irn babies misfortune :(

[finefeatherz]

hi... i had 4 eggs in one nest and was wondering why one of the babies tried to hatch and died in the process of doing so, it had a hole made in the egg about the size of half your pinky nail??? does any 1 know what mite have happened? i think the mum mite have been sitting on the eggs and the baby got no air..... also in the same nest she had 3 other eggs that where fertile and the babies where ready to hatch and died inside the eggs they where fully formed??

[Robyn]

Sorry about that Finefeathers. It's so disappointing when that happens. Any factor that reduces the viability of the embryo will reduce it's chances of pipping successfully. Therefore, this will include congenital defects, respiratory disease (Mycoplasmosis) and yoke sac infections. Also other bac infections like e-coli. If the shell is to hard due to low humidity and/or to thick, the embryo may not be able to pip. Also dead in shell could be because the hen deserted the nest. You could be lucky & get a second clutch. If it happens again it may be worth having a Vet check both birds out.

But that all said we all have this type of thing happen from time to time.

Robyn.