What causes narrow end hatching?

[Susan Skylark]

So what causes chicks to pip at the narrow end? I had 12 quail eggs in lockdown, two pipped at the wrong end. One is alive and has a decent air hole, the other knocked off a bit of shell but didn’t rupture the membrane and must have suffocated. I’ve never had a wrong end pipper before. All eggs were incubated on their side. Last hatch (4 eggs) everybody was fine and the hatch before that I hand turned 24 eggs (all on side) and had no issues. Just a fluke thing or is there a known cause? Thanks!

 

[MysteryChicken]

In chickens, I usually see it being chicks that are too large to turn around, & pip the narrow end.
Here's an example of a chick being too large. This one failed to pip though, & died.

 

[RcoM]

Sometimes I think it's the shape of the egg as well. Small for breed or very pointy/ narrow eggs don't leave room to turn as easily.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Could be many things.
Setting with pointy end up and sometimes horizontal settings, Inadequate turning, high or low incubator temperature, high humidity, old breeders, round-shaped eggs or very large eggs, nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamin A and vitamin B12, eggs handled or stored improperly.

 

[RcoM]

Could be many things.
Setting with pointy end up and sometimes horizontal settings, Inadequate turning, high or low incubator temperature, high humidity, old breeders, round-shaped eggs or very large eggs, nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamin A and vitamin B12, eggs handled or stored improperly.

Thanks. That's very helpful.