So sad all my chicks died. graphic pictures included

[tikilyn]

Title says it all. None of my eggs have hatched. Today is day 23 and nothing. I pulled one egg out of lockdown to candle, check on it and there was no movement or internal pipping. I also saw fluid in the air sac, so I decided to open a small portion of the egg and the chick was dead. The sac the chick was in looked like it was shrink wrapped but there was a ton of fluid inside with the chick. I'm not sure what happen.

We made an incubator (kids project), Kept the heat a steady 100 degress (with few spikes of temp 102) and moisture between 45% to 50%. We had not fan inside of the incubator. Lockdown it was hard to get the humidity up past 60%. I'm posting pictures of the egg that I open and maybe you all can give me some advice or can tell what I did wrong?

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[Twistedfeather]

I have no experience knowing on home-made incubators if they work better than normal factory-made incubators. Maybe do some research on incubators especially home-made ones to see how many trial and errors other people had. (Though people with non-homemade incubators also have mortality rates through their flock)

 

[MisfitMarie]

I'd be interested to see what other people might say...

I don't have tons of experience incubating just yet, it's been a HUGE learning curve.

But I will tell you: that is exactly what my dead clutches looked like when my humidity was high, and before I switched to dry incubation.

Now, with dry incubation, my hatch rates have drastically increased... and I don't see that excess liquid goo in my eggs anymore.

Just a suggestion. I'm sure there are varying opinions, but that was my first thought looking at your photos: high humidity.

Also, what are you using to measure humidity? Just one monitor? I was using one (again, in the beginning) before realizing it was reading about 20% too low for the humidity. Now, I have about four in every incubator. Probably overkill, but that's just what has worked for me. I don't add any water at all until lockdown... If I notice the air cells getting abnormally large early on, I might add a little. I let the air cells tell me what to do now for humidity. Otherwise, no water at all!

Sorry about your eggs. =( It is such a terrible feeling!

 

[tikilyn]

Thank you twitsedfeather and Misfitmarie. After reading more I think your right. The humidity was probably too high and I drowned my chicks.I used only one monitor to gage temp and humidity, that I got from homedepot.


My next round I'm going to try dry incubation. Now I just gotta wait for more eggs. Right now I have only two hens and one is on strike (my polish hen). My wyandotte is the most wonderful hen and I really want more of her in my flock. My rooster is a Polish so it should be interesting how the chicks comes out. LOL Wish me luck!

 

[MisfitMarie]

Thank you twitsedfeather and Misfitmarie. After reading more I think your right. The humidity was probably too high and I drowned my chicks.I used only one monitor to gage temp and humidity, that I got from homedepot.


My next round I'm going to try dry incubation. Now I just gotta wait for more eggs. Right now I have only two hens and one is on strike (my polish hen). My wyandotte is the most wonderful hen and I really want more of her in my flock. My rooster is a Polish so it should be interesting how the chicks comes out. LOL Wish me luck!

Good luck, and keep us updated! I, too, would like to see how the chicks turn out... that sounds like an interesting cross!

I highly encourage trying dry incubation and maybe picking up one more monitor... You can find some really cheap ones.

 

[AmericanMom]

Thank you twitsedfeather and Misfitmarie. After reading more I think your right. The humidity was probably too high and I drowned my chicks.I used only one monitor to gage temp and humidity, that I got from homedepot.


My next round I'm going to try dry incubation. Now I just gotta wait for more eggs. Right now I have only two hens and one is on strike (my polish hen). My wyandotte is the most wonderful hen and I really want more of her in my flock. My rooster is a Polish so it should be interesting how the chicks comes out. LOL Wish me luck!

Dry incubation has helped me tremendously! I went from a normal first hatch to the next 3 or 4 losing most of the chicks, the worst hatch only one chick out of 20 something made it.. Once I started dry hatching my hatch rates jumped to 97,99 and 100% of those that made it to lockdown!
Where do you live? Its helpful to add to your signature, many of us have an abundance of eggs and are always willing to help

 

[tikilyn]

Americanmom Thanks for the info. I will probably try again next week after I get some fresh eggs from my wyandotte and a new hydrometer. I'm planning to pick up a manual one to add to the incubator.

 

[AmericanMom]

Americanmom Thanks for the info. I will probably try again next week after I get some fresh eggs from my wyandotte and a new hydrometer. I'm planning to pick up a manual one to add to the incubator.

Once you get used to using the dry incubation you may quit keeping track of the humidity , at least I don't keep track but I live in Oregon where my ambient humidity is around 50%

 

[MisfitMarie]

Once you get used to using the dry incubation you may quit keeping track of the humidity , at least I don't keep track but I live in Oregon where my ambient humidity is around 50%

x2 ... I don't watch it at all anymore until lockdown.

I live in the Oregon area as well, I'm not sure what my ambient humidity is... I'll have to check!

I spent four years in Houston Texas (I see that the OP is located there). VERY humid where I was. Always felt like I was breathing through a damp cloth. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time there... Houston is awesome! But very, very humid. Dry incubation might work for you. Certainly worth trying.

 

[tikilyn]

Yes I am in South Texas near the Mexican border and it gets very humid down here. I've read a thread about using fridge eggs and was very intrigued. So I pulled out two of my newest eggs from the fridge (two days sitting in the fridge). I also got a fresh egg today from my hen. All three eggs are sitting on the counter waiting for a couple more eggs, then I'll start incubating again. But first a couple of questions. How long can I leave the eggs sitting out on the counter before I put them in the incubator? Should I just stick them in it when they reach room temp and then add an egg each day? How would I handle lockdown if I staggered the eggs for a couple of days or should I just wait a couple more day and add them all in on the same day?

Thanks
Sabrina