/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

what am I doing wrong?

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by purplepoen, Aug 31, 2008.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Aug 31, 2008 #1
    purplepoen

    purplepoen Chillin' With My Peeps

    115
    0
    119
    Jul 12, 2008
    Michigan
    I keep trying to hatch barred rock eggs, but they stop growing after a while. I can see veins while candling but they all just keep dying. I know the 'bator is staying the right temp all the time. It's a styrofoam still air incubator and I put in about 5 eggs at a time. Any ideas about what I keep doing to mess them up?
     
  3. Aug 31, 2008 #2
    silkiechicken

    silkiechicken Staff PhD Premium Member

    21,500
    179
    393
    Jan 25, 2007
    Everett WA/Corvallis OR
    How do you know they are dying? Do you crack them open on day 24 to see when they are dying via developmental stage? That may help figure out what is wrong. Usually, the less attention they get, the better hatch. Also check the thermometer for accuracy and humidity for accuracy.
     
  5. Aug 31, 2008 #3
    purplepoen

    purplepoen Chillin' With My Peeps

    115
    0
    119
    Jul 12, 2008
    Michigan
    Well, they stop growing so I crack the egg open and it's just veins and the heart. (one time the brain had started) I cracked them on day 25 I think because I thought they would be hatching on day 21 and I couldn't see anything. What am I supposed to be doing with the humidity? I just kept water in the bottom like the instructions say. I chacked the thermometer, and it's fine.
     
  7. Sep 1, 2008 #4
    mark3208

    mark3208 Out Of The Brooder

    63
    1
    31
    Aug 22, 2008
    ohio
    this is the best advice i can give you,if you think it is necessary to candle them do it ONCE,at 10 to 12 days ,and then LEAVE them alone! too much moisture is worse than too little. i dont even put water in my incubator untill they are 2 to 3 days from hatching.I live in ohio where there is always some humidity in the air.
     
  9. Sep 1, 2008 #5
    Three Cedars Silkies

    Three Cedars Silkies Overrun With Chickens

    5,033
    46
    283
    Apr 17, 2008
    Gainesville, Fl.
    Handle them as little as possible, turn three times a day (preferably in the egg carton to prevent contamination), scrub your hands well before you even touch your incubator. I agree with only candling once or twice.

    Put little to no water in the bator for the first 18 days, then add water per the instructions. It wouldn't be a bad idea to use boiled sterile water to add to the bator.

    Also, MAKE SURE you have plenty of ventilation...that none of the ventilation holes are plugged. I think ventilation and bacterial contamination are the 2 main culprits for early embryonic death.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by