[min200]

I have had 8 chicks die in their shells right at the hatching point.  Now I have also had the other 8 hatch fine so any ideas of why the dead ones? 

They are all perfectly formed and to be honest Im quite stumped over it all?  Ive had the odd one or two die at this stage before, nature after all will have her way, but this is a real high ratio!!!

[AL Hathaway]

found info here http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7963962&start=0

this is what they had to say

When incubation of eggs fails, indications are often available that a well trained professional uses for diagnosing the causes for failure. The information listed below includes the more common symptoms for incubation failures, the causes for each symptom, and the recommended corrective measures. A good incubation publication, MCES Publication 1182, Hatching Quality Chicks helps in analyzing the incubation procedure. It explains the artificial incubating process in more detail.
Symptoms of incubation/breeder management problems include:

Symptoms Probable Cause Corrective Measures
Chicks fully formed, but dead without pipping Low average humidity Maintain recommended humidity for species of bird incubated.
Improper incubation temperature Check thermometer accuracy and incubator functions. Follow recommended temperature settings.
Improper ventilation in incubator Adjust ventilation to provide optimum moisture-loss rate from egg during incubation.
Improper turning of eggs Turn eggs at least three times daily until 3 days prior to hatching.
Chilling of eggs Gather eggs frequently and store under proper conditions.
Diseased or poorly conditioned breeder flock Conduct a good disease control and breeder management program. Use a well-balanced nutritional diet.

[Casey76]

How was your humidity?

DIS can be due to drowning, if the humidity was or is too high.

Sorry you had a poor hatch min

[min200]

The humidity was bang on as was the temp?  Its strange because I have used this incy alot with no problems? 

Still thanks for the replies guys.  I will now give it a really good clean out and test it using extra temp/humidity guages.

Then it will be packed away for this year. 

[min200]

Looks like it may be bacterial.  Ive just looked in on those chicks that hatched and two have keeled over dead.

I believe the word is B****R! 

[Casey76]

Oh dear    So sorry

[ferretkeeper]

I'm so sorry to hear about your chickies. I saw this thread and briefly wondered about my chicks, but now you've lost some after hatching as well, I'm seeing similarities.

I've just hatched my first incubator lot and the eggs were from my own hens. I must have done the humidity completely wrong because I had to help a lot of chicks out after pipping, the membrane inside was dry and tight around them almost.

I lost one in the shell as it was hatching, and since then I've gradually lost one chick after another, they aren't as big as the rest and they end up either pushed into a corner where they can't get to the food or water, or I've found them just beyond the brooder out of the heat and I presumed that's what finished them off.

 Some of them had a problem walking, one wouldn't stand up at all, a few have had splayed legs, so I've dealt with that using the info on here, in case that's the reason they couldn't get to feed. Unfortunately they aren't always dead, there's another thread of mine about this so I won't elaborate

I think I've lost the last weakling now, I've been nursing it all day, but am I to expect the rest to start pegging out? How do you know it's bacterial, what should I be looking out for and how do you deal with a bacterial problem in chicks?

Hopefully it isn't, but I need to know what I should do just in case.

Good luck with the rest of yours Min

[joyfull]

Bacterial problems causes -
dirty eggs
dirty incubator
egg addled.

How to rectify -
use clean even sized and shaped eggs
thoroughly clean the incubator using a proper sterilizing cleaner designed for incubators
candle eggs and remove infertile eggs - if they go off they will give out fumes and affect the other eggs.
Any bacteria will breed in the heat and humidity of an incubator.

[min200]

One of the chicks died in its shell shortly after the last candling.  This would be the cause in my case as for a week it sat in the incy going bad and contaminating the rest.

Its a real shame but as they were mostly Serama eggs I dont like to candle them on the last week as this can cause problems as well!

Catch 22.

[JaK]

Sorry you lost so many Min.
How are the other chicks doing?

[min200]

I have six alive but...... I put them in with my two Pekin chicks that hatched a week or so ago so I am hoping they will all be ok now.