April Hatch Along

[BlueShadow]

I'm sure there is probably one out there, very likely even one right here on this site. In my opinion, the biggest thing to pay attention to is the membrane. As long as it is papery-white, to light gray (wet-looking white), then the chick is most likely fine. If it looks brown, its either too dry inside, or the chick is not progressing. Check out the "Hands On Hatching Help" thread, lots of knowledgeable folks when it comes to assisting. And of course, there are lots here too!

Thanks. I will pay attention to the membrane. If it is white, be patient. Got it!

My birds are Buckeye chickens. I don't expect that they should need very much help, but maybe (primarily if I didn't keep incubating conditions quite right). I am excited to see what happens!

 

[rookhomestead]

Today was suppose to be lockdown for these muscovy...

Ahhh!!!!!

 

[WVduckchick]

Today was suppose to be lockdown for these muscovy...

Ahhh!!!!!

Somebody had a different idea!

Little cutie was anxious.

 

[elizabethu42]

I have some chicks due May 4

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I'm 99% sure my first batch of chicks are due this Thursday.. They will be olive eggers, EEs, Marans, Marans mixes, and bantam Brahma mixes.

 

[elizabethu42]

I just candled my eggs and 11/13 have growth!!

 

[Kyanite]

Yesterday was day 14. I candled and found that the one I suspected was a quitter several days back is still no progress so I pulled it. Two others clearly quit not long after it had because they are half the size of the other chicks and no movement what so ever. Sad, because they had 'x' on them from me observing movement the last time I candled. Don't know what went wrong, but we have had some wild weather swings that have caused conditions in the house to vary a lot to as far as humidity and temp go, so perhaps that has something to do with it. And... the weather is back at it.

yesterday blazing warm sun and dry as a bone, today cold windy and rain. Ah, spring in the mountains!

So, my three little quitters are in the fridge with a sticky note "do not eat." I have a 16 year old daughter with a morbid sense of curiosity. We're going to egtopsy them. She's curious if defects in their formation stopped them, so am I. But who knows, I'm a first timer at this. I'm just hoping the rest of my babies make it. They were all moving. Well, I couldn't see those Marans... but now they're even darker. So...

 

[elizabethu42]

Yesterday was day 14. I candled and found that the one I suspected was a quitter several days back is still no progress so I pulled it. Two others clearly quit not long after it had because they are half the size of the other chicks and no movement what so ever. Sad, because they had 'x' on them from me observing movement the last time I candled. Don't know what went wrong, but we have had some wild weather swings that have caused conditions in the house to vary a lot to as far as humidity and temp go, so perhaps that has something to do with it. And... the weather is back at it.

yesterday blazing warm sun and dry as a bone, today cold windy and rain. Ah, spring in the mountains!

So, my three little quitters are in the fridge with a sticky note "do not eat." I have a 16 year old daughter with a morbid sense of curiosity. We're going to egtopsy them. She's curious if defects in their formation stopped them, so am I. But who knows, I'm a first timer at this. I'm just hoping the rest of my babies make it. They were all moving. Well, I couldn't see those Marans... but now they're even darker. So...

I'm praying and my fingers are crossed that the rest of your babies hatch.

 

[Jennrz]

Hi all.

I haven't been great about posting but have been reading regularly! Yay for all the successful hatches and ((hugs)) for the sad outcomes.

I'm on day 16. So antsy to candle one last time on day 18 before lockdown. So far I hope to have 8 viable eggs out of the original 15 that went into the bator. (2 blood rings & 5 clears)

I do have some wonky looking air cells (saddle?) that I'm worried about. Will probably keep an eye on internal pips and/or malpositions. Been reading up on the assisted hatch discussions and I hope I don't have to help but want to be prepared if I do. I spent close to $100 on these shipped eggs and I would just *hate* to not get any chicks out of this venture. Have been striking out with finding fertilized eggs locally in the breeds I want. (heritage dual purpose breeds) Not sure how I'm going to proceed if this doesn't work out... maybe just buy 'a lot' more shipped eggs knowing I'll likely get very few live chicks....

 

[tao chick]

Hi all.

I haven't been great about posting but have been reading regularly!  Yay for all the successful hatches and ((hugs)) for the sad outcomes.

I'm on day 16.  So antsy to candle one last time on day 18 before lockdown.  So far I hope to have 8 viable eggs out of the original 15 that went into the bator.  (2 blood rings & 5 clears)

I do have some wonky looking air cells (saddle?) that I'm worried about.  Will probably keep an eye on internal pips and/or malpositions.  Been reading up on the assisted hatch discussions and I hope I don't have to help but want to be prepared if I do.  I spent close to $100 on these shipped eggs and I would just *hate* to not get any chicks out of this venture.  Have been striking out with finding fertilized eggs locally in the breeds I want.  (heritage dual purpose breeds)  Not sure how I'm going to proceed if this doesn't work out... maybe just buy 'a lot' more shipped eggs knowing I'll likely get very few live chicks....   

My plan this time was to buy more and hope for enough chicks. I currently have 50/106 eggs left. I'm guessing I'll get the 35% hatch rate that I predicted with shipped eggs. 8 good enough eggs should result in at least a few chicks.