To incubate horizontally or vertically?

[Sickemtiger]

Hi everyone,

Just cleaned out the incubator after a 100% fail on 13 silkie eggs . So devastated since 11 of them were developing, even right up to day 21!

On inspection it seems the last 4 that survived were all malpositioned. And I read one of the reasons can be caused by insufficient turning.

I was already concerned with our turner when I noticed it would only go about 40° one direction, back to centre straight up than back to the same side at about 40° sometimes not even that, more like 20°.

I will be returning the incubator but I have 20 fertile eggs that I want to try hatch before, as it may be our last chance because our rooster had to go.

My question is, should I try set the eggs in the automatic turner (have the eggs sitting mostly upright) and supplement it with manually turning the eggs 5x a day OR remove the faulty auto turner and lay the eggs on the bottom and hand turn them? Is it better to hatch sitting upright or laying down?

 

[theuglychick]

Sorry for your troubles

I'd say if you suspect a faulty turner I'd nix the turner and turn them by hand. Just to be safe. Although I suspect it could be a combination of issues in addition to insufficient turning.

I hatched my first batch turning by hand only twice a day (3 or more times would be better, of course, but I work full time) and had a fairly good hatch rate. About 80%. Not perfect, but it was a test batch in a new bater. Now I use my turner.

I've been running small test batches in my bater and found that I also have higher hatch rates at the lower recommended temps (99-100). 101-102 seems to cause more dead in shell chicks, for me.

Another issue that halts chicks from being able to hatch at hatch day is humidity. I'm in a naturally humid place, so I have to use way less humidity than what is recommended. Or else my air cells do not change and the chicks kind of drown.

Best of luck!

 

[Sickemtiger]

Thanks @theuglychick. Yeh I'm not 100% certain what the temperature was at half the time since I kept getting 3 different readings. My bator would say 37°C (sorry not sure what that is in Fahrenheit), 1 thermometer would say 39°C and another would say 36°C!!! Very confusing. So I just had to go with somewhere in between. But they didn't seem underdeveloped or too large at any point and the airsac seemed good so I thought the temperature was ok...?

As for humidity I tried to keep it mostly low (around 30-40%) and I was waiting to see an internal pip before I raised the humidity but the pipping never happened .

So now I can only guess the malpositioning could be down to the insufficient turning? I could be wrong?
I really don't want to get this last batch wrong so I'm trying to do it as perfectly as possible. I'm going to buy another two thermometers to just to quadruple check the temperature (I hear that humidity can be somewhat more forgiving).

 

[theuglychick]

Sounds like you're covering all your bases with temp and humidity!

Let us know how this hatch goes! I'm hoping for a high hatch rate for you!

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

What a heartbreak. My condolences on the chicks.

I wish I could offer answers but I'm right there with you. I'm on my 3rd hatch and for the first time I'm feeling really good about it. Previous hatch rates were 1/20, 1/12, and 3/36. I've switched to weighing eggs and checking aircell weekly to watch the humidity. My last hatch I had many late deaths and malpositioning. I believe my humidity was too low which created weak chicks with huge aircells and not enough room to properly position. I also understand now altitude is a factor in hatching.

Here is an article that might help in your trouble shooting. Best of luck with your next hatch. http://www.chickenwhisperermagazine.com/articles/art-incubation-other-side-science

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

If you're confused about temperature consider measuring egg shell temp with an ear thermometer. That will tell the actual temperature of the egg. It will also reveal hot and cold spots in the incubator. Just make sure tp take the temp immediately when then come out. They start cooling within seconds.

 

[Sickemtiger]

What a heartbreak. My condolences on the chicks.

I wish I could offer answers but I'm right there with you. I'm on my 3rd hatch and for the first time I'm feeling really good about it. Previous hatch rates were 1/20, 1/12, and 3/36. I've switched to weighing eggs and checking aircell weekly to watch the humidity. My last hatch I had many late deaths and malpositioning. I believe my humidity was too low which created weak chicks with huge aircells and not enough room to properly position. I also understand now altitude is a factor in hatching.

Here is an article that might help in your trouble shooting. Best of luck with your next hatch. http://www.chickenwhisperermagazine.com/articles/art-incubation-other-side-science

Thank you. I honestly didn't know my heart could hurt so much over eggs! I feel teary even thinking about them again as I type this.

Withh your attempts you at least got a couple of chicks, I would've been so happy if just ONE of them made it.

I'm definitely weighing them this time too; within a day of them being layed.

Do you think there could've been anything else that could explain what went wrong with all these badly malpositioned eggs? Besides humidity, temperature and turning? I could even post a photo of that might help?

 

[theuglychick]

Thank you. I honestly didn't know my heart could hurt so much over eggs! I feel teary even thinking about them again as I type this.

Withh your attempts you at least got a couple of chicks, I would've been so happy if just ONE of them made it.

I'm definitely weighing them this time too; within a day of them being layed.

Do you think there could've been anything else that could explain what went wrong with all these badly malpositioned eggs? Besides humidity, temperature and turning? I could even post a photo of that might help?

Do you have candling pics?

 

[jvls1942]

I would check the turner,, something could be binding or blocking it from turning. it happens.

disconnect the rod from the motor and turn the trays by hand..

this takes only a few minutes of your time.

I don't think that lack of full turning was a problem here.

too many thermometers.
pick one and go with it.
keep trying different thermometers until you get one that is accurate.
you can then calibrate the bad ones to it.

 

[Sickemtiger]

I have a couple of candling photos, but not very clear. The only one that was kind of clear is at day 19. His head was tucked down the pointy end when I opened him up. I also have photos of the eggtopsy if that'll help anyone identify what went wrong.