4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[cochins1088]

Yay! First internal pip! I know thats not much, but I was worried about this batch. I have have hatched many times with 90% + hatch rates, but this hatch just isn't going my way. I'm particularily worried about 2 of the eggs air cells. They are awefully small. They are more like day 14 air cells and I was really looking forward to them hatching.

Sally, do you have any advice? I know I screwed them up with high humidity, but the high humidity was just what the other eggs needed. Is there anyway I could posibly intervene to prevent them from drowning? I know the answer is probably no, and that nature will have to take it's course. I just feel so bad.

And I still don't understand why I'm having late hatchers, I guess even my "calibrated" thermometers are off. Does anyone know if there is a way to increase the temperatures in the genesis? I know you can lower them, but can you set it over 100 degrees because I'm thinking mine is running on the low side.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Ya'all are gonna make me buy some eggs and DH will not like that!!

 

[gabrielle1976]

Still just two pipps oh well I woudnt win any ways I am never that lucky so I will just settle for healthy little chicks whenever they feel like makeing there world dabute

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Yay! First internal pip! I know thats not much, but I was worried about this batch. I have have hatched many times with 90% + hatch rates, but this hatch just isn't going my way. I'm particularily worried about 2 of the eggs air cells. They are awefully small. They are more like day 14 air cells and I was really looking forward to them hatching.

Sally, do you have any advice? I know I screwed them up with high humidity, but the high humidity was just what the other eggs needed. Is there anyway I could posibly intervene to prevent them from drowning? I know the answer is probably no, and that nature will have to take it's course. I just feel so bad.

And I still don't understand why I'm having late hatchers, I guess even my "calibrated" thermometers are off. Does anyone know if there is a way to increase the temperatures in the genesis? I know you can lower them, but can you set it over 100 degrees because I'm thinking mine is running on the low side.

If smaller cells, they can still hatch, maybe just need more time than the rest... Uggg Wet chicks is are a hard one cochins... I never assist until they Pip, or Peep, or both, or have an external pip.... the rest you cant do much for, but thats my opinion.... if you pull a chick out of all the fluid they dont do well with lungs at all they will live a while and then pass... I tried to save a few that didnt position well and did pull their head up and out, one did make it but there wasnt a whole lot of fluid in there with that one that made it and he was a huge chick too! I think he couldnt turn around.

Everything I go by I put in that article, maybe they will hatch they need time, just give them more time... you may just be panicing and letting your nerves get to ya..... all we can do is wait and pray!

Question are you setting very fresh eggs? Do you do the dry incubation methods too?

 

[delisha]

you need to get them sally for an experiment..how are you suppost to give good advise to something you have no experience? You need to get some.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

you need to get them sally for an experiment..how are you suppost to give good advise to something you have no experience? You need to get some.

I need to get what? wet chicks?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

you need to get them sally for an experiment..how are you suppost to give good advise to something you have no experience? You need to get some.

OOOO Goose and duck eggs??? I stank with this hatch poor duckys

 

[cyndiloowho]

Raven, thanks for the webcam. Helps with the "hatching withdrawal" symptoms

 

[cochins1088]

If smaller cells, they can still hatch, maybe just need more time than the rest... Uggg Wet chicks is are a hard one cochins... I never assist until they Pip, or Peep, or both, or have an external pip.... the rest you cant do much for, but thats my opinion.... if you pull a chick out of all the fluid they dont do well with lungs at all they will live a while and then pass... I tried to save a few that didnt position well and did pull their head up and out, one did make it but there wasnt a whole lot of fluid in there with that one that made it and he was a huge chick too! I think he couldnt turn around.

Everything I go by I put in that article, maybe they will hatch they need time, just give them more time... you may just be panicing and letting your nerves get to ya..... all we can do is wait and pray!

Question are you setting very fresh eggs? Do you do the dry incubation methods too?

I know. I set shipped eggs as well as a couple from the neighbors. The neighbors eggs had been laid the day before they were set, while the shipped eggs were 8 - 13 days old when they were set. Because the shipped eggs were older and in dry conditions, their air cells were pretty developed before I even set them so in order for them to be the correct size at hatch, I ran the humidity high and it worked great, but the fresh eggs from the neighbors required a lower humidity which I didn't supply them with. The 2 that I'm talking about are the fresh eggs from the neighbor.

This spring I had one horrilbe hatch because of high humidity. Almost every chick drowned because I wasn't paying attention to their air cells. After that, I tried dry incubation and once again, I didn't pay attention to air cell sizes. The air cells were much too large and I ended up with a 50% hatch rate. My 'usual' ideal humidity is 40% and then 55% and I moniter air cell sizes closely, but as you can see, I ran into a situation here with different sets of egg requiring different humidities.

I know that there really isn't anything I can do but pray, I'm just remembering that one hatch and how horrible it was to have nearly every chick drown in the shell. I know how to intervene (been there, done that) so I knew it was basically imposible to somehow go in and drain the excess liquid without risking the little guys, but I though I'd ask you anyways since you did just write an article.

Thanks Sally!

 

[Coffeemama7]

Hello all!
Yes, I am finally back. I have been in the hospital, a first time kidney stone attack. How God AWFUL! Then the drugs made me sick.
And to make it all just peachy...then "it" just wants to stay in an party!

I had my college kids come home, they helped me pull off Christmas. Now they have returned home.

We had our first chick hatch about 5:00 PM, December 31! Early, wow, with the way the eggs looked when I candled this surprises me.
It was one of the eggs we collected here at home, laid on my daughter's birthday. It is so cute!

We have about 5 pipping, but I do not have much hope for any of my Welsummers. I candled them, and they all looked empty.
We have opened three eggs, two looked like regular eggs, at day 18! One had some gelatinous stuff. My kids were so bummed!
I was so surprised they didn't even stink!