How to prevent chicks drowning in the shells?

[Sussex19]

I just had a really bad hatch, out of 10 eggs 2 quitted early on, and 2 hatched very weak and died, 2 hatched OK but then one died (maybe crushed by the hen?) and then one more hatched with a slightly bloated abdomen and two looked like they drowned in the shell.
I'm thinking that the problem could be to high humidity for the last three?
If it is, what could I do to prevent it happing again? They were hatched under a broody hen, and I've got two more sitting in the moment and don't want to lose those chicks as well.
Oh and they did seem to have rather small air pockets, which is partly why I'm thinking that is the issue.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I'm thinking that the problem could be to high humidity for the last three?

Too high humidity, yes, but not the last three days. It was too high for the first 18 days.

Oh and they did seem to have rather small air pockets, which is partly why I'm thinking that is the issue.

You are correct. The humidity needs to stay below 50% for the first 18 days, so the air pocket can grow to appropriate size. Some even do a "dry hatch", keeping humidity between 25-40%, and only raise it during the last 3 days.

 

[Sussex19]

Too high humidity, yes, but not the last three days. It was too high for the first 18 days.

Sorry, I meant the last three eggs, not the last three days.

You are correct. The humidity needs to stay below 50% for the first 18 days, so the air pocket can grow to appropriate size. Some even do a "dry hatch", keeping humidity between 25-40%, and only raise it during the last 3 days.

Thanks! Can you think of any way to keep it lower with a broody? And also the other hens are around day 15 and day 10, would anything I can do help at this point?
Its been a very wet year, and its early spring now so things are warming up, which is the problem I guess.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I'm tagging some experts with knowledge of broody hens:
@pipdzipdnreadytogo @Lady of McCamley @Backyardhomestead921 @Eggcessive

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I just had a really bad hatch, out of 10 eggs 2 quitted early on, and 2 hatched very weak and died, 2 hatched OK but then one died (maybe crushed by the hen?) and then one more hatched with a slightly bloated abdomen and two looked like they drowned in the shell.
I'm thinking that the problem could be to high humidity for the last three?
If it is, what could I do to prevent it happing again? They were hatched under a broody hen, and I've got two more sitting in the moment and don't want to lose those chicks as well.
Oh and they did seem to have rather small air pockets, which is partly why I'm thinking that is the issue.

If you are using a broody in normal coop nesting, the hen monitors the humidity. She naturally controls it. The most important thing is to avoid checking under her as that messes with the humidity.

Weak hatching and sir cells can be from using older eggs, badly handled eggs, or problems with inbreeding.

Shrink wrap mistakes generally come from the hen being disturbed during the last day after pipping but before hatching.

Did you have a staggered hatch coming from eggs set over a period of days? Always set and mark eggs on the same day.

Was the hen disturbed a lot by others. Make sure she has an isolated nest.

With broodies, as with artificial, sometimes you just have a bad luck hatch.

My broodies have hatched in all kinds of weather from freezing cold to 103 degree heat wave and never missed humidity. It totally works differently than an incubator.

Check that your fertile eggs were fresh when set, not more than 7 days old, set at the same time, and resist the temptation to check under the hen those last two days.

LofMc

 

[Sussex19]

Thanks very much for the detailed reply.

If you are using a broody in normal coop nesting, the hen monitors the humidity. She naturally controls it. The most important thing is to avoid checking under her as that messes with the humidity.

Its a normal nesting box raised of the ground with plenty of hay in it. This is her first hatch and she's still quite young but that hasn't been a problem in the past. I was taking her of the nest once a day, as its closed off without enough room for her to poop. Is this an issue do you think? (not on the last few days though)

Weak hatching and sir cells can be from using older eggs, badly handled eggs, or problems with inbreeding.

Some of the eggs were slightly older, and from the fridge. Again, I have done this before without issue but I guess it doesn't help.

Did you have a staggered hatch coming from eggs set over a period of days? Always set and mark eggs on the same day.

They were staggered unfortunately, I know ones not meant to but I got some more eggs that I really wanted to hatch and thought I could get away with it.
I won't be doing it again but what problems can it actually cause?

Was the hen disturbed a lot by others. Make sure she has an isolated nest.

Not after the first few days.

My broodies have hatched in all kinds of weather from freezing cold to 103 degree heat wave and never missed humidity. It totally works differently than an incubator.

So it seemed like there was actually to much humidity, as the eggs that didn't hatch had very small air pockets and seemed very wet inside when I opened them up.
So I don't see how me disturbing her (Which I am slightly guilty of) could course that?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I actually don't have a whole lot of experience with broody hens as I prefer to use an incubator when I hatch, so I will defer to Lady of McCamley on this one. The only thought I have is if it's been particularly humid where you live and you've peeked underneath her a lot, maybe that would expose the eggs to too much humidity? Otherwise, I really don't know.