Anyone up for a Hatchalong?

[Irine]

After you drilled a hole did you cover it or just set it back in the incubator open?

Egg B, the one that hasn't pipped yet sounded Monday morning, while Egg A which did pip on it's own sounded Monday night then they both sat until Wednesday when Egg A pipped after I whistled to it. In Egg A the membrane has really drawn down onto the chick as you can see in the picture and even before that Egg A was much noisier with the 'wet paper bag' sound.

Should I just use an eyedropper and add a drop of water in through the hole to have a look? I'm happy to just wait and see what it does for now, I certainly wasn't expecting them to pip and hatch at the exact same time, I just poked the small hole this morning as a precaution because it had been 4 days since the egg sounded with no external pip, the other one pipped on it's own last night.

 

[Raptor65]

I just set it back in there open, the hole would have been slightly too small for a pencil to go through.

I just used a Q-tip to moisten the membrane a little and opened the hole a little more to see inside. The membrane is definitely drawn down from the shell and there is a large cavity in the top of the shell but I can't tell what I was seeing inside in terms of head or tail in the membrane and I'm hesitant to remove any more shell to find out but I didn't see a beak anywhere, nor did I see any blood on the membrane but it did not appear torn anywhere I could see. I covered the hole with a damp tissue and taped it in place afterward.

 

[Irine]

Give it some time, maybe his head is further in.I am giving them some time before i drill a hole, still hopping for a peep

I just set it back in there open, the hole would have been slightly too small for a pencil to go through.

I just used a Q-tip to moisten the membrane a little and opened the hole a little more to see inside. The membrane is definitely drawn down from the shell and there is a large cavity in the top of the shell but I can't tell what I was seeing inside in terms of head or tail in the membrane and I'm hesitant to remove any more shell to find out but I didn't see a beak anywhere, nor did I see any blood on the membrane but it did not appear torn anywhere I could see. I covered the hole with a damp tissue and taped it in place afterward.

 

[msheets]

What are some precautions I should be aware of with a football shaped egg? 4 of mine are perfect eggs with egg B being extremely football shaped, one end is just as pointy as the other & I have no clue which holds the aircell. Egg B is by far my best wiggler so I want to be sure I'm prepared to help it any way that's needed when it's farther along. Should I let it set out then see which end gets cold so I can mark which end is the aircell? That makes sense they can have more problems but I didn't even think of it so any info would be helpful

 

[Irine]

When you take the egg out for few min. put either side to your cheek- the cooler side is aircell

What are some precautions I should be aware of with a football shaped egg? 4 of mine are perfect eggs with egg B being extremely football shaped, one end is just as pointy as the other & I have no clue which holds the aircell. Egg B is by far my best wiggler so I want to be sure I'm prepared to help it any way that's needed when it's farther along. Should I let it set out then see which end gets cold so I can mark which end is the aircell? That makes sense they can have more problems but I didn't even think of it so any info would be helpful

 

[yinepu]

I would take a moisten q tip or perhaps eyedropper would me fine to

I wouldn't recommend an eyedropper.. it's too easy to apply too much water that way

 

[yinepu]

What are some precautions I should be aware of with a football shaped egg? 4 of mine are perfect eggs with egg B being extremely football shaped, one end is just as pointy as the other & I have no clue which holds the aircell. Egg B is by far my best wiggler so I want to be sure I'm prepared to help it any way that's needed when it's farther along. Should I let it set out then see which end gets cold so I can mark which end is the aircell? That makes sense they can have more problems but I didn't even think of it so any info would be helpful

yup.. figure out which end has the air cell.. and prop that end up a bit on something to help the chick orientate the right way... if he does end up pipping in the wrong end just keep an eye on him.. they say that they can hatch just fine that way.. but you should be prepared to assist if needed

 

[kimfeatherfriends123]

I drilled a hole in mine too. I let it go for awhile then assisted the hatch.....(I think when you assist a hatch it does weaken the chick a bit) However, as long as you are willing to baby the little one for awhile he will do fine. Mine is still in the house (lol) at month old......spoiled but doing well.

 

[msheets]

Aww Kim what a cutie, that pic is just precious!

I figured out what side of B has the aircell buy I thought I'd post a pic & see if anyone can guess the correct end

 

[msheets]

I'm working on posting the pic