Latest Hatch, not so good.

[NuggetsNuggets]

It appears that my latest hatch is over. I'm at day 25. On day 21, had 2 nice little bantam chicks hatch. Then on day 22, one chick with bug eyes (is blind) and a chick who got out of his shell, but couldn't stand and his toes were all curled up. That little guy didn't make it and considering the little bug eyed guy from the last hatch, I don't think this one will last too long.

The first batch was all barred rocks and I had the bug eyed chick that dies. This latest batch of 18 eggs was all bantams. I candled and floated them and everything looked good, in all but two of the eggs. So I thought I should have had 16 hatch. But one crippled and then a bug eyed one-and these chicks are not from the same chickens!

The only obvious things we can narrow it down to is food, water and environment.... I'm at a loss on this and have 12 call duck eggs and another set of 18 bantams in the other incubator.

Can anyone shed any light? Am I overlooking something?

Thanks,
NuggetsX2

 

[NuggetsNuggets]

Wow. I expected at least one reply. Very disappointing. I was hoping for some help or insight from those if you who have been around here a while.

Anyway... No worries. I muddled on thru.

The.bug eyed chick died this morning, along with one of my Light Brahma chicks.

 

[Pinkaboo]

Wow. I expected at least one reply. Very disappointing. I was hoping for some help or insight from those if you who have been around here a while.

Anyway... No worries. I muddled on thru.

The.bug eyed chick died this morning, along with one of my Light Brahma chicks.

That must be so devastating
I'm new to hatching and have my first 6 eggs at day 12, I saw them moving with lamp yesterday
Must admit I thought I was home and dry because they are fertile and alive
Obviously not!
Could I ask what floating is..?

 

[Farmer Viola]

you didn't give very much information about your incubation conditions... deformities could be genetic, or could be related to temperature and humidity.

here is a link I use often for troubleshooting incubation: http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/trouble.html

Humidity
Personally I have had great success using the dry incubation method. the idea is that you don't add any water at all. the egg's natural evaporation creates humidity inside the incubator and as long as it is within 25-45% no water is added. There is a link in my signature about the dry method:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method

Temperature
still air temp:101F
forced air temp: 99.5F
make sure to place thermometer/s at the same level as the top of the egg; above or below will not give accurate reading

Calibration
Make sure to calibrate your thermometer(s) and/or use multiple devices. The thermometer and hygrometer (measures humidity) on most styrofoam bators are off by 10 degrees or more.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How...-/step4/Calibrate-your-thermometerhygrometer/

 

[NuggetsNuggets]

It was pretty devastating... And they were all doing so well. Thanks for the reply.

 

[NuggetsNuggets]

I'm sorry, but I simply didn't know to provide the info on the incubating conditions.

For this hatch, I was lucky and both incubators worked like a charm. The incubators were both calibrated and temps in them both at 99.5 degrees.. I had a steady 50% humidity the entire first 18 days and the eggs were being turned by the automatic turner, which also has a fan. The last 3 days, the eggs were gently moved to the still air incubator and humidity bumped to 70%. I did not ever see any spikes or low points in the temperature or humidity, even with one very short power failure.

I've got 12 call duck eggs and 18 bantams in the turning/fan incubator right now and since I have so many birds on the ground right now, it will be my last until the ones we are giving away are gone.

It's not possible for genetics to be involved, because the hatch before this one was barred rock chicks (full size) and this hatch was all bantams.

I'm at a loss...

 

[NuggetsNuggets]

Sorry for sounding so bitchy... I guess I am grumpy from losing my chicks, but I certainly didn't mean to sound so hateful.

 

[Farmer Viola]

I don't know about duck eggs - my knowledge applies to chicken eggs only....

50% humidity for the first 18 days seems high to me. I don't add any water the first 18 days, and my humidity stays about 30%. I get nearly 100% hatch rates using this method.

also, I don't go to 70% for hatching/lockdown; I go to 55-65% - when a chick hatches, it does cause a brief humidity spike.

 

[NuggetsNuggets]

Thank you for the info. This group is just a couple days away from hatching, so it's probably too late to do much this time. But I've passed along the info to my DH and he said we can try that next time.

Thank you,

 

[Farmer Viola]

no problem

try not to get discouraged... each hatch teaches us more than we knew the last time! good luck!