Very bad hatching rate!

[ken]

Hi
No help to the OP question, but reading the answers made me wonder, if a temp spike of say 105ish could kill the eggs fairly quick, then how do any chicks ever hatch in say texas during the summer when the temp. on any giving days can be 105 to 110 degrees, the chickens do leave their eggs to eat, drink etc and the air temp stays that hot then you add the heat from the coop itself or were ever they decide to set up camp for the 21 days it seems to me that they would have to be constantly fanning the eggs to keep them cool. I am new to this and have my first batch of 20 eggs incubating now and am just curious. thanks for any answers. this is a great site with much knowledge and experience.
Ken from Maine

 

[dsmoosecountry]

I gathered the eggs for my second hatch about 7 days before they went in the bator, as the first hatch was finishing up. They sat on the counter where the temp was 60-71. I suspect that next time I should keep them cooler?

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
You can keep them cooler, but honestly I keep mine on the counter and my temp ranges from 72 to 76 in my house, I generally have a 90% plus hatch rate out ofmy eggs

 

[kid-n-chickens]

Here is a web site on how to callibrate your hygrometer, http://exoticpets.about.com/od/herpresources/ss/hygrometer.htm
Also, make sure you are cleaning/disinfecting your incubator between hatches, washing hands before messing with the eggs etc. Might help keep from introducing any bacteria to help with the blood rings. How are you hatching the eggs on the side, with the small end down or in cartons? Have you done ane eggtopsy's after the incubation is done, what have you found?

 

[dsmoosecountry]

Quote:
I hatched them on their side. I did an egtopsy on all the eggs. The first hatch had four completely formed chicks that didn't make it. The second hatch had one chick that was completely formed, one that must have quite around day 17 (this egg was a small one), and one that seemed formed, but still had the yoke. All the bloodrings occured during the first week.

 

[kid-n-chickens]

If the membrane was really wet then your humidity was to high, if it is to low it will be dry or hard, rubbery. How long are you staying in lockdown before you give up and open the bator? Had any of them internally pipped thru the air sac? Don't mean to be asking 50 questions just trying to help you go thru any possibilities.

 

[dsmoosecountry]

Quote:
Actually the membrane was more rubbery. In fact the second chick from the first hatch I had to help because it was clearly stuck to the membrane, and stuck it was. It's fine & healthy now, and is even bigger than it's older sibling. I waited until day 24 on the first hatch. The second hatch I only waited till day 23. I candled before I did the autopsies. None of the chicks that died punctured the air sac.

I think my hydrometer is reading high. Also my average RH during lock down was closer to 63, at least according to the hydrometer.

Thanks for the help everyone

 

[kid-n-chickens]

If it was me I would disinfect the incubator, always wash your hands before handeling, hands off as much as possible to limit exposure to bacteria and to try to keep your temp and humidity as level as possible. Before your next hatch callibrate your hygrometer with the salt water test. And you might read up on this and see if this is a way you might be interested in trying. https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html. Hope these ideas help! Good LUCK!!!

 

[kid-n-chickens]

Read this forum it might help explain the unhatched chicks, just an idea~

 

[bumpershoot]

Quote:
what is your altitude? I am at 6800 ft here in NM and having chatted with one of the top silkie breeders in the world, who happens to live not far from me, he assured me that at this altitude it's not always easy to come out with a good hatch. There are times when getting anything to hatch is a real victory.
I have had those super glue membranes that you described. People describe the chicks as being "shrink wrapped", which seems like an accurate observation. At this point it is my personal opinion that the chicks hatched too dry. I had a friend suggest placing a moist tea towel on the eggs during lockdown. So, to be clear. Right now I am doing eggs at 30-35% humidity for the first 18 and then probably I will do 65-70% with moist tea towels for hatch. I am also pumping extra air into the bator with a little fish tank air-pump.