Fully formed chicks

[Dkbahoo]

so today was day 28 for some of my chick hatching eggs so I’m starting to clear the incubator of the eggs that didn’t hatch. I cleared out 15 eggs. Most were yolks which I knew from candling. Really I don’t know why I left them there. Just hopeful I guess. But two of them were fully formed chicks when I opened them up. I had a lot of issues with the incubators. I had to switch incubators twice. The first one actually started smoking. Based on appearances, can you tell if they drowned or if it was too dry. They absorbed all their yolks. I know there is yolk in the picture but it’s from a previous egg that I cracked that didn’t have a chick..

 

[WVduckchick]

Were the chicks themselves that wet when you opened them? I would suspect humidity too high, and/or temps a bit low. If they died close to day 21, when they should have hatched, they would probably be very dried out.

 

[Dkbahoo]

So I don’t know if you can tell based on the picture, but the one was drier than the other. The yolk is of course from another egg I cracked. The humidity was at 70%. I’ve read from people that have 100% hatches that they do 70% during lockdown. I’d like to prevent this again!

 

[WVduckchick]

Are you saying none at all hatched and only 2 had chicks in them? What kind of incubator did you use? Humidity should only be that high from day 18 until they hatch.
Here’s a good article that may help you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

And here’s one specifically on humidity.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

 

[Dkbahoo]

I had about 200 eggs, I had chicks that hatched normally, and I had 15 eggs that were overdue by about a week so I figured it was time to get rid of them. Most of these 15 eggs were yolks, but two were fully formed chicks seemingly, but they were dead..

 

[Dkbahoo]

Oh and what I meant by 70% humidity at hatch was during the lockdown period and the extra week that I gave the chicks to hatch...

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh and what I meant by 70% humidity at hatch was during the lockdown period and the extra week that I gave the chicks to hatch...

Ah ok. Usually if the eggs are set at the same time, 48 hours from first hatch (not pip, but actual hatch) to the last hatch is about as long as it should take. Obviously there are exceptions, like different breeds, different color shells, etc. But a full regular hatch should only take about 48 hours. I candle anything left at that point and make decisions based on the circumstances.

 

[Dkbahoo]

Ah ok. Usually if the eggs are set at the same time, 48 hours from first hatch (not pip, but actual hatch) to the last hatch is about as long as it should take. Obviously there are exceptions, like different breeds, different color shells, etc. But a full regular hatch should only take about 48 hours. I candle anything left at that point and make decisions based on the circumstances.

Ya but I had eggs hatch 3 days late and then 6 days late. And they were eggs that were too dark to candle so I just allowed extra time. I’m thinking this incubator is pretty whacked. I haven’t had a single chick hatch on time. Three days late seems to be the norm. At least they seem to hatch healthy...

 

[L1sa]

To be honest, I've never had a broody hatch on time either! In fact neither of my human babies 'hatched' on the day they were suppose to either!

I guess the 'hatch' date of 21 days is just a guide, all sorts of outside and inside influences can affect that time span.