I have been incubating some chicken eggs for a friend - and although I have a high fertilisation rate of about 70/80%, I am having a high early mortality rate.
The first round only one made it through to the end, and then I was busy on the day of hatching and it died about 1/3 way through zipping (I feel terribly guilty as perhaps if I was there I could have helped - but equally I hate interfering for worry of doing so too early). The second round of 11 fertilised, at 15 days in I have 2 definitely and 1 unsure remaining.
This time as I was unsure of myself I cracked open the ones I was discarding - they were all fertilised and all died at about the same time - looking at charts I’m thinking about day 5/6.
The moma chickens are all healthy, a variety of breeds, though all probably a good few years old now (maybe 3/4), with the youngest being 18 months - 2 years. They are free range with a varied natural diet and supplemented with chicken feed.
I candle somewhat regularly - but this time round I have been much more hands off as I was worried I had caused the low rate previously, candling irregularly, every 3/4 days, rather than almost daily like the first round.
Is this normal? Is it something I’m doing wrong? Is it the age of the birds? Is it the incubator? Could it be something else wrong with the birds?
I know natural incubation is best, but we have struggled to find a broody hen and abandoned nests, and other hens trying to get involved (they don’t have a separate area to nest), so we have had a really low natural rate.
Any advice/input would be much appreciated.
Thank you
The first round only one made it through to the end, and then I was busy on the day of hatching and it died about 1/3 way through zipping (I feel terribly guilty as perhaps if I was there I could have helped - but equally I hate interfering for worry of doing so too early). The second round of 11 fertilised, at 15 days in I have 2 definitely and 1 unsure remaining.
This time as I was unsure of myself I cracked open the ones I was discarding - they were all fertilised and all died at about the same time - looking at charts I’m thinking about day 5/6.
The moma chickens are all healthy, a variety of breeds, though all probably a good few years old now (maybe 3/4), with the youngest being 18 months - 2 years. They are free range with a varied natural diet and supplemented with chicken feed.
I candle somewhat regularly - but this time round I have been much more hands off as I was worried I had caused the low rate previously, candling irregularly, every 3/4 days, rather than almost daily like the first round.
Is this normal? Is it something I’m doing wrong? Is it the age of the birds? Is it the incubator? Could it be something else wrong with the birds?
I know natural incubation is best, but we have struggled to find a broody hen and abandoned nests, and other hens trying to get involved (they don’t have a separate area to nest), so we have had a really low natural rate.
Any advice/input would be much appreciated.
Thank you
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