Air sacs look ok for Day 16??

[whoa_nelly96]

UPDATE: After the first chick hatched, about 4 hours later a second chick (in the other incubator) hatched! I was able to video tape that hatching! It took about 21 minutes. It was amazing! And then some time in the middle of the night, another hatched! Of my 7 eggs, we have 3 healthy chicks! From the looks of it this morning, I have another pipped chick, and 3 eggs that have no pips so far.

QUESTION: I've read that chicks can stay in the incubator 24-48 hrs after they have hatched without food/water. What happens if time is up, and I have an egg pipped...will it be safe to open the incubator to take out the hatched chicks??

 

[WVduckchick]

UPDATE: After the first chick hatched, about 4 hours later a second chick (in the other incubator) hatched! I was able to video tape that hatching! It took about 21 minutes. It was amazing! And then some time in the middle of the night, another hatched! Of my 7 eggs, we have 3 healthy chicks! From the looks of it this morning, I have another pipped chick, and 3 eggs that have no pips so far.

QUESTION: I've read that chicks can stay in the incubator 24-48 hrs after they have hatched without food/water. What happens if time is up, and I have an egg pipped...will it be safe to open the incubator to take out the hatched chicks??

Many will tell you NOT to open it. I'm not one of those. lol I can tell you that it will not automatically kill the others if you "quickly" and carefully grab any hatched chicks out and move them to the brooder. I open mine dozens of times while hatching. As long as your humidity stays up, and you are sensible about it, the other eggs should be fine. I remove chicks along the way, once they are up and about, and starting to dry off well.

Congrats on the start of a fantastic hatch!!

Post some pics of the cuties when you can.

 

[whoa_nelly96]

UPDATE:
I'm not an experienced "egg hatcher"...this was my very first hatch...that being said, I'm very thankful for this website as I was able to read up on how to help an egg if need be. I had an egg last night that was not progressing as it neared the 24 hr rule. You can see the membrane near the pipped hole was very dry, brownish/yellow. I could see the beak trying to break through, but nothing. As I read, I carefully pulled back the shell to mimic the zipping area. I left the membrane alone, but it was VERY WHITE...almost chalk-ish like. Dry. I moistened it, and upped the humidity and left it alone. Only a few minutes went by, and out came the chick!! Healthy!! We have a total of 5 healthy chicks!! Three are already in the tub brooder...those that hatched at Day 21. The other two will be moved tonight to give them time to dry today since they hatched yesterday (Day 22).

QUESTION:
Tonight will be Day 23. No pips from the last 2 eggs in incubator. IF I candle them...what signs should I be looking for to suggest a live chick or one that has died? When is their deadline...day 24 or 25 or ??

Enjoy the pics!!

 

[WVduckchick]

UPDATE:
I'm not an experienced "egg hatcher"...this was my very first hatch...that being said, I'm very thankful for this website as I was able to read up on how to help an egg if need be. I had an egg last night that was not progressing as it neared the 24 hr rule. You can see the membrane near the pipped hole was very dry, brownish/yellow. I could see the beak trying to break through, but nothing. As I read, I carefully pulled back the shell to mimic the zipping area. I left the membrane alone, but it was VERY WHITE...almost chalk-ish like. Dry. I moistened it, and upped the humidity and left it alone. Only a few minutes went by, and out came the chick!! Healthy!! We have a total of 5 healthy chicks!! Three are already in the tub brooder...those that hatched at Day 21. The other two will be moved tonight to give them time to dry today since they hatched yesterday (Day 22).

QUESTION:
Tonight will be Day 23. No pips from the last 2 eggs in incubator. IF I cradle them...what signs should I be looking for to suggest a live chick or one that has died? When is their deadline...day 24 or 25 or ??

Enjoy the pics!!

Great job!!!

Usually the "normal" is 48 hours from first hatch to last. If they are the same kind, set at the same time, etc, etc. But that can fluctuate a bit.

But candle them and look for drawdown of the air cell (good sign), and clear looking fluid up around the air cell line (bad sign), and of course movement (good sign)! Peck on the egg and listen. Smell them too, just in case of bacteria/rotten. And if they smell bad, handle very, very carefully!

 

[Helloworld]

Your cells look pretty good. Try not to hold the egg with the fat end down though, best to candle through the fat end at the top or, as you did on some, through the side!

It twists the umbilical cord and can break loose air sac.

 

[Helloworld]

That is too long. You should be able to hear them internally pipping.

Run some warm water no hotter than incubator and float the egg and see if it jerks. Do it under one minute. It should also look red not brown when candled. Veins are easily still seen.

 

[aart]

I remember taking a 'late' egg out of the bator...and I felt it move in my hand, no need to 'float'(which can be ineffective).

 

[WVduckchick]

Please don't put the egg in a bowl of water. That "test" has too many false negatives and its much easier to tell if its still alive by candling. Soaked shells are not good.

 

[whoa_nelly96]

Please don't put the egg in a bowl of water. That "test" has too many false negatives and its much easier to tell if its still alive by candling. Soaked shells are not good.

I'm not too comfortable with that float test. I've read so many inconsistent facts about it. When I get home from work...I will candle, and post up pics.

Thank you all for your feedback! Stay tuned...

 

[whoa_nelly96]

Doesn’t look like these 2 eggs made it. I noticed the clear fluid right away and no response from my tapping...I removed them from the incubator yesterday.

The other 5 chicks that hatched are doing great!!