What happened?

[chicken4prez]

So here is the story:

I was hatching eggs in August (5) and one day I checked on the eggs under my one broody and the membrane was tightly wrapped around the chick (yolk was not fully absorbed yet) and the top half of the egg's shell was missing. The chick was sadly dead and ever since I've been wondering what happened to the poor little chick?

I know that deaths happen with hatching chicks but I would like to know if this is something I could help prevent for next time I hatch.


Thanks!

 

[WVduckchick]

Many possibilities.
My best guess would be a humidity issue, if it was very dry. Or possibly a more porous egg shell that allowed too much moisture loss. Sometimes hens do lay eggs that aren't the best for hatching. Abnormal shells, shapes, etc can making hatching more difficult.
So pick the best, most uniform eggs when you incubate. Candle the eggs first and note more porous ones, and inspect for possible hairline fractures.

 

[chicken4prez]

Thank you so much!

I definitely will do that.