Help!! New chicks hatching with rough navels!!!

[MandyH]

I have followed EVERY thing I was supposed to do with this incubator and my first chick hatched on day 18 with no problems. The second chick was like 14 hours later with no problems. The 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th hatched a few hours later and their navels are horrible. One looks like his guts are falling out. Is there anything to correct htis in the next chicks to hatch? Today is day 20 so I have quite a few left to hatch. Also, is there anything I can do for the ones already hatched with their navels looking so bad??? Thanks.

 

[hinkjc]

Yup, definitely have some incubation issues. Primarily..temperature. They are hatching way too early for the temp to be accurate. I'd say it's running a degree or two too high. That also explains unhealed navals. That is a typical symptom of high temps during incubation and hatch.

If you currently have chicks incubating, reduce temp by 1 degree and see if that helps. Keep close track of hatch date...if they hatch on day 21, you're set and you know what temp to run it at. If they hatch early again, reduce the temp again. If they hatch late, then increase by 1/2 degree. Keep adjusting for your hatches (but small adjustments) until you get them to hatch on the right day. That will fix the problem. It is all trial and error and thermometers are not reliable. I go by hatch date to know how my settings should be and that seems to work out nice. Good luck with future hatches.

Jody

 

[MandyH]

Thanks Jody, I hate it for the chicks. They don't act like they are hurt or anything but I can't stand to know they might be. They are up and about with the others that are ok. So what do I do, keep them with the rest of them or dispose of them humanely? What effects will there be if they live and get big from the rough navels?

 

[hinkjc]

If a lot is hanging out, I would recommend putting it down. If you leave those in with the others, they may pull it out further or step on it and cause more to come out. If any are just not closed right and sore, I would separate them and try a small bandaid over it to see if it goes back in on its own. That will also keep it moist and clean. I have not tried that, but other members have with some success. I'm afraid the rough and open navals usually don't end up well in the end. The ones who look perky and healthy otherwise, I would try to work with. Any weak ones or ones with excessive stuff hanging out will likely die (whether you help them to or not). I'm so sorry it turned out this way, but I always look at things on a positive light. You got a successful hatch and you are very close to working the bugs out of your incubation process. Try the temp adjustments I mentioned, they will help your future hatches.

Jody

 

[MandyH]

Thanks again. I don't know if I want to try this again or not.