August Hatch-A-Long!

[CGinJCMO]

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Well, techinically, eggs aren't animals...yet. LOL
Oh well, best not get on the wrong side of the principal. Even as an adult, I still have a fear of principals and being called to the principal's office. LOL

CG

 

[CGinJCMO]

So I just candled tonight and it's getting really dark in there and I'm barely seeing any movement. Yesterday I saw a lot. But today not so much. It was hard to see any movement and any I did see it was prob wishful thinking. Not sure... Does their movement slow down as the days progress?

Yes, they do slow down (from our perspective) because they are running out of room to wiggle and move. I don't know how much movement you still be able to see (what day are you on? )

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So sorry. It's sad when we do everything we can and "follow the book" on incubating and the chick still doesn't make it.

CG

 

[sweetappleacres]

This is day 13

 

[familypendragon]

Yes, they do slow down (from our perspective) because they are running out of room to wiggle and move.  I don't know how much movement you still be able to see (what day are you on? )


So sorry.  It's sad when we do everything we can and "follow the book" on incubating and the chick still doesn't make it.

CG

Yeah, seeing as the Welsummers were shipped to me I am trying to be realistic and am hoping to at least get lucky and get one boy and one girl out of it Any more than that is just gravy If this one pulls through I am 50% of the way to my goal, LOL!

 

[ChickenFox]

So I did a major no no and opened the bator to pull Pip out for inspection. She did indeed pip through a vein....but she chirped! She's still alive! I dampened the membrane a little and quickly put her back in the bator. She promptly made her pip twice as big and is still pecking at the edges a few times a minute. I told her I was sorry I opened her bator but I couldn't wait to meet her. I think she forgives me.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

I pumped up the humidity and snatched the 3 Welsummer eggs that were closest to me. *Sigh* The first one must have died some time ago. The shell was only half filled and flat and the inner membrane was dry as a bone. The 2nd one must have died around lockdown as it looked fully formed but there was a dark red blood spot pooled in the center and along the edges. The 3rd one though had no movement, couldn't see an internal pip, still was super careful as I checked it. Good thing too - ALIVE!! I think its malpositioned but is ok. Just the very tip of its beak was poking into the air cell and he looks shrink wrapped in there like that was the best he could do. I gently dabbed a little coconut oil on the membrane so I can view the status of his veining through the window in case he is in trouble later and needs help to get out. I am pretty sure at least 3 others are dead that already were marked with a "?" when I candled on day 18. But the darn eggs are so dark I can't tell much except where the air cells are. And a couple have crazy saddle cells that go down the whole side of the egg. Ugh - I need a drink! Going to be a long couple of nights again isn't it?

Oh goodness, I am so sorry. Did you help the malposition one out? Knowing that he is malpositioned he probably won't be able to get out on his own...just my feelings, nothing to back this up.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

So I did a major no no and opened the bator to pull Pip out for inspection. She did indeed pip through a vein....but she chirped! She's still alive! I dampened the membrane a little and quickly put her back in the bator. She promptly made her pip twice as big and is still pecking at the edges a few times a minute. I told her I was sorry I opened her bator but I couldn't wait to meet her. I think she forgives me.

Yes it's a no-no but sometimes we have to bend the rules a bit. Before doing such a thing I have to stop and ask myself am I doing this because I am anxious, or curious, or whatever...or am I doing it for the benefit of the chick? If I can honestly say the chicks best interest then I do it.

Another thing I do is get the temp and humidity up there before opening the incubator so I cause less harm to the others. To do this I heat up my water, not hot thought, and add some thru the vent hole. Then wait a few minutes. This gives a little boost to temp and humidity. Then I act quickly to open, grab, and close.

Can't wait to hear about this little chickie hatching

 

[familypendragon]

Oh goodness, I am so sorry. Did you help the malposition one out? Knowing that he is malpositioned he probably won't be able to get out on his own...just my feelings, nothing to back this up.

Unfortunately I got a LOT of experience with assisting in my last hatch a few days ago. But yeah, it may be this one will be "c-section". But I put the coconut oil on the membrane to make it clear so that I can see all the veins and know when/if it has absorbed all the blood.It still has to do that and absorb the yolk before its ready to come all the way out. It should get active and chirpy when it feels ready. When it seems ready I will carefully peel more shell and apply more coconut oil till I can see all the way down to the yolk and confirm it is absorbed before I help it out of the membrane. And if it isn't ready it will go back in the bator with a warm wet paper towel to keep it moist.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Unfortunately I got a LOT of experience with assisting in my last hatch a few days ago. But yeah, it may be this one will be "c-section". But I put the coconut oil on the membrane to make it clear so that I can see all the veins and know when/if it has absorbed all the blood.It still has to do that and absorb the yolk before its ready to come all the way out. It should get active and chirpy when it feels ready. When it seems ready I will carefully peel more shell and apply more coconut oil till I can see all the way down to the yolk and confirm it is absorbed before I help it out of the membrane. And if it isn't ready it will go back in the bator with a warm wet paper towel to keep it moist.

Ya know what I found that helped my when I was assisting, I placed my waterproof heating pad (I have arthritis and this is a lifesaver) on my work surface and got the cover wet. This kept my work surface and the area above it nice and warm moist. It kept my wet paper towel around the chick stay damp and warm too.

You already know assisting pretty well, just thought this might help too!

 

[CGinJCMO]

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Interesting idea...have to remember this one for the future.

Also, will have to look for the Coconut Oil (I've only heard about it in the last couple of weeks).