Chook Me!

Can electrical storms result in the failure of chicken eggs to hatch?

My mother used to say that when there were lots of electrical storms it could result in a bad hatch - the chicks would die before hatching. She said it was the nitrogen put in the air from lightening. We have had many electrical storms and the eggs in my incubator did not hatch, neither did the ones put under a setting hen at the same time. Could it be that my mother was right? I can find no reference to this theory on the Internet. Has anyone else heard of this? Is it scientifically possible that the lightening storms killed the chicks before they hatched? Comments and observations please.....

Public Comments

1. Well... I can't find any proof either but.... my Granny used to say the same thing... and she forgot more than you & I will ever know about nature & farm animals.