Incubating and development issues

[Cornishbutterfly]

Hi everyone!

New to chickens, currently incubating some bantam eggs. Problem is, I have 3 that we're due to hatch this Friday gone (26th) but on candling them before lockdown, I noticed that 2 of them were nowhere near ready to hatch as I could still see a fair amount into the egg. But one egg is pretty close I think as it is very dark. Issue is, it has hatched and there is no movement, rocking, chirp or any signs that the chick is even alive. What do I do?! Temperature isn't an issue, the humidity has been a bit of an issue and had to buy a separate gauge to monitor it so it's OK, but we're now on day 23 and candled today and it's very dark at the narrow part of the egg but can't see any movement... Is it dead or still growing?! Please help!!  I've uploaded a picture of egg being candled, it's not great but not you can see the development.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At this stage, I think they are lost.
There could be lots of reasons. Here's a guide for eggtopsy and incubation issues to search for the cause.
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00008570/00001/3j
Why do you think temperature isn't the problem? Did you calibrate or use two guaranteed accurate thermometers that precisely agree with one another?
Thermostats, thermometers and hygrometers are notorious for unreliability. Even (especially) those that came with the incubator.
Everything needs calibration before it can be believed.
Were these your eggs, local eggs or shipped?

 

[Cornishbutterfly]

At this stage, I think they are lost.
There could be lots of reasons. Here's a guide for eggtopsy and incubation issues to search for the cause.
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00008570/00001/3j
Why do you think temperature isn't the problem? Did you calibrate or use two guaranteed accurate thermometers that precisely agree with one another?
Thermostats, thermometers and hygrometers are notorious for unreliability. Even (especially) those that came with the incubator.
Everything needs calibration before it can be believed.
Were these your eggs, local eggs or shipped?

Thanks for your response. That's gutting to know I used not only the incubator thermometer, but also two medical digital ones as well which we use and I know they work accurately. So it was well checked! I collected the eggs from an hour away so they weren't through the post. So there's no hope for the little one then?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you're on day 23 and there is that much clear space when candling, I would be shocked if anything hatched.

Since they weren't your eggs, it could be an issue with the breeder flock. Perhaps nutrition - which is a common cause in late term failures.
During short days, it could be fertility because roosters also need photo stimulation, like the hens.

 

[Cornishbutterfly]

If you're on day 23 and there is that much clear space when candling, I would be shocked if anything hatched.

Since they weren't your eggs, it could be an issue with the breeder flock. Perhaps nutrition - which is a common cause in late term failures.
During short days, it could be fertility because roosters also need photo stimulation, like the hens.

 Ah man I really hope the others will be OK?! Not really enjoying this anymore, it's very stressful and nerve-wracking! I think if I lose more (as I have another batch of bantam eggs on the go now) I will give up and just run to find someone local selling hens

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your hatch is going troublesome.

To me, and I'm still learning here... that egg is way under developed for day 23 especially. But in addition to that I still expect to see blood veins with that much space. So they may actually be quitters. Learning to read candles does take some practice to get right. I even misread and accidentally aborted one that already had eyes forming!

I too would be shocked if anything hatched on day 23, but it does happen. They are usually weak chicks... I unplug my incubator by then UNLESS something is actively pipped through the shell and is STILL trying to zip.

One of my very favorite hatching resources (was provided by the Hatching 101 article), is following... Page 51, causes of embryonic death may be of interest for learning purposes..
http://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guide_english__030374800_0945_07012015.pdf

Also age of flock (both too young or too old) and eggs has impact and sooo many other things.

Now it may just be the photo... but I also can't see the air cell.

What kind of bantams are you trying to hatch? What humidity and temp did you use? Forced or still air? Auto or hand turning? Did you move them around to different places in the incubator any? How many eggs did you start with and how many were blanks and early quitters? All diagnostic questions in order to learn together... thank you for sharing.

Hoping for your best results possible!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have another batch of bantam eggs on the go now)

Please elaborate to what this means? What stage..

 

[Cornishbutterfly]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your hatch is going troublesome.

To me, and I'm still learning here... that egg is way under developed for day 23 especially. But in addition to that I still expect to see blood veins with that much space. So they may actually be quitters. Learning to read candles does take some practice to get right. I even misread and accidentally aborted one that already had eyes forming!

I too would be shocked if anything hatched on day 23, but it does happen. They are usually weak chicks... I unplug my incubator by then UNLESS something is actively pipped through the shell and is STILL trying to zip.

One of my very favorite hatching resources (was provided by the Hatching 101 article), is following... Page 51, causes of embryonic death may be of interest for learning purposes..
http://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guide_english__030374800_0945_07012015.pdf

Also age of flock (both too young or too old) and eggs has impact and sooo many other things.

Now it may just be the photo... but I also can't see the air cell.

What kind of bantams are you trying to hatch? What humidity and temp did you use? Forced or still air? Auto or hand turning? Did you move them around to different places in the incubator any? How many eggs did you start with and how many were blanks and early quitters? All diagnostic questions in order to learn together... thank you for sharing.

Hoping for your best results possible!

Hiya

They are mottled pekin bantams, I had 6 and 3 did nothing. The incubator is a forced air and turns the eggs so all I have to do is monitor the temp /humidity. They stayed in the same places mostly, when I candled I put them all back where I got them from. Yeah the photo isn't good, it's hard to take a pic of an egg in the dark! but the air cell is there, it's at the bottom near the light (had to cup my hand to candle) and there are small red veins in the clear part but just nothing moves. It's like it's solid?

 

[Cornishbutterfly]

Please elaborate to what this means? What stage..

They are in another incubator, 11 days in now. So far so good! I think! Time will tell whether it's just down to me being inexperienced

 

[Cornishbutterfly]

OK, so I opened the egg (heartbreaking!) and the chick is well formed but with a small part of the yolk still outside the body... I got a picture of it but not sure you guys would like to see that... it's incredible how it fits in the egg but boy do I wanna cry!! what did I do wrong?