Chicks hatching at different rates

[Chikitty]

Newbie silkie hatcher trying to figure things out. I locked down the incubator on day 18 with 11 eggs. Day 20 the first one hatched. Day 21 2 more hatched. All 3 of these were healthy normal chicks. Day 22 2 hatched, one with curled toes and one with both curled toes and spraddle legs. I was about to give up on the rest of the eggs when another one pipped on day 23 and hatched with assistance on day 24. It is a completely normal chick. If curled toes and spraddle leg are caused by heat and or humidity fluctuations why was the one exposed to the most of those hatch a normal chick?

 

[Chikitty]

I would get separate gauges and see where you're at with what you have before buying new you may just need to adjust accordingly. But does sound like you have some hot/cold spots.

Thanks for the info. I will definitely do that if I decide to hatch more. This first go round has been both a great learning experience and a heartbreaking one. I never realized I would get emotionally attached to unhatched chicken eggs! lol

 

[Chikitty]

If all eggs were stored the same way and same age, all put in incubator same time then your incubator has hot and cold spots this is common in incubators. Do you have separate calibrated thermometer/hygrometer to know if temps/humidity is correct.

Thank you. I will get one and check it before I try hatching eggs again. Naively, I relied on the incubators temp and humidity gauges. According to them it held steady throughout the process but sadly, as you suggested it must have had hot and cold spots.

 

[Chikitty]

Curled toes and straddled legs can be corrected. I'm not sure of the cause.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thank you. I "booted" the one with curly toes, sadly the one with both curly toes and spraddle legs did not make it. I suspect it had other problems too.

 

[Chikitty]

Yes, temps could be holding steady just not right temp in all spots what type off incubator still air or forced air. As still air incubators are the worst for this.

Forced air. I dont know the brand, it was a hand me down from someone I know. I think if I decide to do this again I will invest in a different one.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If curled toes and spraddle leg are caused by heat and or humidity fluctuations why was the one exposed to the most of those hatch a normal chick?

Welcome to BYC!

There can be many causes.. and individual egg nutrition should not be dismissed, in addition to hot or cold spots, etc already mentioned. Are they from your flock?

I wouldn't ditch the bator.. but learn to work with it. Every bator will have it's ins and outs. For example I hate the nurture right 360 that so many are fond of and prefer Styrofoam or at least side walls so eggs or chicks can not fall out when I open the lid..

Possible causes of embryonic mortality and specific conditions seen start around page 51 of the following link..

https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guideen__053407700_1525_26062017.pdf

 

[Chikitty]

Thank you, very interesting information! From the previous answer and the link you provided the temperature and humidity not being consistent throughout the incubator seems to be the most logical answer.
With a forced air incubator how do you combat that issue? I understand having a separate thermometer/hygrometer would tell if the settings on the incubator were accurate, but how does that keep from having said hot/cold spots within the incubator?

 

[cavemanrich]

Curled toes and straddled legs can be corrected. I'm not sure of the cause.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Huntmaster]

Newbie silkie hatcher trying to figure things out. I locked down the incubator on day 18 with 11 eggs. Day 20 the first one hatched. Day 21 2 more hatched. All 3 of these were healthy normal chicks. Day 22 2 hatched, one with curled toes and one with both curled toes and spraddle legs. I was about to give up on the rest of the eggs when another one pipped on day 23 and hatched with assistance on day 24. It is a completely normal chick. If curled toes and spraddle leg are caused by heat and or humidity fluctuations why was the one exposed to the most of those hatch a normal chick?

If all eggs were stored the same way and same age, all put in incubator same time then your incubator has hot and cold spots this is common in incubators. Do you have separate calibrated thermometer/hygrometer to know if temps/humidity is correct.

 

[Huntmaster]

Yes, temps could be holding steady just not right temp in all spots what type off incubator still air or forced air. As still air incubators are the worst for this.