New to this, now dead chicks in shell

[Terry P]

My adventure in incubating started with a tragedy, neighbor's dog killed half my flock. Knee jerk response, run out, buy incubator and set up with 24 eggs. Now this were not handled with the intention of hatching, so I'm VERY happy I got 14 hatched successfully, but I had to open the 7 left overs (threw away 3 after candling reveled no baby). Out of the 7, 2 were not fertile, one died very undeveloped with part of the brain visible, but the other 4 looked fully developed, even had the egg tooth, but it appeared as if the whole inside of the chick had come out of the vent?!! I wonder if anyone could help me understand what happened before I try this again??

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Welcome to BYC! Congrats on the 14 chicks that hatched! What you're describing sounds like the yolk sac wasn't absorbed yet. This is one of the last things that happens in a hatch. They pip through the internal membrane and while learning to use their lungs inside the egg it also begins to pull in the blood from the surrounding membrane as well as the yolk sac into the navel.

 

[julskinka]

I use this to compare and figure out when any deaths happened:

https://www.cobb-vantress.com/assets/bulkUpload/5299a8f23d/Chick-Embryo-Chart.pdf
If you're still seeing guts, it was probably back on or before D15.

 

[aart]

Now this were not handled with the intention of hatching, so I'm VERY happy I got 14 hatched successfully

Congrats! @Terry P
..and Kudos for doing the eggtopsies.
It can be very hard to tell 'why' a chick doesn't develop properly.
It's just kind part of the deal, IMO.
First thing to check before incubating is make sure your thermometers are compared to a known accurate thermometer(like a human medical thermometer).
Here's some good info about incubation and hatching:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/