Having problems getting your eggs to hatch?
Use this chart to trouble shoot incubation problems.
Incubation Trouble Shooting Chart |
||
| Symptoms | Probable Causes | Suggestions |
| Many clear eggs. No blood. (Determined by candling, then broken out appearance.) | 1. Infertility. Too
few males, too many males, males too old, males inactive, or frozen combs and wattles. 2. Embryo died early 1-2 days. |
1. Use young vigorous males. 2. Do not hold eggs longer than 7 days. Keep at temperature of 50-55 degrees. In moist atmosphere. Gather often.
|
| Slight blood rings | 3. a. Improper temperature. b. Fumigation 4. Improper care of eggs before setting |
3. a. Check accuracy of
thermometer. Check thermostat, heating element, current supply. Check
operating temperature against instructions. b. Do not fumigate at high concentrations during the first 5 days of age. 4. See suggestion (2) above
|
| Many dead germs | 5. Temperature too high or
too low. 6. Improper turning of eggs 7. Improper feeding of flock 8. Breeding (low hatchability inherited). 9. Improper ventilation, insufficient oxygen. |
5. see suggestion (3)
above 6. Turn at least 3 times, preferably 5 every 24 hours. 7. Check vitamin and mineral content of breeder mash. 8. Avoid close inbreeding. 9. Increase ventilation of incubator and incubator room, avoid drafts.
|
| Pipped eggs not
hatching. Hatch non-uniform. Hatching too early. Hatching too late. Sticky hatch. |
10. Insufficient
moisture. 11. Too high temperature. 12. Too low temperature. 13. Probably too high temperature. |
10. Increase
evaporating surface for moisture. First 18 days wet bulb of 85-87 degrees, 3 day
hatching period 89-90 degrees. 11. See (3) above. 12. See (3) above. 13. See (3) above.
|
| Cripples or malpositions | 14. Temperature too
high. 15. Too low temperature. 16. Improper turning or setting. 17. Hatching trays too smooth. |
14. See (3) above. 15. See (10) above. 16. See (6) above. Set eggs large end up. 17. Use wire bottom trays. |
| *Very large,
soft-bodied, weak chicks. Mushy chicks. Dead on trays, bad odor. |
18. Low average
temperature. 19. Poor ventilation. 20. Navel infection in incubator. |
18. See (3) above. 19. See (9) above. 20. Careful cleaning and fumigation of incubator between hatches. |
| Rough navels. | 21. High temperature or
wide temperature variations. 22. Low moisture. |
21. See (3) above. 22. See (10) above. |
| * Does not include 'big bones' slightly 'green' chicks resulting from high moisture since these chicks will live and ship well. | ||
| ** Chart courtesy of University of Kentucky: Agricultural Experiment Station, Poultry Section | ||