Hatchting failed?

[newbyhatching]

Hi all

For the first time I am attempting to hatch chickens in an incubator. We have our own flock and cockerel so the eggs are from there. It is day 25 and almost nothing has happened. I was about to open the incubator this morning (still day 24) and candle the eggs to see what was happening when I saw that one egg has externally pipped. I have been watching it all day and there has been a little movement breaking more occasionally but it is still a very small hole. I have 27 other eggs in the incubator and not one other is doing anything. The incubator is noisy so I can't hear anything. Some of the eggs have moved a little as they are touching when I definitely laid them seperate on day 18. I am aware that this is already really late and I am not sure what to do and if the rest of the hatch has failed then why has it?

Would really appreciate some advice!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would first look at your thermometer/thermostat.
They are not to be believed unless guaranteed or calibrated to be accurate.
I would say the hatch is finished and if the one pip happened late, the temperature was likely low throughout.
Normally, you can set your watch by when chickens hatch if all parameters are correct.
Another place to look is breeder nutrition.
I would start opening eggs to see if any developed at all or what stage they failed.
If they didn't develop, they were either infertile to begin with or died from improper temperature from the start.
If your eggs are infertile, look at housing and your rooster.

 

[newbyhatching]

I would first look at your thermometer/thermostat.
They are not to be believed unless guaranteed or calibrated to be accurate.
I would say the hatch is finished and if the one pip happened late, the temperature was likely low throughout.
Normally, you can set your watch by when chickens hatch if all parameters are correct.
Another place to look is breeder nutrition.
I would start opening eggs to see if any developed at all or what stage they failed.
If they didn't develop, they were either infertile to begin with or died from improper temperature from the start.
If your eggs are infertile, look at housing and your rooster.

Thank you that is really helpful. I think you are right about the temperature, I put a normal non digital thermometer in the incubator and it read several degrees low. I will have a look at how to get the temperature right for the next batch. If you have any suggestions I would really appreciate them, as the incubator is definitely not reading right.

 

[feedman77]

As @ChickenCanoe suggested and you found temp seemed low. Find a 2nd thermometer that's known accurate and set your temp on incubator. The get reading off accurate thermometer and adjust incubator settings til you get desired temp.
1 what type of incubator still air or forced air.
2 what humidity did you run.

If you do another batch keep good notes. Temp, humidity, number set, number hatched, if any temperature swings. So if you have issues good or bad you have number to give so other may help diagnose issues.

If you have a good hatch use the same numbers. If you have a bad hatch make small adjustments temp and humidity usually.

Hatching is very rewarding but can also be very frustrating. It may take a couple of failed batches til you find a method that works for you.
What would work for others may work good for you or may be a disaster.

Sending you the best on ones that may hatch on this batch or future batches

 

[ChickenCanoe]

These are the two thermometers I recommend for accuracy without spending a great deal of money.
https://www.thermoworks.com/RT301WA
http://www.brinsea.com/p-394-spot-check-digital-incubator-thermometer.aspx

 

[newbyhatching]

As @ChickenCanoe suggested and you found temp seemed low. Find a 2nd thermometer that's known accurate and set your temp on incubator. The get reading off accurate thermometer and adjust incubator settings til you get desired temp.
1 what type of incubator still air or forced air.
2 what humidity did you run.

If you do another batch keep good notes. Temp, humidity, number set, number hatched, if any temperature swings. So if you have issues good or bad you have number to give so other may help diagnose issues.

If you have a good hatch use the same numbers. If you have a bad hatch make small adjustments temp and humidity usually.

Hatching is very rewarding but can also be very frustrating. It may take a couple of failed batches til you find a method that works for you.
What would work for others may work good for you or may be a disaster.

Sending you the best on ones that may hatch on this batch or future batches

Thank you that is really helpful. The one chick is still alive and hatching slowly. Not sure if I should help or leave it be. I put the temp up very slightly on the incubator as it's definitely low, but need to get a good thermometer before I can calibrate. Do you know?

 

[newbyhatching]

The one chick is still alive and hatching slowly. Not sure if I should help or leave it be. I put the temp up very slightly on the incubator as it's definitely low, but need to get a good thermometer before I can calibrate. Does anyone know. It's been pipped for 24 hours. Thank you!

 

[Stacyoung13]

The one chick is still alive and hatching slowly. Not sure if I should help or leave it be. I put the temp up very slightly on the incubator as it's definitely low, but need to get a good thermometer before I can calibrate. Does anyone know. It's been pipped for 24 hours. Thank you!

Don’t help as long as it’s moving and chirping. Make sure that the membrane doesn’t shrink wrap around her, (not drying out). Have you tried candling the eggs?

 

[newbyhatching]

Don’t help as long as it’s moving and chirping. Make sure that the membrane doesn’t shrink wrap around her, (not drying out). Have you tried candling the eggs?

OK great thank you. I can't here chirping but the incubator is really loud. I can see movement in the bit that is open that looks like breathing, but it has not opened more for hours. Should I still not intervene. I am keeping the incubator closed at the moment, but will definitely candle when I open it. Just not sure I should do that with the one chick hatchting?

 

[Trux]

What is the humidity set at?