Only 1/12 on first attempt - Help

[chirpchirpchirp]

My first attempt to incubate 12 Bantom eggs yielded only one chick on day #23 (which i had to help out of shell). Out of the other 11 - 3 dead chicks without pip and 8 yolks. What went wrong? I turned them 2 times a day and the temp was at 99.5.

 

[goatkeepers]

We need more info. What was your temp and humidity like? Did you turn them?

 

[chirpchirpchirp]

I turned them 2 times a day and the temp was at 99.5. the humidity was between 60 and 80.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I hand turn my eggs 3 times a day...usually tell you to turn odd numbers of times...keeps the embryo from sticking to one side and helps exercise the chick...

What kind of incubator are you using?

Still Air - temps 101 to 102 nothing higher...

All others - 99.7

humidity...40 to 50% first 18 days

60 to 70% last three......

 

[chirpchirpchirp]

i am not sure what incubator it was cause i rented it from a farm. the person at the farm told me to turn them 2 times a day.

 

[MissPrissy]

Where did you get the eggs? If they were local eggs the 8 'yolks' where probably infertile.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I know some people who only turn a few times per week with no problems. I think your problem was way too high humidity. I think it should be NO MORE than 45% for the first 17 days. Then on day 18 when you stop turning...crank it up to about 65-70%. This will stabilize the aircell where it is and prevent membrane dehydration when they pip.

An egg has to lose 12-14% of it's water weight before hatching. Otherwise, the chicks are "soggy" and drown. They can't even pip. Your aircell should be getting quite large by day 18..probably about 1/3 of the egg. The egg should begin to feel much lighter by day 18. By day 21 most of mine feel like I'm picking up a chick...VERY light.

I think high humidity is the main culprit for bad hatches.