Reasons for eggs not hatching???

[(sub)UrbanCoop]

In your experience, why would an egg not hatch?

I have 10 Buff Orp eggs in my incubator, on day 17 I did a final weigh and candling before lock down. Everything looked great, I even saw a few of them moving in the shell. On day 20 one hatched, but nothing since.

Today (Tuesday) is day 21, but I have not heard a single peep out of any of the eggs. I moved the one baby out today for a few minutes to get some food and water, but she was not happy so I put her back in the incubator where she seemed more comfortable and went back to sleep.

I know I have a few more days before the eggs may not "hatch", but just trying to locate some info as to why a chick may die in the shell.

Thanks.

Oh, the only other info I can provide is that the eggs were 2 days old before being placed in the incubator.

 

[sourland]

First of all, I am hoping that the rest of your eggs will hatch. Possible reasons for non hatching full term chicks might include: humidity too high or low, temperature extremes, congenitally weak chicks - excessive inbreeding.

 

[(sub)UrbanCoop]

First of all, I am hoping that the rest of your eggs will hatch. Possible reasons for non hatching full term chicks might include: humidity too high or low, temperature extremes, congenitally weak chicks - excessive inbreeding.

Thank you for the reply.

I have a thermometer and a hygrometer (?spelling) in there. It is a forced air incubator with a thermostat. The internal thermometer has been reading 99.5 from day 1, unless I opened the lid to rotate the eggs, then it dropped for a couple of minutes until I put the lid back on. I kept the humidity low for the first 18 days, hovering between 45-50%. On day 18 I added a touch of water to bump the humidity up to 57-60%.

I too hope the babies hatch. I feel the one is very lonely and constantly cheeping.

I am going to give them 2-3 more days and may try to autopsy them. Though the thought makes me really sad.

 

[chocolateeggs]

I had a similar experience with my last hatch on the 18th, 15 viable and only ended up with 8 chicks, one of which died 2 days after hatching, because I helped it.

So, what I think happened to mine is the humidity was too low. I let it drop to the 50's and I think they got shrink wrapped into their shells. And you are keeping your humidity fairly low in the 50s and 60s. If I were you, I would crank it up, stick a paper towel or clean sock in there that is damp. And DO NOT open up the incubator, I think that was my biggest mistake. Every time I opened it humidity escaped making it dryer and dryer.

 

[(sub)UrbanCoop]

I had a similar experience with my last hatch on the 18th, 15 viable and only ended up with 8 chicks, one of which died 2 days after hatching, because I helped it.

So, what I think happened to mine is the humidity was too low. I let it drop to the 50's and I think they got shrink wrapped into their shells. And you are keeping your humidity fairly low in the 50s and 60s. If I were you, I would crank it up, stick a paper towel or clean sock in there that is damp. And DO NOT open up the incubator, I think that was my biggest mistake. Every time I opened it humidity escaped making it dryer and dryer.

Thanks. I'll add water to the second reservoir. I'll need to open it though as the new chickie only seems comfortable in there. I tried moving her to the brooder, but she didn't like being alone. As soon as I popped her back into the incubator she went right back to sleep.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Fingers crossed..... here is some reading for you! below is a paste from article https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

Understanding The Hatching Process

Between the 15th and 16th days, the chick orients itself so that its head is near the air cell at the large end of the egg. Not long before the chick is ready to attempt to make its way out of the shell its neck acquires a double bend so that its beak is under its right wing and pointed toward the air cell.
​

21 DAYS is just a baseline for hatching eggs.
Many chicks can take 23 - 25 days!
Some pip internally and fully hatch in hours while others will be 24 hours or more.

Egg movement! Eggs can “Rock n Roll” days before they are due to hatch!

The initiation of hatch occurs partially from the increased carbon dioxide level in the egg. This process causes the embryo to begin twitching it's muscles allowing the inner shell membrane to be punctured by the egg tooth. The chick then begins breathing the air in the air cell. Using its egg tooth, it pecks at the shell thousands of times and after a few hours the chick pips a small hole through the shell and begins to breathe air directly from the outside. After the chick has made a hole in the shell, it stops pipping for 8+ hours sometimes up to 24 hours and rests.
During this time, it is acclimating its lungs.

After the resting stage is completed the second stage of pipping begins. The chick begins to turn slowly inside the egg. As the chick turns counter-clockwise it uses the cutting edge of the chick tooth to chip away. As the chick progresses in its movement around the shell, it begins pushing on the large air cell end of the egg. Squirming and struggling! YES STRUGGLING! The chick works feverishly pushing at the cap. Finally with a shove the chick breaks free from the shell wet and exhausted. When the chick is freed completely from the shell it lies still. Its energy has been virtually exhausted, and it is extremely tired. After resting the chick begins to gain more and more energy and coordination of its muscles.





In regards to opening and closing the bator to remove already hatch chicks; It is important to remember that chicks can go 3 days without food/water. It is better to wait for the remaining chicks to hatch to insure reducing the impact to unhatched pipping eggs.

But my new chick is running around in the bator knocking eggs around!
LET THEM GO! DO NOT OPEN THE INCUBATOR! They are fine!



When to assist?​

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Fingers crossed, keep us updated please!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

 

[kakhan]

 

[Pathfinders]

This is a really great PDF to help you troubleshoot incubation problems. I hope you get some to hatch after all!

http://www.poultry.msstate.edu/extension/pdf/troubleshooting_incubation.pdf