Solution to (very late) embryo death?

[JustAlex09]

Hey guys!

So for the last few clutches my zebras have produced three fertile eggs (per clutch). These eggs get pretty darn far along in the development and then probably about a day or two before they're due to hatch they just... die. I'm not sure why because Isis and Orisis are very diligent egg sitters.
I only ever check on the eggs once, usually a week after they're laid (to check to see if they're duds or not), and I am very careful about it. Can shifting the eggs even just a little bit kill the chick inside? Is the LED light I'm using not good or do I just have some exceptionally bad luck?

[Stuart whiting]

Hi fella,

I think it's just a spot of general bad luck by the sounds of it, I don't think you've personally done any thing wrong in particular,

Dead in shell is normally caused by a lack of nutrition in the embryo,

It's possible that yer birds are perhaps lacking a little bit of calcium etc which will also weaken and create soft shell,

Don't know if your already feeding already but try some fine oyster shell grit and grated cuttle fish bone with their diet along with a good quality egg food for protein

In truth there are numerous reasons but I'd firstly look at diet and minerals and vitamins that you can naturally give the birds

[debbie276]

Mid stage DIS (think like 8-12 days) can be due to a genetic defect, bacterial infection or something due to perhaps the egg being compromised (small cracks or holes from untrimmed nails) or the result of the parents not incubating properly and the embryos get too chilled and die.

Late stage DIS (fully formed babies ready to hatch) can be a genetic defect which makes the baby too weak to pip, or can also be related to either too little humidity or the eggs chilling.

Humidity should be about 50% or higher.
Shifting the eggs slightly wouldn't cause DIS. Just imagine how much the pair move them around when turning them.
How far over the hatch date have they gone? Are you sure they are DIS? I'd wait at min. a week over due before I gave up on them.

[Stuart whiting]

Mid stage DIS (think like 8-12 days) can be due to a genetic defect, bacterial infection or something due to perhaps the egg being compromised (small cracks or holes from untrimmed nails) or the result of the parents not incubating properly and the embryos get too chilled and die.

Late stage DIS (fully formed babies ready to hatch) can be a genetic defect which makes the baby too weak to pip, or can also be related to either too little humidity or the eggs chilling.

Humidity should be about 50% or higher.
Shifting the eggs slightly wouldn't cause DIS. Just imagine how much the pair move them around when turning them.
How far over the hatch date have they gone? Are you sure they are DIS? I'd wait at min. a week over due before I gave up on them.

Quite agree

[cindy]

Agree with Debbie!!!