POOR HATCH

[jennyb]

I brought in 25 eggs from 8 Wyandotte’s and two breeds of rooster, Wyandotte and Americauna. They were fresh, very clean and I put them in a FARM INNOVATORS 2150 with an egg turner. I candled 2 samples on day 10, they were ok. Humidity was about 65 on both gages I use. Temp 99-100. On Day 21 I candled all and culled 5 non starters or early quitters. That day I got 2 pips, 2 chicks eventually. There is one more egg with movement and one more pip. If they hatch I will have 4 out of 25.

I candled the rest and they look like very late quitters. Some had beak shadows in the pocket but no movement. They don’t smell so I put them back in. Many that used to have smooth air pockets were ragged and look decomposed.

We are on Day 23.

If I post mortem what do I look for? Ideas on what happened?

Jen In Tallahassee

 

[Tre3hugger]

It seems like your humidity may have been a bit high. I believe it should be around 40ish throughout and bumped up to 60-70 at day 18(lockdown). High humidity can inhibit the eggs ability to evaporate moisture and grow its air cell. Hope this helped. Sorry your hatch wasn't a success. Don't give up!

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Incubate at 30% humidity next time, you will see improvement in your hatching. These chicks probably drowned in the shell. Do you have other thermometers in your incubator to make sure your temperature is correct?

 

[jennyb]

Yes, I have the thermometer that is built in and a separate therm/humidity gage inside and I have a security cam on that gage so I don’t have to open up. But I have been aiming for at least 50% so you are right, that could be it. However, I did a PM of one I was sure was dead: no movement 3 days, very irregular air pocket border, smallish dark space (maybe 50%) and after I pulled off the shell the blood was red and it moved. IT WAS ALIVE. Good Lord. Now I also think that these 8 hens who produced 25 eggs in 4 days..I think maybe one of my Wyandottes went broody (first time) and the earliest eggs started a few days before the others? I guess I should candle before I start them up. So I have 12 eggs I thought had late quit and now I am not so sure. Happily I don’t toss until I smell or see a definite blood ring.