what happened?? **graphic** pic of opened eggs

[sunket77]

I am trying to figure out if we may have done something wrong so we don't repeat the same mistake.

We had a really bad hatch and we only had 2 out of 23 eggs hatch 19 where maran the rest were salmon fav. The maran egg we opened was smaller than this one and less developed. This one is a salmon fav. they where due to hatch yesterday but after no signs of life I went ahead and opened it. I looked through the different things that can happen to a hatch but I am still unsure what it all means. The liquid around the chick was brown and the yolk looked to be broken and not absorbed. The maran eggs were set 2 days before the salmon favs. but yet the one I opened was much smaller underdeveloped. Any advice will be helpfull!!!

 

[clothdiaperingmom]

I have no idea since Im new to all things chicken as well.

Just wanted to say Im sorry.

My 1st hatch (silkies) I got none. 2ND hatch I got 1 out of the 9 that made it to lockdown. And that poor baby has curly toes and walks on his left hock.

My last hatch, I got 5/6. Im not sure whey the last didnt hatch. It was fully formed like the rest, but pointed toward the small end.

Such a learning experience....frustrating and exciting at the same time!

Again, sorry. Someone else may be able to help you more.

 

[sunket77]

thanks! anyone else know??

 

[Daidohead]

What type of incubator ? Any temp spikes that may have lasted more than 4-5 hours ? Any mold or fungus growing in your water dish or under the lid of your incubator ? Were the eggs from your own flock or imported ?

 

[saladin]

From appearances it looks as if they drown in the shell; which means the humidity was too high. saladin

 

[fordmommy]

I agree with the last 2 posts. Either one could have been your culprit.

 

[ChickyLaura]

I cannot offer any assistance here. I have been having the same problems. I am in lockdown (day 19) on MY OWN eggs now. I have had hatch rates like yours on shipped eggs. The more I try, though, the more I learn. I just hate to have innocent lives lost because of me wanting to learn...

I am thinking it is something with humidity. I have TWO thermometer/hygrometers and now I'm thinking they're BOTH wrong! I have tried my hatches using my LG, now I am trying with a hovabator I bought. I really want to blame the LG, but honestly it does hold temperature pretty good. I have an egg turner that isn't working, so I've been hand turning.

Anyway, I understand your frustration. I hope you (and I!!) can figure out the problem and have better hatch rates in the future!!!

 

[sunket77]

I have a little giant (still air) my hydrometer is digital from walmart. I know the temp was off (under by 3 degrees) so I thought the humitiy was off also so I kept it as high as I could get it with read at the highest about 65% ... I am going to try and calibrate it to see if it is off or not but I thought that the humidity was supposed to be about 60-70% I tried everything to keep it up without opening the bator. I had a remote tube to fill the spaces for water and wet sponges in the bottom. I need to figure out this humidity thing so I can hatch duck eggs correctly!

hhmmm.... strangest thing though is after I unplugged it and left it alone the temp dropped but the humidity read 70% AARRGG! I just don't know!

 

[TriciaHowe]

Quote:
Chicks don't drown until they internally pip. These appear to have died way before that point. I am thinking more of a temp. issue.

What temp are you running at? What makes you think your temp. was off by 3 degrees?

You also want your humidity a LOT lower than what you are running. During incubation I would not run over 50% max.

Your yolk and insides looked like that because of decomposition. They have been passed for probably at least a week before you opened the eggs...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Chicks don't drown until they internally pip. These appear to have died way before that point. I am thinking more of a temp. issue.

What temp are you running at? What makes you think your temp. was off by 3 degrees?

You also want your humidity a LOT lower than what you are running. During incubation I would not run over 50% max.

Your yolk and insides looked like that because of decomposition. They have been passed for probably at least a week before you opened the eggs...

I think it's temps too.

I incubate days 1-18 at 35-40%. I wasn't too picky about the humidity, and didn't add water until it got to 28%. The last 3 days I keep it at 65% (it was actually 67%, but I aim for 65%, not less) I had 10 of 11 viable eggs hatch. I had 2 that died before lock down, one looked a little more developed than yours, but was deformed and 1 that died a few days prior to hatch with it's guts on the outside of it's body. The one that did not hatch, by all appearances looked fine. It had pipped then for whatever reason died. It had been knocked out of the egg carton by the others that hatched, so I'm not sure if that was the cause or not.

I'd get a Brinsea Spot check thermometer. They are super accurate. It could be that your thermometer is off more than you think it is. Also calibrate your hygrometer if you didn't this time.