Poultry Hatching.

[Simonokola]

I have a challenge in the final steps of hatching. The chicks develop well inside the egg but most of them are unable to break the shells and end up dieing. Initially I use to get between 85 - 92% hatcability but it has dropped to 38,40%respectively yet the parent stock is the same and the same Incubator. Please advice

 

[nedward]

That is purely due to humidity. Kindly check on the parameters and have your incubator serviced.

 

[nedward]

Humidity of 40-50% should be maintained for the first 18days then 65-75 the remaining days. Remember faulty incubators can show correct ready when the actual feel is different hence need for verifications.

 

[Simonokola]

I always maintain mine at temp 36.9 and humidity at 60 through our. Is this wrong?

 

[nedward]

Remember artificial incubation of eggs is mimicking natural incubation. If you are keen you will see the hen too adjusting to this parameters by minimizing the number of times she leaves the eggs to minimum during the last 3 days to hatching. This is instinctive though. Try keeping humidity between 40-50 % and 65-75 % last days and see the difference. Remember at 60 humidity the eggs will hatch but not satisfactorily.

 

[Henry Ken Korir]

Check also that the mother stock is not given excessive calcium(dcp), this make the shells very hard.