- Nov 9, 2012
- 15
- 0
- 22
I started about 20 of our home laid eggs from Americana and Americana/Cinnamon Queen Hybrid in the incubator back in January. Last year, I hatched out two good clutches from these same hens. This year, we went through the whole incubation period, candled at 7 days and showed fertilization in most of the eggs, checked them again at 14 days and showed growth.
I have meticulously monitored the incubator temperature at exactly 99.5 degrees and kept water in the incubator to provide proper humidity. About two weeks ago was when our chicks should have all hatched out. By day 25, we only had two chicks that had hatched and both seemed very weak. I actually had to help them out of their eggs after they tried for more than 24 hours, but didn't make much headway. The rest of the eggs never hatched. Finally after 30 days, I decided they weren't going to hatch so I took them out and inspected all of them. Just as my candling had suggested, most contained what appeared to be full grown chicks...all dead in the eggs!
The only thing different that I did this year versus last year is the addition of an automatic egg turner. Last year I turned my eggs by hand twice a day and almost ALL of my eggs hatched out with good strong chicks who are now good layers...unless they were cockerels...they made good dinners.
Back to the two chicks that actually hatched this time around. I left them in the incubator until dry just like I normally do and then moved them into a brood box which I kept at 100 degrees with a heat lamp. There was also plenty of room in the box to move out of the heat if they wanted. I supplied them with water and chick starter/grower. The first chick lived a few days in the brood box and seemed to be doing fine until one afternoon when we came in and found him lying on his back dead. The 2nd chick lived for almost a week. His legs were good and strong and he seemed very active up until yesterday. He seemed to start slowing down and sleeping a lot. He was drinking water, but it doesn't appear that he's eaten hardly anything. He just died a few minutes ago.
I'm feeling pretty clueless right now. I've hatched out quite a few clutches of eggs at this point and have never had a whole incubator full die without good reason. My only suspicion is that, perhaps, I tried to incubate too early in the year. Also, there has been a pretty severe cold virus going around our home for the past few weeks. Could that have, somehow, been transferred to the eggs or the chicks?
I'm looking for any answers or opinions or experience you all could provide. I've got another clutch in the incubator now and don't want the same thing to happen again. Help!
I have meticulously monitored the incubator temperature at exactly 99.5 degrees and kept water in the incubator to provide proper humidity. About two weeks ago was when our chicks should have all hatched out. By day 25, we only had two chicks that had hatched and both seemed very weak. I actually had to help them out of their eggs after they tried for more than 24 hours, but didn't make much headway. The rest of the eggs never hatched. Finally after 30 days, I decided they weren't going to hatch so I took them out and inspected all of them. Just as my candling had suggested, most contained what appeared to be full grown chicks...all dead in the eggs!
The only thing different that I did this year versus last year is the addition of an automatic egg turner. Last year I turned my eggs by hand twice a day and almost ALL of my eggs hatched out with good strong chicks who are now good layers...unless they were cockerels...they made good dinners.
Back to the two chicks that actually hatched this time around. I left them in the incubator until dry just like I normally do and then moved them into a brood box which I kept at 100 degrees with a heat lamp. There was also plenty of room in the box to move out of the heat if they wanted. I supplied them with water and chick starter/grower. The first chick lived a few days in the brood box and seemed to be doing fine until one afternoon when we came in and found him lying on his back dead. The 2nd chick lived for almost a week. His legs were good and strong and he seemed very active up until yesterday. He seemed to start slowing down and sleeping a lot. He was drinking water, but it doesn't appear that he's eaten hardly anything. He just died a few minutes ago.
I'm feeling pretty clueless right now. I've hatched out quite a few clutches of eggs at this point and have never had a whole incubator full die without good reason. My only suspicion is that, perhaps, I tried to incubate too early in the year. Also, there has been a pretty severe cold virus going around our home for the past few weeks. Could that have, somehow, been transferred to the eggs or the chicks?
I'm looking for any answers or opinions or experience you all could provide. I've got another clutch in the incubator now and don't want the same thing to happen again. Help!
