. There's a post somewhere on testing the hygrometer.


Bluemoon

 

[Jubaby]

I've done the saltwater test before. I'll look that up and try it again.

 

[Bluemoon420]

Yep, that's the one. Involves saltwater. I did it on the ones I have. It turned out the best one I was using was about 5 percent off. I just kept that in mind for this hatch, and adjusted accordingly.

Bluemoon

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Try to get a broody by leaving dud eggs in a nest. They are probably dieing from a genetic flaw (i had that last year with 2 ee hens) or too too low of humidity.