Late-term dead chicks

[Caitlin_VT]

I set eggs from 2 different local breeders, 18 EE/OE and 10 Ameraucanas. They were treated exactly the same (set at same time, lockdown at same time in same forced air incubators, etc). 16/18 of the EE/OE hatched perfectly on time. I opened the other 2 and they died in mid-development.

On the other hand, the Ameraucanas had a terrible time. I had 2 hatch late; the second to hatch is small, weak, loud, and still has a nub hanging out of umbilical. I tested the other eggs, and saw no movement/heard no cheeping (day 23). I opened the 8 eggs and found perfectly formed chicks that had not pipped internally (and had not absorbed yolk sac). The membranes were clear (they looked good, maybe on the thick side) and the air sac was of a good size. 2 were still alive, barely, but the membrane was opaque. We tried to open the membrane around their beak, but I think they died overnight. What could have caused this? I am baffled because the other chicks hatched perfectly without any problems.

Humidity was 28-35 during hatching and 60-70 during lockdown (70 when the other chicks started hatching). I have a Genesis 1588 so the red vent plug was out. Temperature was around 99-100.5 during incubating and about 99 for hatching.

I am appreciative of any input! I want to see if I did anything wrong to prevent this in the future. Thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I assume the good hatch came from one flock and the bad ones from the other.
If that's the case, most likely either the eggs were stored too long or a problem with the breeders in that flock.
Nutritional deficiencies in the breeders, heredity, breeder diseases, inbreeding or old breeders.

 

[Caitlin_VT]

A correct assumption. Has anyone had issues hatching purebreds vs mutts at the same time? I was also wondering if genetics, and small gene pools for some breeds & colors, would have such a distinctive effect.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Mutts do tend to be more robust because of the genetic diversity.
Healthy flocks that have been carefully managed to prevent inbreeding can be just fine even with a tiny gene pool.
I raise a breed that originated as 13 individual birds and the only importation in the US. Many huge flocks in the US came from those 13 so I know there was a lot of inbreeding. There are very few flocks now but most of those that have them, still seem to have some robust birds

 

[RedneckRebel]

I had a terrible hatch the other day and had the same problem, I set 12 Dominique eggs and 29 Brown Leghorn crossed with White Leghorns and only had 2 of each hatch, I believe we have had the same problem

 

[RedneckRebel]

I had a terrible hatch the other day and had the same problem, I set 12 Dominique eggs and 29 Brown Leghorn crossed with White Leghorns and only had 2 of each hatch, I believe we have had the same problem

I actually had 6 hatch now that I remember, one bled to death while I was away and the other was deformed and I culled it

 

[RedneckRebel]

A correct assumption. Has anyone had issues hatching purebreds vs mutts at the same time? I was also wondering if genetics, and small gene pools for some breeds & colors, would have such a distinctive effect.

I have better hatch rates with mutt chickens, being at 90 percent most of the time, and my purebreds only having around a 60 percent hatch rate

 

[Quyen Le]

Nutrition plays a very important role. I use higher protein feed and get 100% hatch last week and this week.

 

[Caitlin_VT]

Thanks for the info! Nothing I can do about nutrition since they are not my chickens... Can't wait until next year when I can hatch from my own flocks.