Dahato3 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I have a friend who along with her young son recently set about incubating there first set of eggs. This is something that they had researched and prepared for over an extended period of time. Sadly, it did not end well when all 12 failed to hatch and appeared to have died in the shell despite having developed correctly when candled. They picked themselves up, thoroughly disinfected the incubator, sourced some new eggs and set them. This time running the incubator dry. You can imagine their delight when the whole family were able to watch the first chick hatch successfully around 9pm last night and their excitement when they woke to find 5 chicks this morning, all fluffed up and very active inside the incubator. Sadly my friend contacted me at lunchtime to tell me that within the last hour and half all 5 chicks had died whilst in the incubator. I am at a complete loss as to how to advise her on what to do next as several of the eggs are cheeping and moving and she desperately wants to avoid the same outcome should anymore eggs hatch. 1 has pipped but gone quiet, which I know is quite normal. Could it be that the air flow was incorrect and that the chicks had suffocated or is it more likely to be bacterial? Would an infection not have affected the development of the embryos as opposed to the chicks once they had hatched? We have researched on the Internet but have had no luck. They have been using a covatutto 24 Eco which is an incubator that I am not familiar with..... Any advice would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 What a horrid thing to happen It's most unusual. The most usual suspect would be bacterial infection but the incy was cleaned, if there is a next time it needs to be doubly cleaned, every last bit of it. The chicks should have been fine for 24 hours or longer before being transferred to a brooder, although when you say it was run dry I presume water was added about 3 days before hatch to assist. Even if It wasn't I don't suppose they overheated but I'm not 100% sure on that. The only other thing I can think of is some disease transmitted via the egg, but I don't know what, or possibly cocci, but really that is a killer after about 7-9 days not straightaway. I hope somebody else has an idea for you, it's not something which has ever happened to me, or many others I suspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 this is a strange one I'd have thought that if it's a bacterial infection then it would have killed the chicks in the shell as that's when they are the most at risk it could be a ventilation problem but not knowing the machine I don't now if it has any vents that need to be opened the only other thing were do they have the incubator in relation to sun light and windows it could be that it got over heated and the chicks dehydrated if the 'bator was been run dry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 I'm wondering if they have overheated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahato3 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 Firstly, thank you so much for your replies.... It is very reassuring to know that people are kind enough to take the time to help. I do know that water was added on day 18 to up the humidity and that all readings were carefully monitored. 1 more chick has since hatched. It didn't seem to be thriving so the decision was made to remove it from the incubator a little earlier than normal. The last I heard it has perked up, eaten, drunk and was more active so fingers crossed. No more activity since lunchtime so I think a friend or two will need to be sourced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
