April Hatch Along

[WVduckchick]

My last Marans I incubated at 16% and got a 100% hatch rate. The dry air really does help. I did put a damp rag in there at hatch time and I think it was around 40% for hatch - much lower than what I usually aim for. I think these are the first EE eggs that I've hatched, IIRC.

I think part of the problem is I am incubating in my Chinese incubator instead of the Farm Innovators, which is what I used for the Marans I mentioned above. I have to keep the Chinese one wrapped in styrofoam and I did drill ventilation holes into the plastic and the styrofoam approximately corresponding to what the FI has but I think it tends to remain a bit more humid because of the styrofoam. The other thing is that the weather has been nice and cool/warm enough (however you want to look at it) for us to not run air or heat and to keep the windows open, so that is adding to some extra moisture in the air in the house as well. I did have a hygrometer in there but it kept falling in between the turner rows and jamming it up, which it doesn't do in the FI, so I took it out. I think I adjusted the humidity alarm to 20% last year and it hasn't been going off.

My brooder coop is about 2.5'x6' with a 4'x6' run that opens up into the main run, so there is plenty of room for each broody to pick a corner/area and stay out of each others way. I keep forgetting to count the eggs but I think I have about three dozen and that is too many for my girls so hopefully I can get the majority sold quick. I will probably just ask $1 for the mixes to move them along.

I'm sure it was an issue of the baby running to the wrong mama, but usually IME they are not so discriminatory about the babies that soon. Maybe it depends on the mama. With my Japanese I can keep giving her babies over the course of a week and she will accept them all.

I had one of those Chinese bators, the temp sensor went out on day 18! I had to keep a heat lamp over top of it to keep the temperature up. Then I bought 2 Brinsea Octagons. Then I got an FI still air styro to hatch in. Its done well, but I know exactly what you mean about dealing with the fluctuations because of the changes going on outside. The Brinsea's don't seem to care, but the others sure do.

When I checked the broodies again, the frizzle had broken through the barrier that I put up, and was trying to snuggle under the black hen, and doing a lot of pecking in the shavings. I'm 99% sure it was the frizzle that killed the chick, so I just removed her and put her back in with her group. She can go back in the main coop and sit on nothing if she wants, or she can snap out of being broody. I don't care. I'm pretty sure the black hen will do fine on her own. I've only let 2 hens co-brood once before, and after about a week, one kinda took over, and all the chicks followed her, and the other just went on about her business. I doubt I will let it happen again.


So how's your hatch coming along? Today is day 14 for my big set of Seramas and SDW OEGBs.

 

[rookhomestead]

I have two chicks externally pipped, the one wasn't responding to peeps so I broke off some shell to find its beak (had a duckling die yesterday because I did nothing) so now I can see it. Theres membrane under the shell and then there's what looks like another layer of membrane around the chick, it is nice and wet. I'm not sure what I'm looking at.

it looks like it's ok so I'm going to wait and see if it makes progress in the next hour.

 

[elizabethu42]

I have two chicks externally pipped, the one wasn't responding to peeps so I broke off some shell to find its beak (had a duckling die yesterday because I did nothing) so now I can see it. Theres membrane under the shell and then there's what looks like another layer of membrane around the chick, it is nice and wet. I'm not sure what I'm looking at.

it looks like it's ok so I'm going to wait and see if it makes progress in the next hour.

Good luck, and fingers crossed

 

[WVduckchick]

I have two chicks externally pipped, the one wasn't responding to peeps so I broke off some shell to find its beak (had a duckling die yesterday because I did nothing) so now I can see it. Theres membrane under the shell and then there's what looks like another layer of membrane around the chick, it is nice and wet. I'm not sure what I'm looking at.

it looks like it's ok so I'm going to wait and see if it makes progress in the next hour.

Can you get a picture?

There are inner and outer membranes.

 

[rookhomestead]

It wasn't externally pipped before bed. I checked around 9am and there was a pretty good patch cracked. Its kinda panting right now since I freed the beak

 

[rookhomestead]

Maybe it's stuck. The first chick hatched 2 days ago. So I went into lockdown early, and with the weather being wacky, the humidity ran high. And I'm still trying to figure out how 'off' my digital is. Seems to be about 7-10%off.

 

[WVduckchick]

Maybe it's stuck. The first chick hatched 2 days ago. So I went into lockdown early, and with the weather being wacky, the humidity ran high. And I'm still trying to figure out how 'off' my digital is. Seems to be about 7-10%off.

Looks fine to me! I'd give it some time.

With that much opening, you will have a good view if it starts to struggle. Keep an eye on the membrane too. If it starts looking tan/brown, its starting to dry out. You want it looking nice and white (to wet-looking gray) Looks like you still have a few eggs in there. Don't rush this one or the others because of one early bird.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Maybe it's stuck. The first chick hatched 2 days ago. So I went into lockdown early, and with the weather being wacky, the humidity ran high. And I'm still trying to figure out how 'off' my digital is. Seems to be about 7-10%off.

I wouldn't mess with it. They make some weird movements with their beak while they are absorbing the yolk. One person called it "chewing gum". I would give it a while. If it is stuck it will let you know and start crying incessantly, ime.

 

[rookhomestead]

Ok. Thanks. I'll give it some time. The other one seems to be moving right along. I've got myself bugging because of the duck yesterday.

 

[mich9510]

Good luck with your hatch! What's the humidity in your hatcher now? I've heard of hatching Marans without increasing humidity at all, and i would think dark EE and other eggs could do that too, but i think that would be rough on some breeds.

I wonder if thats why my BCM hatch was so poor. 2/16 hatched. I hadabout 75 % with my other eggs in the same incubator shipped in the same box.