How to stop the pandamonium

[Egglehoff]

Hi all, I have a hovabator and my first ever hatch last month had 15 of 42 eggs hatch on day 21. I left these chicks in for 24 hrs before removing to brooder. Two others pipped but didn't hatch. 12 of the others were fully formed in shell with no pip. 8 of the eggs were unfertile with no development and the others were not fully formed.

I can only assume that something went wrong in the last days and I attributed it to the pandamonium during hatching day in that all the chicks which had oriented themselves during lockdown were rolled around from the already hatched chicks. Temp good, egg turner removed and humidity increased to 70% from day 18 - 21.

Should I be candling and removing unfertile eggs prior to lockdown to make more space (Not real confident in my candling skills). I have another 42 set to hatch next Wednesday. I may be over thinking this but any pointers on how to increase odds of hatching greatly appreciated.

 

[mnferalkitty]

I candle mine day 10, and day 18 you will know which ones are no good. Are you using auto turner? I know some people hatch eggs upright in cartons I have not tried this,if you do a earch you will find threads/posts on ho to do that

 

[Margitas]

Hi all, I have a hovabator and my first ever hatch last month had 15 of 42 eggs hatch on day 21. I left these chicks in for 24 hrs before removing to brooder. Two others pipped but didn't hatch. 12 of the others were fully formed in shell with no pip. 8 of the eggs were unfertile with no development and the others were not fully formed.

I can only assume that something went wrong in the last days and I attributed it to the pandamonium during hatching day in that all the chicks which had oriented themselves during lockdown were rolled around from the already hatched chicks. Temp good, egg turner removed and humidity increased to 70% from day 18 - 21.

Should I be candling and removing unfertile eggs prior to lockdown to make more space (Not real confident in my candling skills). I have another 42 set to hatch next Wednesday. I may be over thinking this but any pointers on how to increase odds of hatching greatly appreciated.

You need to candle on 10 day you able to see if fertile , humidity 45-50 first 18 day than 55-60 on hatching time.
humitity to high chicks grow so big and not able to break the egg shell and they die in the eggs.
For hova bator try to use straw to add water so you don't have to open all the time, lock down on 19 day so make sure you keep enough humidity.