I have Chicken that are upside down in the eggs! What is going wrong?

[AZHotChicks]

I think that it would be very rare for a chick to hatch from the wrong end of an egg. The air cell is on the big end, and on or about the 19th or 20th day of incubation the chicks' neck muscles contracts and its head comes out from under its wing and the chick pierces the air cell with its bill and then takes its first breath of air. While it is not rare for chicks to have their head at the wrong end of the egg at piping time it is rare for a chick so positioned in the egg to hatch.

If the chick has its head under its right wing at piping everything should go well. If the chicks' head is under its left wing, or between its legs at this time the chick will almost surely die while piping. I don't know the reason for chicks that try to pip when they are out of place but it could be the incubator's or the hatcher's temperature setting. To hot a setting will yield chicks that are overly large and this could be the reason that your chicks are having trouble moving about in the egg and/or getting into the correct position before piping.

I'm currently hatching at 99.5 degrees but I think this might fit the situations as the chicks looked pretty tight in the eggs. If the temp is reduced any idea by how much?

Not sure if humidity is the issue. This incubator its over 40% for quite a while and then I let it drop to under 20% and add more water. I read an article on "dry hatching" and I do think hatch rate has improved. If both trays a filled it goes to over 60%.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I'm currently hatching at 99.5 degrees but I think this might fit the situations as the chicks looked pretty tight in the eggs. If the temp is reduced any idea by how much?

Not sure if humidity is the issue. This incubator its over 40% for quite a while and then I let it drop to under 20% and add more water. I read an article on "dry hatching" and I do think hatch rate has improved. If both trays a filled it goes to over 60%.

Your temperature reading is right. Well maybe it is correct. Are you using a still air or a forced air incubator and are you using a separate hatcher? Have you checked the accuracy of your thermometer? Do you use a dry bulb / wet bulb hydrometer?

I think that in dry hatching the eggs are supposed to furnish the humidity. I have never tried it but some report good results. The last 3 days 70% humidity is not too much moisture.

 

[rancher hicks]

I've tried the dry hatch and things didn't work out so I went back to the 35,55,65 humidity. This is why I tell new folks not to be discouraged when things don't go well at first. We all have to find our groove.