August Hatch-A-Long!

[jnjmanning]

I just had to help a chick out of it's egg. The outer membrane was drying out. So I had to hatch the poor baby in my hand. Didn't think he was going to make it at all. Was very weak for the for 14 hours or so. I'd already had my heart set on loosing the poor guy. But he made an amazing recovery. I named him Tyson, because he's a fighter..





Tyson is bottom right! He keeps up with the other three like nothing happened.

Great assist! Beautiful babies! It's all about timing and knowing what you are seeing when you open the egg. Knowing when to stop and give the chick more time and knowing when it needs to come out now! It is all a learning process and not one instance will be like another.

 

[turkenlurken]

Congrats on the chicks! Glad they are doing well
Moved mine to the egg carton today just in case as I won't be home until late tomorrow

 

[AParmer]

It was nerve racking! On top of almost being shrink wrapped the air cell was in the small end of the egg.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Just wanted to share my first mystery chick born this morning. These were from store-bought eggs, from a somewhat local free-range egg provider. 12 went into the incubator and only 5 went to lockdown. Not too bad considering they were not specifically marked as fertile, they were cleaned, not handled delicately at all, where packed in a truck and driven to the store, then kept in a cooler.

Here is my first chick born to me in over 30 years. Healthy little yellow one. I am going to call it Sunshine



Warming and resting under the brooder. I will post more pics later when Sunshine is fully dried and fluffy. Maybe you can help me identify what breed she (wishful thinking) might be.

 

[DeannaA]

If you incubate in a carton upright, then you need to hatch the same way. The chicks get acclimated to being in that position. Plus, keeping them in a carton keeps chicks from rolling the eggs that have not yet hatched, keeps them from stepping and rolling eggs that are pipped or are zipping. And big plus, a lot less mess!

I had read that even if you kept them in cartons, you were still suppposed to take them out at lockdown. I did. Could this be why I lost some?

 

[Heidisgran]

what a little cutie!!

 

[cocopop]

Got some under a broody Hen and some in an still air incubator from innovative farms. Candled them on day 13 and I only saw one egg that is 80% blacked out and the rest with a small black spot which I am assuming an early death. Looked on youtube for examples of what it should look like and it should look like the one egg that is 80% blacked out. I almost threw that one away thinking it was rotten because it was the only one different. not sure how sensitive the heat is for the eggs. I saw it as high as 102.5 F and as low as 97 F. If it is that sensitive maybe I need a more controlled environment. The garage is too hot and temp can flucuate inside the house when the cooler gets turned on. I have the incubator in a closet with the closet door open.

 

[Heidisgran]

most often there are losses! I've had them hatch in the egg turner and live strong and healthy...I've had them pip externally and die!! all you can do is replicate nature the best you can and give the survivors the best life you can! it's not your fault...enjoy the little ones that are strong enough to make it!!

 

[DeannaA]

99% of the time, the ones I help live and thrive. But with saying that, you have to know when to help, and when to wait just a little longer. You can actually cause more problems by helping too early.

I waited until 32 hours after it pipped. And it was fine after a day or so. Ran around, pooped, ate, pooped,cheeped, pooped, played and did I mention pooped? Then I found it almost dead at day 5.

 

[DeannaA]

I have another question but not sure how to ask. Complicated but I will do my best.

I know that after a rooster mates with a hen, she can lay fertilized eggs for upto a month(if all goes well). But if she were placed with another rooster and he mated with her, would her eggs still all be fertilized by the first rooster or would the eggs be mixed? I don't want to have to keep them penned up. SO I was thinking if I left a hen and rooster together until I started getting fertilized eggs I could put her back with everyone else, but I'm thinking the eggs could be fertilized by any rooster that mates with her. I hope I explained my question well enough.