2015 Peafowl Hatching Support Group - Eggs and Chicks!

[ellymayRans]

If they have not cracked the shell within 24 hrs. of internal pip, I will put a small air hole in the egg over the air cell. I then give them another 24 to start zipping on their own, if they don't, I start assisting.

Thanks I did it. It is still alive thank goodness but geez. So stressful just having the one and such high hopes that it hatches in hopes to provide my lone hatch with a pal. I know it will take some time to integrate them but it needs someone other than us.

 

[ellymayRans]

I can hear some noise under my peahen. Not peeping but more of a rustling. Poor thing got poured on yet again. I am so over the rain and mud!!!

This first pic is the view off my front porch and she's under the far fir tree. No mind the poor potted flower !

The angle of how she's laying doesn't allow me to maneuver her other than lift her tail so I can't see a darn thing. Driving me nuts.

Here's to hoping there are 2!

 

[RubyNala97]

Those overly large chicks you mention take a lot more help to get out of the egg, and if timing isn't right they don't make it out alive.

That's what I'm worried about! How do you know the timing is right? Do you only assist if you have an internal pip? I guess that's more my question.

If they have not cracked the shell within 24 hrs. of internal pip, I will put a small air hole in the egg over the air cell. I then give them another 24 to start zipping on their own, if they don't, I start assisting.

Beautiful! Thank you for this!

 

[KsKingBee]

I am finding all of this to be so true! Granted, this is only my second year hatching peas, but your point is not wasted on me as I just brought in 30 eggs that have been under broody chickens and are due on the fourth, well that would be 28 days. Of the thirty eggs I had not candled them at all until tonight and only had three clears, all the rest except for one had developed and showed internal pip. That one looks good but I did not want to let them cool so I did not watch if very long for movement.

I also have a tray of 42 that were set in the Sportsman at the same time, I did candle them about a week ago and removed 10. Of the 38 that I just candled to move into the hatcher only 6 had movement. That is the worst hatch I have had in the incubator yet. The only thing that is different in the GQF from previous hatches is that the humidity has risen to mid to upper 50's for over a week with no changes by me. It had settled down to mid 40's this past week.

I am now employing 17 broody chicken hens much to the dismay of my wife. She is not liking the drop of egg production in her flock.

Those overly large chicks you mention take a lot more help to get out of the egg, and if timing isn't right they don't make it out alive.

Oh, I remember now. I am using those green plastic trays that hold the egg upright and hold 36 not 48. Two trays do not fit one shelf so I cut them down, but the problem was that one moved and began to get held up when the shelf rotated and snapped past the frame once there was enough pressure. I think the violent snapping action may be what killed the eggs. My numbers were incorrect, of thirty-six I had candled out ten, and of twenty-six only six survived to internal pip.

 

[RubyNala97]

Sorry, I forgot to ask one more question in my post. On what days have you experienced hatchers been seeing internal pips? Any patterns?

 

[ellymayRans]

Sorry, I forgot to ask one more question in my post. On what days have you experienced hatchers been seeing internal pips? Any patterns?

That's going to depend on temps and the chick. Just like any hatch, pea or otherwise, they vary widely. My temps are 38-38.2 C so I've experienced Day 25-28 for hatches. So that puts internal pip at approx 12-24 hours prior to external pip. I've had zipping and hatch take 3-12 hours but only after about 12-24 hours after external pip. No set number. Even in same clutch. Just candle until you see the internal pip and then like I did after 24 hours of no external pip make a small hole. Then you need to leave it be or the lack of humidity will cause problems and then force a assisted hatch which you always want to avoid.

Keep watching and asking. .we're all here to help!

 

[KsKingBee]

Sorry, I forgot to ask one more question in my post. On what days have you experienced hatchers been seeing internal pips? Any patterns?

When an egg hatches depends on the temperature and humidity levels. The 'book' says that peas hatch at 28 days, I have seen them take 30 and seen one egg take 34, but that is quite unusual. Most of us see most hatching taking place on day 26 plus or minus one day.

My current hatch is due on 7-4, I removed them from the broodies on 7-1 and saw that almost all of them were pipped last night. Very few of them are externally pipped this morning, I am not going to open the hatcher until it is time to unload some chicks or I see one that is stuck.

 

[ellymayRans]

Well I was wrong. .my hen must have been doing some foot action under her because she just got off of the nest and no chicks. No external pips either. I candled and both are still alive soooo...I wait! I on many occasions considered bringing them in and finishing them off in the hatcher in fear of them doing ok.

@zazouse what's your opinion on free range brooding? I always see you hatching and brooding but do you allow any natural brooding and how successful is it?

 

[DylansMom]

Sorry, I forgot to ask one more question in my post. On what days have you experienced hatchers been seeing internal pips? Any patterns?

My eggs almost always hatch on day 27. We see/ hear the internal pip on day 25, and usually the external on day 26. On day 25 I candle and tap the eggs with my fingernail, I talk to them and peep at them ( hubby thinks I'm nuts) if they have pipped internally they usually peep back at me, and then I know for sure they made it into the air cell. I do not assist if they haven't made it into the air cell, it just never has a happy ending if I do. If they have made it into the air cell, 24 hours until air hole, and another 24 to unzip, or I'm peeling.

 

[furbabymum]

I had a 100% hatch rate this year. One peahen incubated 8 eggs. I took 6 when they began hatching, left her with 2. All hatched. Another peahen incubated 5. I sold 3 and am waiting for her to hatch her 2. So I suppose I don't have a guaranteed 100% yet, but it's impressive so far.