I am having some incubation/ hatching issues, and wondered if anyone has some advice.
I hatched out my first 2 sets of eggs last Thanksgiving, the second set being srom blue bantams. I got 6 live ones out of a dozen or so eggs, and lost the first one due to drowning but the rest are thriving and out with the big chickens.
however, I\'ve had three \'due dates\' on clutches of about a dozen or so each, and I got 1 live one from the 1st batch, 4 from the second, and 2 from the 3rd. 3 of the last 4 chicks that have hatched have died- one (ameraucana) shortly after breaking out, and 2 could never learn to eat and died. the one remaining seems to be going the same way- not eating- and I don\'t think it\'ll make it either. these are mostly OEGB, from different pairs, and when candled, the eggs show babies being fully developed, and then dying without pipping. my incubator temp is steady, but of those that do hatch, they are all having troubles with getting stuck partway out.
any ideas? I\'m very frustrated, and not a one of my hens is acting broody yet!