22 day old silkie eggs inc

[melissacoleman]

December 9th set, day 22 I think today? Membrane was white and thick, leathery, so I helped a little since the pip was so expansive and so much shell gone anyway. Was worried wouldn’t be able to breathe, plus I’m a (retired) nurse so sitting and watching difficult. I’m so glad the silkie babies your hatching have internally pipped yay babies!! Ya we have lots of illegal fireworks here too and my dogs are such fraidy cats haha

 

[EggSighted4Life]

December 9th set, day 22 I think today? Membrane was white and thick, leathery, so I helped a little since the pip was so expansive and so much shell gone anyway.

white is fresh and good. Brown is dry and more concerning.

Practice patience.

 

[melissacoleman]

white is fresh and good. Brown is dry and more concerning.

Practice patience.

Oh that’s very good to hear! Thank you and will do!

 

[melissacoleman]

I’m listening. So if there is a large area of egg without shell but outer membrane is intact, leave alone? Chick would have no problem with breathing? Please advise. Thank you for loving chickies so much

 

[melissacoleman]

Is today day 24? Set December 9th around 2pm. All 3 pipped, one a very large pip in middle of egg but membrane was intact. I’m stressed

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Is today day 24? Set December 9th around 2pm. All 3 pipped, one a very large pip in middle of egg but membrane was intact. I’m stressed

By my count, you are at Day 23. So, your chicks are hatching late, and may have some issues since something about the incubation conditions was not optimal. A delay in hatching most likely means that your temperatures were a bit low. There are experience hatchers who make safety holes and intervene if they suspect that there is a problem. I myself have seldom successfully intervened so I’m pretty cautious about trying to help. If you do want to help, then working from the air cell end is the safest. Hopefully someone more experienced in intervention will happen song and guide you. However, you might want to keep your hopes dialed down as the lengthy time of hatching may mean that the chicks are stressed and unable to handle the difficulty of adjusting from living in an egg to hatching and living as a chick. Incubation conditions are fairly rigid, which is why people often are vigilant about using externally calibrated thermometers, hygrometers, etc. Your first time hatching in a new incubator might be a trial run to figure out how it can work for you. I bought a replacement incubator last summer, and my first hatch was a disaster; only 2/12 chicks hatched because it was too hot. I discovered that my incubator had hot spots that affected the embryos, even though I did have an externally calibrated thermometer. I really felt bad about the embryos that didn’t hatch, but I made adjustments and successfully hatched several batches of eggs afterwards. Best of luck with your hatch.

 

[melissacoleman]

By my count, you are at Day 23. So, your chicks are hatching late, and may have some issues since something about the incubation conditions was not optimal. A delay in hatching most likely means that your temperatures were a bit low. There are experience hatchers who make safety holes and intervene if they suspect that there is a problem. I myself have seldom successfully intervened so I’m pretty cautious about trying to help. If you do want to help, then working from the air cell end is the safest. Hopefully someone more experienced in intervention will happen song and guide you. However, you might want to keep your hopes dialed down as the lengthy time of hatching may mean that the chicks are stressed and unable to handle the difficulty of adjusting from living in an egg to hatching and living as a chick. Incubation conditions are fairly rigid, which is why people often are vigilant about using externally calibrated thermometers, hygrometers, etc. Your first time hatching in a new incubator might be a trial run to figure out how it can work for you. I bought a replacement incubator last summer, and my first hatch was a disaster; only 2/12 chicks hatched because it was too hot. I discovered that my incubator had hot spots that affected the embryos, even though I did have an externally calibrated thermometer. I really felt bad about the embryos that didn’t hatch, but I made adjustments and successfully hatched several batches of eggs afterwards. Best of luck with your hatch.

By my count, you are at Day 23. So, your chicks are hatching late, and may have some issues since something about the incubation conditions was not optimal. A delay in hatching most likely means that your temperatures were a bit low. There are experience hatchers who make safety holes and intervene if they suspect that there is a problem. I myself have seldom successfully intervened so I’m pretty cautious about trying to help. If you do want to help, then working from the air cell end is the safest. Hopefully someone more experienced in intervention will happen song and guide you. However, you might want to keep your hopes dialed down as the lengthy time of hatching may mean that the chicks are stressed and unable to handle the difficulty of adjusting from living in an egg to hatching and living as a chick. Incubation conditions are fairly rigid, which is why people often are vigilant about using externally calibrated thermometers, hygrometers, etc. Your first time hatching in a new incubator might be a trial run to figure out how it can work for you. I bought a replacement incubator last summer, and my first hatch was a disaster; only 2/12 chicks hatched because it was too hot. I discovered that my incubator had hot spots that affected the embryos, even though I did have an externally calibrated thermometer. I really felt bad about the embryos that didn’t hatch, but I made adjustments and successfully hatched several batches of eggs afterwards. Best of luck with your hatch.

By my count, you are at Day 23. So, your chicks are hatching late, and may have some issues since something about the incubation conditions was not optimal. A delay in hatching most likely means that your temperatures were a bit low. There are experience hatchers who make safety holes and intervene if they suspect that there is a problem. I myself have seldom successfully intervened so I’m pretty cautious about trying to help. If you do want to help, then working from the air cell end is the safest. Hopefully someone more experienced in intervention will happen song and guide you. However, you might want to keep your hopes dialed down as the lengthy time of hatching may mean that the chicks are stressed and unable to handle the difficulty of adjusting from living in an egg to hatching and living as a chick. Incubation conditions are fairly rigid, which is why people often are vigilant about using externally calibrated thermometers, hygrometers, etc. Your first time hatching in a new incubator might be a trial run to figure out how it can work for you. I bought a replacement incubator last summer, and my first hatch was a disaster; only 2/12 chicks hatched because it was too hot. I discovered that my incubator had hot spots that affected the embryos, even though I did have an externally calibrated thermometer. I really felt bad about the embryos that didn’t hatch, but I made adjustments and successfully hatched several batches of eggs afterwards. Best of luck with your hatch.

 

[melissacoleman]

Thank you all for being so kind to try to help me and chickies out. Very caring group. Thank you mixed flock so much. They r still hanging in there. I’ve decided from now on to not intervene, and to raise temperature a half degree. I have a feeling they r not gonna make it. I think the half degree increase should help out a lot for next time. Thank you again, MC.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I’ve decided from now on to not intervene, and to raise temperature a half degree.

I wouldn't raise the temp now... but next time. Slightly lower is better than slightly higher.

I usually do not intervene, as stated by the other poster... I have caused more problems than I solved.

It's true your chicks are hatching a little late... but life is not perfect and it DOES find a way! You are not that far off and we have seen chicks hatch as late as day 25, so fingers crossed and still hopeful!

IMO hot spots are common, I move my eggs to a new spot in the bator daily to HELP keep hatch frame tight.

 

[melissacoleman]

Thank you eggcited4life! Your post actually did give me more hope, and miracles do happen. Crossing fingers. Also mentally preparing to look for hot spots and half degree higher temp for next hatch