Only one hatched - help me figure out what went wrong please.

[newdock]

Nothing. I opened one egg and the baby was dead. It looked like it died around day 17 or so.

I opened more and they were all dead ranging from what looked like about day 12-20. Most were around day 15-18.

Obviously there is a problem somewhere. I need to figure out what it was.

I am very sad.

But my one little chickee is sooo cute. It is very very tiny and has a rough navel, but is doing fabulously. It is demanding and vigorous so at very least, I know that I got a chick with a great set of DNA to have survived what killed the others.....

If anyone has any suggestions as to what the problem might have been, I would love to hear them.

Here is a synopsis of the whole thing:

37.5 degrees C (99.5 F) (according to my thermometer)
forced air hovabator (styrofoam)
45-50% humidity for first 18 days (according to my hygrometer)
65-70% humidity for last 3 days

36 eggs to start (12 shipped via mail, 24 not shipped)
day 14 I removed 11 eggs - mostly quitters and a few clears

day 20 - one chick hatched very quickly and easily.....chick was covered in slimy egg and has a rough navel. It seems very small (but maybe I have just forgotten how small they are?) but is vigorous.

Other eggs are all dead. One pipped internally. Rest all died without pipping internally - mostly days 17/18 it seems...fully formed with a fairly significant yolk sac still. A few dead as young as about 12/14 days.

Air cells seemed to be about the correct size (about 1/4 of the egg or so).

I am thinking that my thermometer is out and the temps were too high. Any other suggestions? Are there any indications that my humidity was wrong?

 

[CindyS]

I think your observation is correct. all the clues are there, very small chick hatching too early with rough navel. Your thermometer is off. Its too bad your little guy didnt have at least 1 friend hatch, he is going to be so lonely!

 

[Grillmaster33]

Sorry about the hatch.
It can be painful.

I am glad that you had one though. Rough navels...do they hang out of the chicks rear? Is it kinda slimy looking? Like a ball?

One of my chicks died. I'm guessing he had a rough navel, but it bled.
Sad stuff.

 

[newdock]

Quote:
Thanks for the condolences. It is certainly a learning experience. It seemed to be all going so well so it was pretty disheartening to have another bad hatch. Last year my temps were too low due to a bad thermometer. This year I tried 3 and took the one that I thought was the accurate one and the temps ended up too high.

Live and learn I guess.

The rough navel looks like a red ball on it's lower tummy (more between the legs than near the vent). My chick's was about the size of a pea, but it seems fine and it is going away. It was also covered in a slimy egg-white/yolk type substance. All indicative of too high a temp.

I will buy a new thermometer and try again.

 

[Jubaby]

Sorry about the hatching problems.

But I was wondering the broody hen did? Did any of those hatch yet?

 

[newdock]

The broody hen.....no luck there.

She kept pecking and eating the eggs so I didn't let her have anymore. I kept her broody with 2 golf balls and tried to graft this chick onto her by slipping it under her when she was sleeping.

The adoption didn't work either. She kept fiercely pecking the baby so I took it quickly away and haven't tried again.

I guess she just isn't a very good momma. Too bad one of my older hens isn't broody - I have a few that are excellent momma hens!

So I am raising an orphan baby. I have 4 silkies that are 4 weeks old so when the little one gets a bit bigger, I will see if I can put them together.