Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Cerise1924]

I'll add my good news. I was up at 4:30 and found a strong, cute black chick running around with its buddies! So, I feel the wrong-way Svart got just the right amount of help at the right time, and was able to finish the job on its own when it was ready.

From the higher temp incubator, I have five out of six chicks hatched out strong and healthy. The last one in there, the Legbar-Olandsk cross, internally pipped at least 12 hours ago, and is still working away in the egg. I'm just going to leave the egg alone.

In the lower temp incubator, still no visible pips at Day 22. I think I've learned that 100.5 is a better hatching temp for my equipment. I've heard that still air incubators need higher temps; while these incubators do have fans, perhaps the fans aren't very strong. IDK about the science, but I can see what works better for my eggs.

 

[Morrigan]

Just checked. It's definitely trying to zip. It is going in a clock-wise direction (isn't the the wrong way?), and it is pecking at the shell where it is resting on the bottom, so it's hard to assess it's progress. It's moving and trying to push the shell apart, that's for sure. I'm keeping an eye on it. Here is a picture of it just now.

I'm really reluctant to pull a half-hatched chick out into a cold dry room, as well as potentially messing up the hatch of orpington that 's pipping.

I know some people are in and out of bator during hatch all the time, but I've never done so. I've always waited until I thought the hatch was complete before removing the chicks and candling any remaining eggs.

For anyone who has assisted before, doesn't removing a pipped egg shrink-wrap the chick? I would risk it as a last resort, but trying to figure out exactly how risky it is.

 

[Morrigan]

I'll add my good news. I was up at 4:30 and found a strong, cute black chick running around with its buddies!

Fantastic!

 

[Morrigan]

I think it's making progress. The other chicks are offering a lot of encouragement.

 

[Cerise1924]

Here's my Svart Hona baby, unstuck! I know you can't tell when they're brand new, but I would bet it's a roo. It's got a prominent comb on hatch, and always looked really big in the egg. If I get some more Svarts hatched out for comparison, I'll check the legs and combs as they grow, but I think this is a dude. Either way, I'm so glad it's out and healthy!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

@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.

So Sorry I was sleeping last night and didn't see this, let me read through and see what happened, for future reference it is post number 11657 on the thread Hands on Hatching and Help.

 

[WVduckchick]

I'll add my good news. I was up at 4:30 and found a strong, cute black chick running around with its buddies! So, I feel the wrong-way Svart got just the right amount of help at the right time, and was able to finish the job on its own when it was ready.

From the higher temp incubator, I have five out of six chicks hatched out strong and healthy. The last one in there, the Legbar-Olandsk cross, internally pipped at least 12 hours ago, and is still working away in the egg. I'm just going to leave the egg alone.

In the lower temp incubator, still no visible pips at Day 22. I think I've learned that 100.5 is a better hatching temp for my equipment. I've heard that still air incubators need higher temps; while these incubators do have fans, perhaps the fans aren't very strong. IDK about the science, but I can see what works better for my eggs.

Excellent! And a very good point... we all must do what works best for our situations. It was nice to have two going at the same time to figure it out!
I realized my Brinsea Eco was a little low on temp when I set lav orp eggs in the Adv and the Eco at the same time. By the time hatch day came, the Eco eggs were quite a ways behind too.

I'm really reluctant to pull a half-hatched chick out into a cold dry room, as well as potentially messing up the hatch of orpington that 's pipping.

I know some people are in and out of bator during hatch all the time, but I've never done so. I've always waited until I thought the hatch was complete before removing the chicks and candling any remaining eggs.

For anyone who has assisted before, doesn't removing a pipped egg shrink-wrap the chick? I would risk it as a last resort, but trying to figure out exactly how risky it is.

Up to you. Do what you feel comfortable with, not what anyone tells you is "right" or "wrong".

Here's my Svart Hona baby, unstuck! I know you can't tell when they're brand new, but I would bet it's a roo. It's got a prominent comb on hatch, and always looked really big in the egg. If I get some more Svarts hatched out for comparison, I'll check the legs and combs they grow, but I think this is a dude. Either way, I'm so glad it's out and healthy!

View attachment 1412774 View attachment 1412779

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Just checked. It's definitely trying to zip. It is going in a clock-wise direction (isn't the the wrong way?), and it is pecking at the shell where it is resting on the bottom, so it's hard to assess it's progress. It's moving and trying to push the shell apart, that's for sure. I'm keeping an eye on it. Here is a picture of it just now.

View attachment 1412755


I'm really reluctant to pull a half-hatched chick out into a cold dry room, as well as potentially messing up the hatch of orpington that 's pipping.

I know some people are in and out of bator during hatch all the time, but I've never done so. I've always waited until I thought the hatch was complete before removing the chicks and candling any remaining eggs.

For anyone who has assisted before, doesn't removing a pipped egg shrink-wrap the chick? I would risk it as a last resort, but trying to figure out exactly how risky it is.

I have never had to assist to that degree, but if you keep the membrane moist with olive oil. vasoline, or anytype of oil you should avoid shrinkwrap. also make sure you have good humidity!

 

[Cerise1924]

I realized my Brinsea Eco was a little low on temp when I set lav orp eggs in the Adv and the Eco at the same time. By the time hatch day came, the Eco eggs were quite a ways behind too.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Did the Eco eggs have a comparable hatch rate to the Adv? Were there more problems with hatching from that incubator, or was it merely a delay?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Here's my Svart Hona baby, unstuck! I know you can't tell when they're brand new, but I would bet it's a roo. It's got a prominent comb on hatch, and always looked really big in the egg. If I get some more Svarts hatched out for comparison, I'll check the legs and combs they grow, but I think this is a dude. Either way, I'm so glad it's out and healthy!

View attachment 1412774 View attachment 1412779

What a beauty, the bad news is, the guy I had to hatch inside, I told DH upon hatch look at that comb, that has to be a cockerel. He dried off and climbed out of his heating pad mom box and climbed all over me. then go back into the box and warm up and start all over again, until nightfall when I put him under his real hen mom. Notice I keep saying he, 'cause he has a large pinky, red comb and the beginning of wattles, also red. they are only 4 weeks old. LOL