Unable to get through membrane when hatching

[NancyinAlaska]

I've been hatching turkey eggs all summer. The majority of hatches start off pretty good, poults breaking the shell even all the way around, however, the membrane stays intact. I've had to get it off the poults, or they die, getting shrink wrapped. When I crack the turkey eggs to eat, I also have trouble getting through the membrane and have to poke something through it, it's very firm and kind of rubberey. The humidity in the incubator is a little high, I was thinking a few hatches ago that I had it too low, well that hasn't helped. Anybody have a similar problem, any ideas on what I can do?? THANKS!!!!!

 

[Tunastopper]

I wonder if your humity is to high. I found I was having the same problem as you. Then I stopped increasing my humidity the last three days. It has worked so much better for me. You would think if they are shrink wrapped they need more humidity but I found the oposite to be the case. The membrain need to dry out some to crack open. My last hatch was so perfect when I didn't change a thing. Heathiest hatch all year too.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

The problem comes from opening the incubator to often and dropping the humidty. They dry out and that's where the "shrink wrap" comes from.

Steve

 

[ColbyNTX]

Raise your humidity to 80% and drop your temp to 98.5 for the last 4 days and DO NOT open the bator until the hatch is done!!!!!! The poults will be fine for atleast 3 days in the hatcher with no food or water. If you open the bator then it is a bad fate for the others.