4 Babies Pipping...Boo Hoo... update... none survived

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Of my original 7 that I set a month ago (4 white chinese shipped eggs, 3 of my own embden/pilgrim mix)

6 made it to the hatcher including all 4 white chinas and 2 of mine. One was an early quitter.

Of the 6 that made it to the hatcher, 2 of the white chinas died (one was the air cell thread that I assisted)

And now, there are 4 pips! 2 of the white chinas left and 2 of my mutts left! I can see the beak of one of the chinas and one of my mutts. I think mine is a girl. Obviously too early to tell for all the others but I guess an embden that lays an egg that has a BLACK beak must be a girl? Does beak color ever change? I can see that beak and I can also see the beak of one of the white chinas.

I guess 4 out of 7 ain't bad... 7 of 7 would be better but I'm happy if 4 make it! I'm excited. Send me all your healthy happy hatching vibes. I don't know how I will get any sleep tonight. I've never had 4 pips at the same time before because I started out with staggered eggs, one here, one there. Finally that was hard work so I stored and started setting on a weekly basis.

 

[slightlyscrambled]

congrats!! I have two girls setting on a total of 13 eggs so far one gosling and its mama is still setting tight. The other girl still has a week to go.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

I have some more to put in the hatcher in a couple days

More of my mixed breeds and then a couple brown chinese.

And, my female embden is sitting on a clutch of 7 (last I checked) Her fertility is really good and I see them mating all the time so I'm betting they are all fertile!

My other girl hasn't been able to chase away the raccoons that steal her eggs so she will probably not sit this year.

 

[The Wolf Queen]

I believe that this will match your title

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Quote:
AHHHHHHHH!!!! YES, it matches but they ain't for you!

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

1 baby stopped moving before I went to bed. When I woke up in the morning, the humidifier in there was empty and although the hydrometer SAYS 79% the paper towels in there were bone DRY and only one baby was moving. Then a few hours later, none moving so I cracked them open a little more to make sure and surely enough, all were dead. How discouraging. I am using a styrofoam LG that just DOES NOT hold humidity enough and I suspect these on-going humidity problems are causing my little ones to not hatch completely. They were all fully formed so the incubator has been doing its job... what can I do to improve my hatcher? Its LG still air with a humidifier inside of it.

 

[slightlyscrambled]

so sorry to hear that. I still have only one gosling but mama is stickin tight to her nest so....
I have never used an incubator so I cant help you there. sorry.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I'm so sorry it didn't end up working out. I know the feeling all too well.

I can't offer any advice, but I can offer hugs!

 

[usschicago1]

im sorry

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Make sure that all the humidity tanks are full before "lockdown" and make sure your vents are properly set. Too much airflow can pull all of the moisture out of the incubator. What is your humidity OUTSIDE the incubator? If it is too dry that can be part of the problem. I have a friend that hatches in a dry climate he puts wet sponges near the bottom vents which raises the humidity of the air being sucked into the incubator. WARNING you must keep an eye on your humidity inside your incubator if you use this method since too much humidity can result in a small air cell and the goshlings 'drown' in the egg. Good Luck!