Lost chicks after hatch by leaving them in the incubator

[ingasmile]

I followed the advice on here about not opening incubator once chicks start to hatch. Ours started to hatch 4 days before day 21 in incubator, so we filled up the water reservoir and shut the incubator. Today we had a friend check on them this morning and 9 were hatched and alive. We came home several hours later and 6 were dead. These 6 chicks had been hatched early Friday morning and yesterday, they were up and around that whole time. And the other eggs not hatched were dead too! Three chicks out of the 9 seem to be making it so far, but they are very weak.

We just can't figure out what happened. They were hatched for less than 48 hours when this happened. We figure it was either a high temp or lack of oxygen that did it. The temp read 103 or so but if they were outside they would be that hot too, as my thermo in the house says it is 109 outside right now.

Just sad.

Inga

 

[nickrex98]

its because the chicks that hatch 4 days before the 21 days died of starvation

 

[Arielle]

IT is sad to get them to hatching point then loosing them, even if is only some and not all. You are probably right about the cause.

 

[AyeUpChuck]

What was your humidity at? Could have been too hot and too humid.

Sorry for your loss

 

[busyteacher]

I hatch chickens in my classroom each year with my students. I take my chicks out as soon as their feathers are dry and place them under a heat lamp with food and water. Maybe they didn't get food in time.

 

[ChooksChick]

I ignore the 'do not open' rule. I think it works out okay for me. I'm really sorry you lost your chicks

 

[nurse_turtle]

I also do not follow the "do not open" rule. I keep my humidity during the last few days at 65-70% and I open the bator whenever I feel like it, within reason. I remove my hatchlings as soon as they are dry and mobile and place them in the brooder. I have had two separate 100% hatches and all other hatches have been 75% or better. Like Granny said, "If it ain't broke....."

 

[saddina]

Honey, i'll say this as kindly as I can.

If they hatch 4 days early it means incubation temps were high to begin with. Once the chick is out, a timer starts he has X amount of time to get fed/ and more important watered. The do not open rule means not to open to fish out each chick, not to keep them in there for days. A better plan is to fish them out when you wke in the morning, and when you have dinner each night. Any who look wet can stay inthe extra half-day with no problems, but 48 hours without water will kill any of them, especially at 103F.

 

[ingasmile]

nickrex98 - I did not leave them in there for 4 days! Only around 48 hours. I was just following the advice that many people post on here about leaving them in there for 48-72 hours won't hurt them.

The 3 that are alive are slowly coming around. The kiddos are ready to try again of course! We will be taking them out when dry and fluffy next time!


Inga

 

[AyeUpChuck]

I think the do not open rule is more for when there are chicks that have pipped. If you can see one that is pipped or zipped then you risk shrink wrapping them by changing the pressure and humidity. Usually you can just grab them really quickly with no recourse if none are pipping.