Only 1 live chick :-(

[eresospam]

I was given 10 fertile eggs for my broody hen to sit on 21 days ago, as I'd recently send my rooster on his way for being aggressive! She broke 1 but the others seemed ok and last night I saw one tiny head so got 1 chick. Today I expected some more and I saw one egg had been pipped so left them alone but tonight when I checked again the chick inside the pipped egg was dead! The remaining eggs are not hatching. I've listened to them and there's no sound or tapping, and mum has left the nest with her 1 chick.
I candled the remaining eggs and certainly 3 of them had no development inside but the others there's definitely something, but no signs of life.
I've put them back in the nest but not sure mum is taking any notice and not even sure there is any life inside but will give them a few more days.
Can they all be duds? And why would the other chick have died, it looked perfect when I took it out of the egg.
I'm new to chicken keeping but have raised 2 broods this summer already with not too many problems. Any help or words of wisdom? Could there be a disease? The single live chick looks fine.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

There are so many reasons that chicks will not hatch.

The most vulnerable days in the whole process are the first 3 days and the last 3 days.

In the first 3, anything wrong genetically or environmentally (although the eggs are amazingly hardy) can stop the process and the embryo dies leaving a blood ring.

In the last 3 days, the chick needs to turn so that it is in the hatching position, be able to shift to air breathing (the little "pillow" in the shell membrane is the air sac and the chicks first breath until it pips and breaths through that pip hole.

Sometimes the egg yolk sac has not properly receded into the body cavity and after a chick pips, bacteria begin to grow feeding on the rich yolk that is still exposed.

Sometimes the eggs were cooled somewhere in the middle of things such that the embryos slowed in growth. This slower growth means longer hatching times which means there may not have been enough food stores and the chicks simply ran out of energy.

Some vitamin deficiencies in the parents can cause poor hatching as can poor genetics.

Some diseases in the flock such as MG or Newcastle can cause poor fertility and poor hatching.

So there are many, many reasons for a poor hatch.

With broodies, it can be she got up at the wrong time and the eggs chilled. (This often happens when you are not watching).

My fluffier hens tend to lose eggs on the perimeter so they get cool and don't develop well. A clutch that is too large for the hen will also not get even heat causing embryo weakness.

If your broody is in with the main flock, being pushed off the nest or disturbed will reduce hatch rates.

So there are many reasons for a failed hatch.

For good hatch rates, use very fresh eggs (none older than 7 days) from healthy stock and younger birds. If you are using broodies, in addition make sure that the hen has an area that is undisturbed.

But sometimes you get a good batch and sometimes you don't. Life with broodies (and chickens).

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[eresospam]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply!
The eggs were given to me by a friend who said they were all fresh laid, and I thought it would be good to have some fresh blood in the flock. I can't vouch for their handling before he brought them to me, and some of the eggs were broken so hadnt been handled too carefully (I discarded them of course)
I dont think they were chilled as its roasting hot here in Greece and has been for weeks, but they were initially in with the other chickens so may have been a bit knocked about again.
I moved them and the hen last week so she was on her own for the hatching, maybe it was too late and it disturbed them, though mum was still sitting on them.
Anyway fingers crossed for the single survivor. It will hopefully become a very fat spoilt wee hen.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ah being shaken and kicked about probably detached some air cells which will cause poor positioning and improper hatching.

I've had lonely only's turn into very fat spoiled hens that lay very well. The broody gives them all the social help they need, and they integrate into the flock with her.

Good luck with your wee chick.
LofMc