April Hatch Thread--Come Join Us!

[Marty1876]

How do you know when a chick needs to be helped out of its egg? My only egg that has started hatching has been hatching for somewhere between 27 and 28hrs. It frequently peeps and makes noise. And if i stare at the egg closly i can see it trying to push out. But with this being my first hatch i dont really know how long it takes for a chick to hatch. I figured it took a while, but how long is too long?

With baby chickens, they usually are out withen 24 hours. Since your baby has pipped and he's breathing, you have more time. I'd say if by 1.5 days you are no further than a pip, it's time to scrub your hands and VERY GENTLY assist. Only take off a few little pieces of shell to help unzip a bit further. Leave the chick to finish. Sometimes when they havn't absorbed the yolk yet, they wait around a bit longer. If they hatch befoe the yolk is absorbed, they open themselves to infection and death.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

With baby chickens, they usually are out withen 24 hours. Since your baby has pipped and he's breathing, you have more time. I'd say if by 1.5 days you are no further than a pip, it's time to scrub your hands and VERY GENTLY assist. Only take off a few little pieces of shell to help unzip a bit further. Leave the chick to finish. Sometimes when they havn't absorbed the yolk yet, they wait around a bit longer. If they hatch befoe the yolk is absorbed, they open themselves to infection and death.

Thank you for the resoponse. I will see how it is doing later to night.

 

[Marty1876]

Good luck! Keep us posted, I'll watch for you today.

 

[LBKS]

I woke up to one chick in th brooder on it's back and weak - felt cool but was breathing. Now in an ICU box in the hatcher/incubator.

Using an ecoglow but the other chick was fine - going to shrink the area they can explore to keep them closer to warmth and add in a light based heat lamp too for my peace of mind. I may just save the ecoglow for a later hatch when there are less other variables that I can mess up - it makes it harder to check on the chicks.

I feel bad for the chick; it's not the chick's fault I screwed up on the brooder. Hope it doesn't die because of my mistake.

 

[Keggen]

8 pips! 8 pips! Oh boy I'm excited!

 

[Keggen]

OMG AND SOMEONE IS CHIRPING!! I'm a happy chicken mama today!!

 

[oesdog]

Bit worried came home to find the bator temp was up - the light doesn;t seem to want to go out! Darn?????? It is supposed to be pre set. There is water in the bottom so everything is as it is instructed but for some stupid reason the light keeps comming on to "heat" and it is already over 100 I have opened the windows and closed the blinds - to try to take the temp down int he room. Just my luck we NOW have sun when I don;t want it!!!!


Dh is very much hovering over them. - This morning he said - "have you turned MY DUCKS!" - Then went up to the spare room and said "goodmorning ladies!" So darn cute I hope he wont be disapointed! We will see if anything hatches but if the light wont go out they will be cooked for sure!

Oes - and my temp was great for weeks NOW as the last days come in WHY!!!!!!!???????? I am begining to believe these incubators are set to screw up just before hatch.

 

[Partyfowl]

Bit worried came home to find the bator temp was up - the light doesn;t seem to want to go out! Darn?????? It is supposed to be pre set. There is water in the bottom so everything is as it is instructed but for some stupid reason the light keeps comming on to "heat" and it is already over 100 I have opened the windows and closed the blinds - to try to take the temp down int he room. Just my luck we NOW have sun when I don;t want it!!!!


Dh is very much hovering over them. - This morning he said - "have you turned MY DUCKS!" - Then went up to the spare room and said "goodmorning ladies!" So darn cute I hope he wont be disapointed! We will see if anything hatches but if the light wont go out they will be cooked for sure!

Oes - and my temp was great for weeks NOW as the last days come in WHY!!!!!!!???????? I am begining to believe these incubators are set to screw up just before hatch.

 

Because chicks produce more heat as they develop.

 

[Tanichca]

Bit worried came home to find the bator temp was up - the light doesn;t seem to want to go out! Darn?????? It is supposed to be pre set. There is water in the bottom so everything is as it is instructed but for some stupid reason the light keeps comming on to "heat" and it is already over 100 I have opened the windows and closed the blinds - to try to take the temp down int he room. Just my luck we NOW have sun when I don;t want it!!!!


Dh is very much hovering over them. - This morning he said - "have you turned MY DUCKS!" - Then went up to the spare room and said "goodmorning ladies!" So darn cute I hope he wont be disapointed! We will see if anything hatches but if the light wont go out they will be cooked for sure!

Oes - and my temp was great for weeks NOW as the last days come in WHY!!!!!!!???????? I am begining to believe these incubators are set to screw up just before hatch.

 

Because chicks produce more heat as they develop.

I guess you could say they are *puts on sunglasses* hot chicks.

 

[Keggen]

Bit worried came home to find the bator temp was up - the light doesn;t seem to want to go out! Darn?????? It is supposed to be pre set. There is water in the bottom so everything is as it is instructed but for some stupid reason the light keeps comming on to "heat" and it is already over 100 I have opened the windows and closed the blinds - to try to take the temp down int he room. Just my luck we NOW have sun when I don;t want it!!!!


Dh is very much hovering over them. - This morning he said - "have you turned MY DUCKS!" - Then went up to the spare room and said "goodmorning ladies!" So darn cute I hope he wont be disapointed! We will see if anything hatches but if the light wont go out they will be cooked for sure!

Oes - and my temp was great for weeks NOW as the last days come in WHY!!!!!!!???????? I am begining to believe these incubators are set to screw up just before hatch.

 

This happened to me, too. Yesterday I woke up to find the temp at 102! It had probably been that way all night without me knowing because I checked before bed and it was at the usual 99. I quickly opened the lid and waved a towel over them to try to cool them quickly. Once my temp gauge showed 97 I put the lid back on and watched until it went back to 99, making adjustments to the knob as needed.

A few hours later I went back to check and it was back up to 102 again!! So I did the lid thing again and babysat until the temp steadied. I couldn't figure out what was happening because no one had messed with the knob and the temp has been completely fine and steady almost the whole time (only one small snag with lockdown). I couldn't keep the temp at 99 this time though so I let it stay at 100 and am checking it more frequently. Seems to be ok now and we have pipping this morning, earlier than expected!