Lousy hatch rate....help me figure out why?

[possumhunter]

This is my 2nd time incubating and I wasn't really that impressed with my hatch rates. I set 19 quail eggs and 30 chicken eggs. These were all from my own birds. All were less than 8 days old. I stored them pointed end down in my pantry (the temp was about 64). I pulled 4 chicken eggs out at lockdown that never developed. My final count was 15 hatched quail and 18 hatched chicks. I candled the other chicken eggs and found 4 more that weren't developed. 4 of them were developed but never hatched. I have one banty roo covering 6 hens. It seems like I always see him "doing his duty" with the ladies. But to have so many undeveloped eggs, does that mean they aren't fertile? I try to check all the eggs that we eat and they always look fertile. But 12 non-hatched eggs chicken eggs? Seems really high to me. The quail weren't too bad. 15/19. But still not great. Any ideas?

 

[4-H chicken mom]

There could be many reasons as to what could have happened starting with storage prep. Were the eggs turned in storage? Temps that are above 55-60 degree and storage length of time drops hatching rates by 10%. Periods of high or low temps/humidty, not turning eggs during incubation or even inadequate breeder diet can cause embroys to die. My only suggestion is to keep good notes throughout the hatch, ie,temp/humidity, how many eggs set, turning times, make sure the eggs are not in the same position each night, candle on days 7,14 and before lockdown and make note of how many alive each time. Experience is really the only learning tool we have. Just don't give up, keep trying.

 

[Mahonri]

My first two hatches were dismal.

12 of 41 both times.

Then I did the dry hatch... thanks to KathyinMo and rustyswoman

Days 1-18.... 30%-35% humidity.

Lockdown... 65% humidity.

Got 41 out of 65.

 

[possumhunter]

Quote:
Actually, I didn't think to turn the eggs during storage, that could be part of the problem. I have a turner in the incubator, but no turning during storage. I will remember that next time. And good idea about taking notes, I think I will do that as well.

I did do the dry hatch the first time. This time I didn't really rely on my hydrometer (it doesn't seem to be accurate anyways) and just would add a little bit of water when the tray would run out, so I know the humidity wasn't very high.

I'll just keep trying! Thanks for the ideas!

 

[kathyinmo]

Here is a great publication, maybe this will help:

Hatchability problem analysis:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa204