2026 Emu Hatch-Along

[Strawberry74]

Oops, forgot to go down the list…

7 boys so far. 6 blondes and 1 standard. There are still 20+ eggs in the incubators. So more to come. Sadly, 2 didn’t make it so far. I fully opened an egg this evening, knowing that something was wrong. Its brains are outside of its skull.

This is the second time I’ve seen that in 3 seasons. I’m curious what causes it to happen. Seen it in chickens as well. It must be during the beginning stages of incubation.

That's a lot of boys!! Very odd about the deformed chick. I wonder what causes that? I've never seen it.

Do you sex them immediately after hatch or wait a bit?

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

That's a lot of boys!! Very odd about the deformed chick. I wonder what causes that? I've never seen it.

Do you sex them immediately after hatch or wait a bit?

All these boys have me in a real pickle lol everyone wanting chicks wants an unrelated pair. Can’t provide that with all boys!

I sex them pretty soon after hatch. The males doojabby can hide if you don’t make everything come out of the vent. Which could trick you into thinking you have a female. This is why I sex females twice. If there is a white “point or tip” it’s for sure a male and you don’t need to recheck.

Keep blue and pink zip ties handy.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I wasn’t going to post this, but I think it’s important for anyone hatching to know what you could run into. I’m not sure what causes this, but it’s a no go in the living department unfortunately. It’s completely alive and breathing during the photo.

The photo has been cleaned up a bit to make it more presentable. As there were some blood vessels still present in the membrane of the egg. You never want to rupture one on a viable chick. I knew something was wrong and it’s the only reason the egg was fully opened. I don’t suggest this for anyone new to hatching.

 

[Slothinc]

Poop machines are well oiled (with spinach, blueberries & grass) and running great!
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Oh my goodness, that little guy with brown cow spots instead of stripes! If he isn’t just the most adorable baby

So sorry about the poor little one that didn’t make it due to the skull not being formed properly

 

[Strawberry74]

All these boys have me in a real pickle lol everyone wanting chicks wants an unrelated pair. Can’t provide that with all boys!

I sex them pretty soon after hatch. The males doojabby can hide if you don’t make everything come out of the vent. Which could trick you into thinking you have a female. This is why I sex females twice. If there is a white “point or tip” it’s for sure a male and you don’t need to recheck.

Keep blue and pink zip ties handy.

Within how many hours after hatch?

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Within how many hours after hatch?

Minutes to a couple hours.

 

[Strawberry74]

Ladies and gentlemen... it's a boy!

We have another external pip here this morning, R1. I can't tell you just yet but it's either blonde or standard.

I only got up once in the night to check on him and the eggs. I had to force myself not to even though I did not sleep well LOL.

 

[Strawberry74]

@ShannonsChimkens at what point would you consider putting in a safety hole? The one that has externally pipped this morning had internally pipped yesterday morning when checked first thing in the morning. There was also two other eggs that I noticed had internally pipped at that same time and it are still not externally pipped. The other egg I noticed had internally pipped late yesterday afternoon.

I know they have a few days worth of air, some say up to three so I was just curious in your experience when do you get concerned.

I've done this for 3 years now, you think I'd be less anxious

 

[Strawberry74]

My (probably completely wrong) guesses
R-3 blonde will be first
R-1 standard second
B-3 standard third
W-2 white fourth
B-6 standard fifth
Come on babies!!! I hope for as many blondes and white as possible!

Let's hear it for @Slothinc was spot on for the guess on 2nd to hatch!!

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

@ShannonsChimkens at what point would you consider putting in a safety hole? The one that has externally pipped this morning had internally pipped yesterday morning when checked first thing in the morning. There was also two other eggs that I noticed had internally pipped at that same time and it are still not externally pipped. The other egg I noticed had internally pipped late yesterday afternoon.

I know they have a few days worth of air, some say up to three so I was just curious in your experience when do you get concerned.

I've done this for 3 years now, you think I'd be less anxious

I just read something that has me rethinking the timing of “rescuing” the chicks. I typically wait until a day or so after hatch day to put a small hole. But then you pretty much have to assist the rest of the hatch. And have to guess when their yolks have absorbed and blood vessels have dried up. It’s so tough! You kind of have to go with your gut.

I can tell you, I don’t like messing with nature! But each one of these chicks can be so difficult to hatch. I hate to see one die.