1972 mile eggs Georgia to Mass **FINAL update**

[popcornpuppy]

At this point, we are running low on good news.
We candled the PA eggs and 4 are gone. We saw no movement, they had drown in the shell.
The others still have movement and are still in the bator. The ones still in the bator had at least broken through the air sack. We have stepped in and manually zipped the remaining eggs, including the Orps. They are breathing and chirpping and trying to hatch despite being stuck. The present survivers were all shrink wrapped.

Jimmy has just told me from the other room that 2 of the Dels made it out.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, now they won't run out of air and can try to get out on their own.

 

[popcornpuppy]

Jimmy just did the math on our current hatch rate. From the total that we had at the time of lockdown, 87% of the GA Dels hatched and if the remaining PA's make it, their numbers will be 50%, or lower if we have any more fatlities.
The moral of the story folks is that it is best to pick up your eggs in person. Even if you have to drive 1972 miles to get them. Shipping kills eggs.

 

[ginbart]

I'm so happy for you.

It's nice so see so many hatch.

 

[insiderart]

Excellent! You have done exactly what I would have done. The only difference is I usually warm a wet wash cloth up in the microwave to about 100F and put the manually zipped egg on it. Kind of wrap a piece of the wet wash cloth around the bottom end of the zip.

If you end up manually hatching them, here's the best way I have found. And they are way less sticky this way....

Get your microwaved warm washcloths (several) make them pretty wet. Now when you start to hatch the chick start from the aircell down (this makes a huge huge difference). Doesn't matter where the zip is. Crack open the top at the air cell and rip the air cell membrane, as the chick works through the air cell membrane (and you chip off parts of the top zipped part of the egg) kind of wipe the chick off with the wet warm washcloth. I usually only hatch them out of the top half and let them struggle out of the bottom half. I think it's better for them. If you hatch them this way they are much less sticky than if you try to pick the zip open, and I usually do it pretty quickly, say 1 egg in 2-3 minutes so they don't get cold. While I am picking at the top part of the egg and hatching the top, the whole egg is resting in one of those wet warm wash cloths.

After I have hatched the top part I put the washcloth, chick in half egg back in the bator and let them struggle out themselves. They will lay there for a while and rest, but eventually they struggle on out.

Good luck! If you need anything let me know.

Terri

 

[popcornpuppy]

Insiderart, Thank you for the advice!
the ones we zipped we did very similar to your technique, but we moistened them with warm water and a Q-TIP. The wash cloth makes more sense though.
So, we still have 2 Orps left to push their way out and one more Del from PA. We left them in the bottom half of the shell so they could gather strength, absorb the yolk and "hatch" when they are ready. I feel quite certain that they would have died in the shell if we left them alone.
I know alot of people prefer a hands off approche, but life is precious no matter how small and our personal choice is to give them a better chance to experience it by helping in whatever way we can.

 

[insiderart]

Quote:
Sounds like you are doing great. I love that top pic of the del chicks. Del chicks are so cute, I don't know why!

 

[speckledhen]

Can't wait to see what color the other two Orps are! I love the splashes, though.

 

[jthayerkatz]

OK home stretch here only three left in the bator two Orp's STILL (LAZY BABIES) in the bator one is out of the egg but is still not very active, it is moving and twitching almost like it is dreaming or something the other is still hanging out in the shell not even trying to get out. I plan on leaving them in the bator for tonight and if they get active tomorow move them to the brooder. I am just really freaked out because this is exactly what the other Orp that died did, it came out of the egg and did nothing but sleep until it died a few hours later.

the last PA Del is also in the bator it is very small and appears to have a prolapsed intestine. it is not an unabsorbed yolk but looks like the slit in the abdomen that should be the small belly button is "torn" or just is oversized or something vey strange. I have little hope that this one will survive but I will leave it for tonight and re-evaluate in the AM
So in the brooder box we have 20 GA Dels 7 PADels and one splash Orp we took everyone out and put them in one at a time introduceing each to the water so that everyone could find it OK took a couple of photo's for you all to see.
Thank You to everyone for your words of encouragment and watching and waiting along with us, it is so nice to have a caring chicken community to share all our ups

and downs

. Thanks again

group shot

Orp

bator Orp LAZY BABY with a little del helper

 

[insiderart]

LOL, that little splash orp really sticks out. Cute little fluffy butts congrats!