Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[WVduckchick]

Congrats on all the hatchers everyone!

 

[Morrigan]

I've had no further progress on my hatch. No sign of pips on the 2 orpingtons and, given the overall quality and trajectory of this set of eggs, I'm not overly optimistic.

On the two remaining Maran pips, I am getting increasingly worried about one that pipped sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. last night. I'm pretty sure it was one of the saddled airsacs, and the chick pipped directly to the exterior on the opposite side of the sac. So, it could be that it's just resting up, waiting for the yolk to absorb, or it could be that with the big saddle, it is in a compromised position and can't turn to zip. Impossible to know. It is still alive, as I can see its beak opening and closing.

I'm going to give it tonight. If it hasn't begun to zip, and it is still alive by tomorrow morning, I'm going to start assisting it's zip. This will be my first time assisting, if it comes to that.

Nothing is ever easy with these shipped eggs.

 

[Cerise1924]

I've had no further progress on my hatch. No sign of pips on the 2 orpingtons and, given the overall quality and trajectory of this set of eggs, I'm not overly optimistic.

On the two remaining Maran pips, I am getting increasingly worried about one that pipped sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. last night. I'm pretty sure it was one of the saddled airsacs, and the chick pipped directly to the exterior on the opposite side of the sac. So, it could be that it's just resting up, waiting for the yolk to absorb, or it could be that with the big saddle, it is in a compromised position and can't turn to zip. Impossible to know. It is still alive, as I can see its beak opening and closing.

I'm going to give it tonight. If it hasn't begun to zip, and it is still alive by tomorrow morning, I'm going to start assisting it's zip. This will be my first time assisting, if it comes to that.

Nothing is ever easy with these shipped eggs.

I understand why you aren't optimistic about the Orpingtons. Mine were from the same lot, and also had problems. I keep hoping for yours, though.

Your Marans that pipped sounds a lot like my Svart Hona that got stuck. If you post in the morning, I'll be here for you as you make the choices you think are best. Warm, wet paper towels, and a dish of hot water for re-wetting, clean tweezers, dry paper towels or gauze in case you run into any bleeding, and a warm, humid bathroom to work in are all things I have found helpful when assisting. I am sure there are others who can give better help and advice, but I'm here if you need me.

 

[Colly1470]

I can't see these impossibly adorable pictures. It makes me want ducklings and have no room for ducks.

The fiancé really wants ducks. But he just took on a 90% travel job, so almost all critter care falls to me. So I got the geese I wanted instead.

I told him we can have his ducks someday, though.

 

[Morrigan]

I understand why you aren't optimistic about the Orpingtons. Mine were from the same lot, and also had problems. I keep hoping for yours, though.

Your Marans that pipped sounds a lot like my Svart Hona that got stuck. If you post in the morning, I'll be here for you as you make the choices you think are best. Warm, wet paper towels, and a dish of hot water for re-wetting, clean tweezers, dry paper towels or gauze in case you run into any bleeding, and a warm, humid bathroom to work in are all things I have found helpful when assisting. I am sure there are others who can give better help and advice, but I'm here if you need me.

Thank you so much. Really, really appreciate it. I'm really hoping it sorts itself out overnight. My biggest concern is actually where I would be working with the egg. My incubator is in a coolish, dry basement. Bathroom is upstairs, rather open and drafty, with highly interested dogs circling. I was thinking of bringing down a heating pad and damp sponge and hovering over that and working fast. Oh, how I hope to wake up to find it's found it's own way out.

Really hoping your little chick get out tonight too.

 

[CSAchook]

Thank you so much. Really, really appreciate it. I'm really hoping it sorts itself out overnight. My biggest concern is actually where I would be working with the egg. My incubator is in a coolish, dry basement. Bathroom is upstairs, rather open and drafty, with highly interested dogs circling. I was thinking of bringing down a heating pad and damp sponge and hovering over that and working fast. Oh, how I hope to wake up to find it's found it's own way out.

Really hoping your little chick get out tonight too.

@Ursuline Chick didn’t you have success using a heating pad during your recent assist? I can’t remember the details...just that whatever you did worked really well.

 

[Cerise1924]

Thank you so much. Really, really appreciate it. I'm really hoping it sorts itself out overnight. My biggest concern is actually where I would be working with the egg. My incubator is in a coolish, dry basement. Bathroom is upstairs, rather open and drafty, with highly interested dogs circling. I was thinking of bringing down a heating pad and damp sponge and hovering over that and working fast. Oh, how I hope to wake up to find it's found it's own way out.

Really hoping your little chick get out tonight too.

Thanks, let's hope they both make it out on their own tonight. In the past, I've done assisting in a warm bathroom with the shower own, but right now I've got the same kind of situation that you do... with dogs PLUS cats! So, the work I've done with the egg at this point has been in the unheated guest room, but I've used the warm, damp towels and so far things have been okay. I'm sure a heating pad and/or warm towels will work just fine.

Goodnight, all.

 

[Rebel58]

My last two guineas externally pipped and it was a full 24 hours before they zipped. I was about to assist because they were chirping. Then the zipping went fast. Out of 13 shipped I had 1 that didn't make it. On eggtopsy I discovered it had internally pipped the wrong end and I assume from malposition, it suffocated.

 

[Colly1470]

12/13 is really good, though.

 

[WVduckchick]

The room my incubators are in stays pretty warm, but I don't fret too much over it when assisting. I don't like the wet paper towel around an egg while assisting. I think the towel pulls the cooler air and can chill a chick. Lay a warm wet towel on your counter and feel how much it cools off in just a minute or two. Too rapid change for my comfort level. I know it may work for some, I'm just in the camp of not using them.
Broodies have changed alot of my perspective over the years. Lol