- Jul 20, 2011
- 3
- 0
- 7
Hello Everyone,
This is my second year incubating Rhode Island Reds, Red Stars, and Cuckoo Marans. Last year, I lost on average 20% of the eggs. This year, with the same incubation set-up, I am loosing 90%. It does not seem to mater whether I use a converted refrigerator turned into a warmerator warmerator or the styrofoam still air incubator. I have egg turners in both and am loosing clutches incubated in both units.
I have cleaned and aired both units recently and when I cracked the unhatched eggs yesterday almost all the chicks had developed to the point of internalizing the egg yolk. I had 10 chicken eggs and 9 of them were 18 to 20 days incubated. Not one of them started pipping.
Four weeks ago I started 25 guinea foul eggs and 8 indian runner duck eggs. At 10 days of incubation I removed 10 guinea eggs and 1 duck egg for non-development or death. When I opened up the guinea eggs 2 had not developed at all and 3 more had died at about 10 days. Seven had developed to the ready to hatch stage and not even pecked a hole in the shell. The other three pecked their way out and have since died - their feet were curled up and never seemed to work right. Several ducklings pipped but they have not survived.
This year with well over 100 eggs going into the incubator I have 8 pullets and 4 roosters that have survived. The Red Stars with their hybrid vigor have done the best so far. Any assistance you can offer would be most appreciated.
This is my second year incubating Rhode Island Reds, Red Stars, and Cuckoo Marans. Last year, I lost on average 20% of the eggs. This year, with the same incubation set-up, I am loosing 90%. It does not seem to mater whether I use a converted refrigerator turned into a warmerator warmerator or the styrofoam still air incubator. I have egg turners in both and am loosing clutches incubated in both units.
I have cleaned and aired both units recently and when I cracked the unhatched eggs yesterday almost all the chicks had developed to the point of internalizing the egg yolk. I had 10 chicken eggs and 9 of them were 18 to 20 days incubated. Not one of them started pipping.
Four weeks ago I started 25 guinea foul eggs and 8 indian runner duck eggs. At 10 days of incubation I removed 10 guinea eggs and 1 duck egg for non-development or death. When I opened up the guinea eggs 2 had not developed at all and 3 more had died at about 10 days. Seven had developed to the ready to hatch stage and not even pecked a hole in the shell. The other three pecked their way out and have since died - their feet were curled up and never seemed to work right. Several ducklings pipped but they have not survived.
This year with well over 100 eggs going into the incubator I have 8 pullets and 4 roosters that have survived. The Red Stars with their hybrid vigor have done the best so far. Any assistance you can offer would be most appreciated.
