PROBLEM

COMMON CAUSES

REMEDY

Infertile (clear) eggs

*Sterile male or female
*Eggs kept too long
*Eggs stored poorly

*Breed with fertile birds
*Keep eggs for no longer than 7 days
*Store eggs in a cool, dry place

Dead in shell (up to 7 days) usually shows by dark lines in shell

*Temperature too high or low
*Eggs kept too long
*Eggs stored poorly

*Check thermostats & thermometers
*Keep eggs for no longer than 7 days
*Store eggs in a cool, dry place

Dead in shell
(7-18 days) with small air space

*Insufficient ventilation
*Low humidity

*Check ventilation vents
*Use a wet bulb to check humidity

Dead in shell
(7-18 days) with normal air space

*Eggs not turned properly
*Poor nutrition
s
*Diseases

*Turn eggs at least 3 times each day
*Feed vitamin supplements to breeding
  stock in the weeks before collecting eggs
*Use only eggs from healthy stock

Dead in shell
(7-18 days) with large air space

*Excessive ventilation
*High humidity

*Check ventilation vents
*Use a wet bulb to check humidity

Pipped eggs fail to hatch

*Buildup of bacteria
*Low moisture at hatch time
*Poor nutrition

*Fumigate incubator
*Use wet bulb to check humidity
*Feed vitamin supplements to breeding
  stock in the weeks before collecting eggs

Early hatch

*Temperature too high

*Check thermostats & thermometers

Late hatch

*Temperature too low

*Check thermostats & thermometers

Hatch wet and sticky

*Temperature too low
*High moisture
*Poor ventilation

*Check thermostats & thermometers
*Use wet bulb to check humidity
*Check ventilation vents

Hatch dry, sticking to shell and with shell fragments stuck to chicks

*Temperature too high
*Low moisture

*Check thermostats & thermometers
*Use wet bulb to check humidity

Crippled chicks

*Temperature fluctuations
*Eggs not turned properly
*Inbreeding

*Check thermostats & thermometers
*Turn eggs at least 3 times each day
*Introduce new blood if necessary

Weak, sickly chicks