A most exhausting night. 7 shrink wrapped chicks....

[Easter eggs]

I spent my entire night freeing 7 shrink wrapped chicks from their shells. They'd all pipped 24 hours before and couldn't move to zip. I don't know why they were so stuck but they were.
7 warm washcloths and hundreds of gentle pick pick picks at the membrane, a few bits of blood and a few dodgy looking moments but now they all seem to be doing fine.
I know it's early days and they may still die but they're all up and about and cheeping happily. So much better than I thought when I kept hitting blood and having to stop and wait. I was sure they'd all die.
I had no sleep at all but well wort it if they survive.

 

[trilyn]

 

[CoopCrazy]

I would say your humidity was too low for 7 of them to shrink wrap... Glad you were able to help them.. Good luck

 

[mrbstephens]

What was your humidity during the first 18 days and then what did you raise it to for lockdown?

 

[Natermotor]

Good Job.

 

[vetgirl00us]

Good job! I don't know if mine were shrink wrapped or not but the only 3 babies I got out of my first hatch were helped out of their shells. Today is their 3rd day and they are looking good. I think I had too much humidity because the first 3 that pipped died in the shell and they were all swollen- not rotted but llike to much water. I wasn't gonna let these 3 d'uccles do that. The other 3 eggs didn't pip at all.

 

[Easter eggs]

My humidity for the first 18 days was around 40-45 and after lock down around 70 although my hygrometer is not a very good one so it may have been reading incorrectly but the window was steamed up so it was fairly humid. I have tried calibrating it and it's different every time!
I suspect my three small inquisitive children may have had a hand in this!!
Anyhow, most chicks doing well now- just one very weak and feeble so topping him up with vitamins to see if he can be saved.