Hands on hatching and help

RubyNala97 said:

He's out!! I'm officially a call duck mommy! Not only is that so awesome but this little guy came from a shipped egg that had a totally detached air cell. I've never gotten a detached air cell to develop, let alone hatch. So lots of firsts for me with this little one! I got him half way out and then was worried sick he was stuck in the shell by the membrane but after a short rest, he pushed himself right out of the bottom of the shell all by himself! Lots of pics coming once he's dry. He's going to be a lone duckling for 2 & 1/2 weeks until my next batch of calls hatch (yeah, I can't believe I'm doing this again). So any advice for keeping a single duckling?

It hit my funny bone too! You're not alone!
That's the thing with shipped eggs, (we discussed this on another thread a while back) you can not accurately weigh them. There is no way to know how much weight was lost while they were being stored and through transit. What you can do is weigh some of your own eggs next time after they are laid and watch the air cell growth carefully so you know by eye how much weight loss % looks like. Know what I mean?

Yes, you're 100% right. That's basically what I did. I removed only a tiny bit more shell and that membrane and he wiggled right out the top. But stayed in the bottom for about a half hour before pushing out.

Eta: because I screwed up!

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potatobaba said:

I am artificially incubating Sevastopol's. On day 30 I drilled a small hole in the air sac end because of previous egg deaths. Day 31 I hear chirping but no pipping or unzipping. Today is day 32 - should I help?

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silversong said:

I'm so happy to have found this thread.  I searched for help last night on assisting hatching, but everything I read said "WAIT", "DON'T TOUCH", "SHRINK WRAP", etc....  I was so discouraged and my instinct was telling me my chicks were in trouble. 

I could see through my Hovabator windows that two of the chicks had zipped but the membrane was still holding the chicks in the shell.  After hours of anxiously watching for them to break free, I finally snatched the one out that had the most zipping and was saddened to see the chick had died.  Fearing the worst, I pulled out the other chick.  This one had almost pushed off the top of the shell, but was "cemented" in place by what I assume was dried yolk.  It too was dead.  So much for 'HANDS OFF" for me.

I searched how to assist a chick and tackled one little egg that had pipped but would not progress to zipping, breaking a zip line around the shell and putting it back in the incubator and raising the humidity (I could see these shells are THICK!).  Another chick was also stuck with the membrane and I carefully helped that one out.  But it seems the membrane had dried where the pips were and each chick is carrying a large portion of egg shell on their backs and necks (ouch  for the wee Naked Neck!).  I was hesitant to try to pull the dried shell off last night in case I tore their feather and skin, hoping it would fall off on it's own.  No such luck, I'm afraid, dried on hard now.

So I'm torn, do I take these chicks out yet again and try to moisten the area with a warm cloth and see if the shell will release?  I'm afraid of chilling the chick or pulling off feathers/skin in the process.  Maybe I should just leave the shell on with the chick until they are ready to come out tomorrow night? 

I still have four eggs that are on day 21 which have not pipped externally, and one egg pipped externally yesterday (still in there the little peeper!).  Would it be safe to pull the non-externally pipped eggs out to candle tonight?  I'd like to know if they have broken through to the air sack and if so, decide whether to intervene with making the outside pip.

Love this thread, so many great people willing to dive in and help our feathered babies!

Sincerely,
Jennifer

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RubyNala97 said:

Oh my goodness! I am so in love!! This little guy is imprinting already. He is so happy when he's out and with us. Otherwise he paces the brooder. I put him on the bed and he tries to jump up on me and nibbles at me and preens himself. He's going to be spoile rotten!!


Thank you for the advice. I'm tempted to let him sleep with me but then I know I'll never get him out of the bed!! Good luck on the eggs. I hope the all level out.
How are your air cells? Do you measure them each week? And where are you getting your numbers for humidity? You can't really pick one number but rather monitor the air cells closely and adjust so that they are growing properly. Are your hygrometers calibrated?

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Lacrystol said:

GREAT JOB NEW DUCK MOMMY.


AMY, those pics are WAY TO adorable. lol

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chikadoodles said:

I'm very hands on with mine. Everyone says let nature take its course, but it was I that put them in that box. I'll help as much as possible and

them much

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potatobaba said:

I am artificially incubating Sevastopol's. On day 30 I drilled a small hole in the air sac end because of previous egg deaths. Day 31 I hear chirping but no pipping or unzipping. Today is day 32 - should I help?

Click to expand...

silversong said:

I'm so happy to have found this thread. I searched for help last night on assisting hatching, but everything I read said "WAIT", "DON'T TOUCH", "SHRINK WRAP", etc.... I was so discouraged and my instinct was telling me my chicks were in trouble.

I could see through my Hovabator windows that two of the chicks had zipped but the membrane was still holding the chicks in the shell. After hours of anxiously watching for them to break free, I finally snatched the one out that had the most zipping and was saddened to see the chick had died. Fearing the worst, I pulled out the other chick. This one had almost pushed off the top of the shell, but was "cemented" in place by what I assume was dried yolk. It too was dead. So much for 'HANDS OFF" for me.

I searched how to assist a chick and tackled one little egg that had pipped but would not progress to zipping, breaking a zip line around the shell and putting it back in the incubator and raising the humidity (I could see these shells are THICK!). Another chick was also stuck with the membrane and I carefully helped that one out. But it seems the membrane had dried where the pips were and each chick is carrying a large portion of egg shell on their backs and necks (ouch for the wee Naked Neck!). I was hesitant to try to pull the dried shell off last night in case I tore their feather and skin, hoping it would fall off on it's own. No such luck, I'm afraid, dried on hard now.

So I'm torn, do I take these chicks out yet again and try to moisten the area with a warm cloth and see if the shell will release? I'm afraid of chilling the chick or pulling off feathers/skin in the process. Maybe I should just leave the shell on with the chick until they are ready to come out tomorrow night?

I still have four eggs that are on day 21 which have not pipped externally, and one egg pipped externally yesterday (still in there the little peeper!). Would it be safe to pull the non-externally pipped eggs out to candle tonight? I'd like to know if they have broken through to the air sack and if so, decide whether to intervene with making the outside pip.

Love this thread, so many great people willing to dive in and help our feathered babies!

Sincerely,
Jennifer

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Blooie said:

Aaa----nd, the deal is done! Looks like there'll be a few Silkie Eggs hitting the incubator soon. (Well, not "hitting" exactly - I've lost enough eggs not to want to toss them at the incubator and lose them on purpose!)

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WVduckchick said:

I agree with helping zippers that stop mid-way, but would also like to point out that some of my breeds zip quickly, and some seem to take an hour or more, totally normally. Lavender orpingtons are the slowest. I just make sure they are still active, keep them alert by talking to them or shining light on them, but usually let them take their time, unless the membrane starts getting brown.

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RubyNala97 said:

Oh my goodness! I am so in love!! This little guy is imprinting already. He is so happy when he's out and with us. Otherwise he paces the brooder. I put him on the bed and he tries to jump up on me and nibbles at me and preens himself. He's going to be spoile rotten!!


Thank you for the advice. I'm tempted to let him sleep with me but then I know I'll never get him out of the bed!! Good luck on the eggs. I hope the all level out.
How are your air cells? Do you measure them each week? And where are you getting your numbers for humidity? You can't really pick one number but rather monitor the air cells closely and adjust so that they are growing properly. Are your hygrometers calibrated?

Click to expand...

WVduckchick said:

I agree with helping zippers that stop mid-way, but would also like to point out that some of my breeds zip quickly, and some seem to take an hour or more, totally normally. Lavender orpingtons are the slowest. I just make sure they are still active, keep them alert by talking to them or shining light on them, but usually let them take their time, unless the membrane starts getting brown.

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FridayYet said:

I had one pip in the exact center of the fat end of the egg.  Was sure I was going to have to assist, but then it finally started slowly zipping down the egg then turned to make an oval opening mostly on the side of the egg.  It finally pushed itself out.  Strangest zip ever, but the chick was fine.

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