American serama thread!

[Fluffyserama]

so I posted this in the Serama hatch along as well but I figured I'd ask again here since I'm hatching Serama eggs.

On Monday I had cheeping and rocking from 4 of my 6 eggs, but they never externally piped and by last night there was no movement or noise from the eggs. I drilled into the air cells today and confirmed that all four had died. 3 piped internally but didn't make it further, 1 had its head at the wrong end of the egg. I have 2 eggs left. 1 internally piped today and is cheeping, the other hasn't done much yet, but I think is still alive . Is there anything I can do to try and help these along? I've read up on assisted hatches but I'm still a little fuzzy on when to help if they have not piped externally. I don't want the one I have cheeping to die in the shell too.

Today is day 20. Humidity is 65%

 

[WVduckchick]

so I posted this in the Serama hatch along as well but I figured I'd ask again here since I'm hatching Serama eggs.

On Monday I had cheeping and rocking from 4 of my 6 eggs, but they never externally piped and by last night there was no movement  or noise from the eggs. I drilled into the air cells today and confirmed that all four had died. 3 piped internally but didn't make it further, 1 had its head at the wrong end of the egg. I have 2 eggs left. 1 internally piped today and is cheeping, the other hasn't done much yet, but I think is still alive . Is there anything I can do to try and  help these along? I've read up on assisted hatches but I'm still a little fuzzy on when to help if they have not piped externally. I don't want the one I have cheeping to die in the shell too. 

Today is day 20. Humidity is 65%

Its always a tough call, but IF I decide to assist, I wait at least 24 hours after an internal pip to make a safety hole. Then just a tiny hole for breathing.

But...your eggs, your call. Good luck!

 

[Fluffyserama]

Its always a tough call, but IF I decide to assist, I wait at least 24 hours after an internal pip to make a safety hole. Then just a tiny hole for breathing.

But...your eggs, your call. Good luck!

Thank you. I think I'm just feeling guilty because I had living peeping chicks yesterday, but waited till today to drill pilot holes, and by then it was to late.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

My eggs go on lockdown tomorrow what should the humidity be at?

 

[Fluffyserama]

This is my only survivor out of 24 serama eggs

But I'm glad I got this one.

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you. I think I'm just feeling guilty because I had living peeping chicks yesterday, but waited till today to drill pilot holes, and by then it was to late.

Yep, I fully understand that feeling. But its part of hatching. Best we can do is learn and try to do better the next time.

My eggs go on lockdown tomorrow what should the humidity be at?

I set mine around 68-72%.

This is my only survivor out of 24 serama eggs


But I'm glad I got this one.

Awwww

 

[billiejw89]

This is my only survivor out of 24 serama eggs


But I'm glad I got this one.

so cute!

 

[nchls school]

This is my only survivor out of 24 serama eggs

But I'm glad I got this one.

Soooo cute. But you must be disappointed too. Always difficult when so many eggs don't hatch. I've three new chicks this morning and four more hatching. I'm hoping. Many eggs were DIS throughout incubation. I have 3 healthy chicks so far, so I am pleased, but can't help feeling a bit bad about those chicks that didn't even get the chance at life.

 

[Staley]

I kept my humidity higher at the end and got 3 out of 12 and one of those needed help. In that case though he had pipped and almost half zipped then stopped to take a break. That night the humidity dropped below 50 and he tried for two more days with no progress. Even after I increased the humidity. When I decided to help I found that the membrane had dried and stuck to him. The gal I got the eggs from dry incubates but said she has trouble with serama as well. I think it's going to be different in every climate and every home. So hard to figure out.

 

[TJChickens]

Just wanting to chime in here.... Don't be too hard on yourselves, I have been incubating eggs for 32 years, including very difficult parrot species. Serama eggs drive me nuts. Sometimes all goes well and I get a decent hatch rate. More often than not though, they are very difficult. I often assist them. Seems they are prone to malpositions and late death. I think I have better luck with hand turning them than using a turner. I seem to have less malpositions if kept upright and rocked instead of turners that roll them. Fine tuning humidity by watching the growth of the air cell is important. Most smaller eggs evaporate fast. High humidity at the end is important.

I hatch my own eggs here, but also have eggs shipped from other bloodlines that I want. Sometimes I get a few to hatch from a shipment, other times I lose them all. It's the only way that I bring in new birds of any kind because I run a closed aviary. In the end, I find it well worth it. The resulting chicks seem to be strong and it's more humane to ship eggs instead of live birds. All in all, it is cheaper than shipping birds.

I hate to see you guys disheartened. It's awful to lose chicks right before they hatch. Serama eggs can be difficult.

So hang in there! You will eventually get the flock that you are working hard towards.