problems at the end

[pokey]

I have the same problem at the end of my hatches over and over.the chicks pip and one or two makes it out and then the rest die.I have a hovabator.I pull the plug at hatch time. I try to keep the humid in the fifties the first18 days.sometimes it gets a little higher.on day 18 it goes into the 70's.if I don't keep it high it seem the chicks are stuck.but why do they pip and then die.I don't think they are drowning because the beak is out.

 

[rebel yell]

Sounds like a humidity problem, I try to keep mine at 20-30% till the 18th day & then jack it up to about 60-65%, maybe you are running the humidity a little high before lock down. a lot of times I dont run any water at all before lock down, depends on the weather, & oh yea I am in NC. not far from you, so our humidity is somewhere about the same.

 

[shellyga]

I have one that appears "stuck" too.. thanks for asking this question. Pip hole as usual and something is sticking out of it.. but not a beak. I have 5 eggs still in there.. one I am sure won't hatch because it candled suspiciously (but being a newbie I put it in there anyway), 1 pipping, 2 with no visible activity and then the one with the protrusion.

I know I should be happy with my 6 chicks out and in the brooder.. but hard to watch something apparently die.

Shelly

 

[Jessiewoodard57]

Are you opening the bator to remove chicks or add water? The chicks will be fine for 3 days. My first hatch I opened the bator way too much and I ended up shrink wrapping the remaining chicks. I know it is hard to sit there and watch one struggle but by helping them out (which I did and it ended up not making it anyway) you could ruin your remaining hatch.

 

[pokey]

Well on this hatch 5 chicks pipped.one pipped two days early and made it 3/4 out and then died.one made it all the way out and then I got frustrated and helped the other 3 . Two died out of the three I helped.it seemed to be humid enough.but this is how it goes every time.and the eggs come from different sources.I am sooo frustrated.

 

[Jessiewoodard57]

I forgot to ask you which bator you use?

 

[wilkey44]

you know I had kinda the same problem with an LG then I took out both plugs put a couple more holes in the top and got the humidity down to around 50% and didnt lose one chick in the last hatch I used it for before I took that little sauna in a box and used it for parts

 

[pokey]

Quote:
Hovabator

 

[pokey]

Doesn't make sense that the chick is alive in the shell and dies like a minute after its out either.

 

[debilorrah]

Have you calibrated your hygrometer before each hatch? I too only use about 30% for 1-18 and about 50-60 during lockdown.