Fully formed but died in shell? Why? HELP! They're dying!

[hinkjc]

There are quite a few links on troubleshooting in the Read Me's on Hatching sticky at the top of this forum. I hope this helps.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1509685#p1509685

I didn't read the other responses (sorry), but I would guess too high humidity for reasoning.

 

[Riven]

I think the problem may have been found thanks to a wonderful person who PM'd me.

The temp. in the bottom ( where the hatching rack is ) is nearly 3 degrees cooler than the top ( where the thermometer/hydrometer sits normally) I have some ready to move to hatching trays so I'm putting up a make shift tray on the top to see if this helps, and then need to figure out better circulation or something to keep the bottom warm as the top.

 

[Akane]

My post pointed out that there are lots of variables to humidity so even if your numbers match what someone else hatches at or match documentation for your incubator it may mean nothing. It still may be too high or too low.


The temperature should be measured right on top of the eggs since it can vary alot but humidity should be pretty much the same everywhere and if the eggs made it to hatch day it's not the temp that killed the chicks. Unless the temp was not off until the end of incubation that's not the cause of death.