Agnes Mathai
New member
The chicken I have always hatch two to four chicks from a batch of ten to twelve eggs. What am I doing wrong or what should I improve on?
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Chickens eggs not hatching
- Thread starter Agnes Mathai
- Start date
nedward
Veterinarian
Good question Agnes. To answer you it is worth noting that the eggs hatching rates reduces with storage period. For best results ensure that you set eggs that are not more than 7days old since laying. This you can achieve by making your eggs. Second for the eggs hatch, fertility must be ensured. Always have fertile cocks at the ratio 1 cock for every 5. Have your eggs candled* at day 8 if possible. Remember too that parent stock for eggs destined for hatching must be balanced. Finally all said and done the eggs take 21 days to hatch with critical period being last 3 days so ensure you the eggs in the evening for hatching to start same time and continue through the night. Prevent the bird from leaving the nest upto midday the following day 22. Try that and you will not regret. Set 8 eggs for small body and 12 for big body birds.
Agnes Mathai
New member
Thanks nedward, this I put in practice. Dnt know about the last eggs to be candled* so as to get best hatch. Am going to mark tgem eggs for correct numbering. Results will be posted here. Thanks again
Victorine onyango
New member
What do "candled" mean
nedward
Veterinarian
Candling is a process of holding sharp light above or below the egg to observe the developing embryo (chick) inside the egg. You can hold the egg in your hand in darkness and using a spot light (torch) direct the light on the egg and you will see the developing embryo. If no embryo seen means the egg wasn't fertilized and will not hatch. This can be done to eggs at setting to so as to clearly see those eggs with cracked shell that shouldn't be set for hatching
Good question Agnes. To answer you it is worth noting that the eggs hatching rates reduces with storage period. For best results ensure that you set eggs that are not more than 7days old since laying. This you can achieve by making your eggs. Second for the eggs hatch, fertility must be ensured. Always have fertile cocks at the ratio 1 cock for every 5. Have your eggs candled* at day 8 if possible. Remember too that parent stock for eggs destined for hatching must be balanced. Finally all said and done the eggs take 21 days to hatch with critical period being last 3 days so ensure you the eggs in the evening for hatching to start same time and continue through the night. Prevent the bird from leaving the nest upto midday the following day 22. Try that and you will not regret.
