This is my first year doing incubation, I had 3 different groups of eggs that I set in the incube and long story short, the first thing I noticed was that when I candled them a week prior to the supposed "lock down/hatching" time frame seemed to be behind in development but most if not all were still alive. The temperature according to the thermometer was just right, and eventually I bought another one just to make sure that one was accurate and it was. The only thing I can think of is that the temp is too cold but according to the thermometer it's not.
I recently heard from someone that you're supposed to have the incube warmer then usual for your first time, but it seems weird to me and don't know why that would be needed? And I don't see any websites or anything talk about that.
Anyway, as far as the hatching went, all the first eggs hatched late, on day 23 and I only got 2/8 eggs on that one hatch. The "eggtospy" revealed that I could have had at least 2 more chicks, cause they were fully grown but didn't absorb the yolk for some reason and they didn't hatch, 2 more were a bit smaller but they had also not absorbed the yolk, I kept those eggs in the incube for 2 days after day 23 and they didn't hatch. The humidity was in the right frame too as far as I know, it ranged from 40-50% during incubation.
The other 2 groups hatched again late, on days 22 and 23 but the one group I had only about 2/7 eggs hatch and the other group was 1/7 eggs. The first group of these 2, "eggtopsy" revealed that other 5 eggs again 3 did not absorb the yolk and 1 was deformed like "hunchback", 4 were fully grown. The second group of these 2, 4 were fully grown or close but again didn't absorb the yolk, and that appears to have been the only problem with that group. The non-hatching eggs of these 2 groups I kept in the incube for 2-3 days later before I decided no more were going to hatch.
So I guess the real question is, why aren't these yolks absorbing??? It appears to be a serious problem because I'm having such low hatch rates because of it. And FYI all these eggs were shipped prior to setting. For the most part everything is fine except for the yolk absorption part, for some reason it's a big problem for me, and I don't know what's up with it. I'm also worried cause I have a 4th group of eggs currently incubating and I really don't want another bad hatch just because of the yolks not being absorbed. I can tolerate late hatching but this yolk thing is a huge problem.
I also have pictures of the eggtopsy if anyone is interested in seeing them, I didn't want to start off too graphic.
I recently heard from someone that you're supposed to have the incube warmer then usual for your first time, but it seems weird to me and don't know why that would be needed? And I don't see any websites or anything talk about that.
Anyway, as far as the hatching went, all the first eggs hatched late, on day 23 and I only got 2/8 eggs on that one hatch. The "eggtospy" revealed that I could have had at least 2 more chicks, cause they were fully grown but didn't absorb the yolk for some reason and they didn't hatch, 2 more were a bit smaller but they had also not absorbed the yolk, I kept those eggs in the incube for 2 days after day 23 and they didn't hatch. The humidity was in the right frame too as far as I know, it ranged from 40-50% during incubation.
The other 2 groups hatched again late, on days 22 and 23 but the one group I had only about 2/7 eggs hatch and the other group was 1/7 eggs. The first group of these 2, "eggtopsy" revealed that other 5 eggs again 3 did not absorb the yolk and 1 was deformed like "hunchback", 4 were fully grown. The second group of these 2, 4 were fully grown or close but again didn't absorb the yolk, and that appears to have been the only problem with that group. The non-hatching eggs of these 2 groups I kept in the incube for 2-3 days later before I decided no more were going to hatch.
So I guess the real question is, why aren't these yolks absorbing??? It appears to be a serious problem because I'm having such low hatch rates because of it. And FYI all these eggs were shipped prior to setting. For the most part everything is fine except for the yolk absorption part, for some reason it's a big problem for me, and I don't know what's up with it. I'm also worried cause I have a 4th group of eggs currently incubating and I really don't want another bad hatch just because of the yolks not being absorbed. I can tolerate late hatching but this yolk thing is a huge problem.
I also have pictures of the eggtopsy if anyone is interested in seeing them, I didn't want to start off too graphic.
It sounds like everything is right with temp and humidity? Did you candle before you put them in? Were the air cells ok? Did you let them rest 24 hours before setting? Those things can cause development to go bad. I hope someone can help you out!
