Barbu d'anver hatching difficulties

Hi all!

I've spend A LOT of hours on this site over the past few days reading threads because, for the first time, I'm hatching eggs out in an incubator. I always used a broodie Silkie before, but it's fascinating (exciting/stressful) hatching when you can see everything that's happening.

I've been careful to keep a hands-off approach, and four sweet little Polish bantam chicks have happily hatched and are now in the brooder. My question is this; are Barbu d'anvers known to take longer to hatch? I ask because the first egg pipped on Friday around 3pm (about 36 hours ago). It has, albeit extremely slowly, started the unzip process now. Another pipped yesterday morning, made itself a hole and is now just sat their with its little beak poking out.

The Polish bantams that started pipping after these guys are already out and causing chaos, so I just wondered whether it was something with the breed? Or perhaps the parent stock isn't in great health (they're hatching eggs I bought online)?

Thanks for any help you can offer on this!

Geoff

It could be because their parent stock isn't as strong, it could just be the breed. Keep an eye on them, they may not be able to hatch on their own. It may also be how they were incubated.

Best of luck! Congrats on your Polish chicks!

Thanks, Gita!

I've just expanded the shell a little more of the chick who'd pipped the furthest. With a few pushes, it should be out soon! I'm leaving the other a little longer before expanding the hole as it might just be a little lazy.

I've had to help birds a few times. I pick a ring around the top, where their beak would do it. If the membrane bleeds at all, then take a break so they can absorb the blood.

Some with help can get out on their own, others can't. Best of luck!

We have a Barbu d'anver! Poor little mite took over 48 hours from first pip, but at least it's out. I'm hoping the other (back of picture) manages to get out too; that hole's been there almost a day now but it's breathing fine and seemingly happy.

Its very cute!

Well my second d'anver made it out but is having real difficulty sitting or walking. As you can see from the picture, the first way sitting upright almost immediately. My new one is just laying on its belly, scrabbling its legs together but seems unable to even more its toes or feet. Could something have happened in the hatch....it took too long? Or perhaps a pre-hatch deformity?

Just thought I'd post a pic to help get advice. It doesn't look like splayed legs....but maybe I'm wrong. I haven't seen the toes move at all on their own, just the legs kicking as it's desperate to get upright.

I'm sorry to hear about that.

It sounds like it could have a neurological condition. Try to help it sit up and straighten its toes (you can use special boots for this). If it is neurological, there really is nothing you can do. Try to give it an easy to grip surface.

I hope it gets better soon!

Thanks. I'll let it fluff up a bit more and recover from hatching before I do anything too drastic. It worries me that it's not only the toes that are curled, but seemingly the whole foot joint. :| Hope this can be corrected or, in the least, the little one finds a way to get around.