Unassisted hatch rate

[Ruby Rogue]

For the people who never ever open their incubator during lockdown and the ones who do not assist in a hatch, what are your hatch rates?

Do you think assisting in hatch brings up the likelihood that you will get more healthy birds, or that you'll end up with more weak birds with leg and toe issues?

Is it worth losing healthy eggs to open up the incubator to assist in a hatch?

 

[JaeG]

I always assist when necessary and have never lost a chick that didn't require assistance because I opened the incubator. We aren't mother hens and a lot can go wrong during incubation which causes issues for the developing chicks. So I believe it is my responsibility to help out because it is more than likely my fault they are having difficulties. And there is documentation of mother birds helping their eggs to hatch. There's even a photo of it happening in this article (plus a lot of excellent information): https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[ausmumof3]

I’ve don’t think I’ve lost a chick that hatched itself. I’ve had some that never hatch for whatever reason. I have lost many of my assisted hatches mostly with leg and toe issues to the point I really question whether it’s worth it. But I can’t see a little pipped beak and not at least try to do something.