incubating gurus! I need your input.
I had the worst hatch ever- in fact, I may never hatch in an incubator again.
Can you shine some light on what went wrong?
I had three dozen eggs. Good people, fertile eggs. banties- lavender ameracaunas and sizzles.
My fertile, growing, developed eggs either didnt hatch, or the ones that did, hatched then died. Mushy babies, and late. They literally hatched then died. ONE and the reason I may never ever ever ever put my self through another attempt- hatched, then had the umbilical cord bleed out.
Huge puddle of blood inside the incubator. Baby peeped that distress peep real loud for five minutes then died.
I have one mushy sizzle that I literally removed from the egg. completely. four days late. Never pipped out- but was peeping at an alarming rate inside the egg, then stopped. So, after all the other disaster I figured I had nothing else to lose. This is the only one that lived. Its weak. I dont even know if it will make it but it can walk and peep.More than its siblings did- they literally hatched then died. According to my themometer/hygrometer my temps, etc were right on. However, I know they couldnt have been. So any insight would be a wonderful thing.
AND then, out of nowhere, and completely out of character- my pitbull took to chasing my hen and her chicks...I went out there and grabbed a shovel and chased him out of the chickens yard, and he took off behind the garage- then slunk to the back door. He wouldnt let less than fifty feet be between us. He knew my anger was out of control- and he is darned lucky he wouldnt let me get close enough to him. So, I left my pursuit and went to do a headcount. Momma Hen was throwing a fit. My broody muscovy was off her nest throwing a fit. AND - Well, I couldnt find one of the chicks.
Found it. dead, covered in slobber.
I will be glad to call it a night tonight.
