Big Dessert-Themed Hatch-Along

[newchickychick]

We got home at about 1:30 am last night and had to get everyone wrapped up for bed. This morning, I checked on the other two but noticed a smell so I opened the incubator to candle. Neither of the other two made it. I’m wondering if they’re somehow drowning. The air cells are always nice and big, but I’m just not sure how it’s been twice now we’ve lost two at the final stretch. I’m not sure if low humidity during the incubation stage would be causing a shrinkwrap either even though the incubator wasn’t opened at all during lockdown. I’m going to figure out what’s going on to the best of my ability. I am very happy the other 4 are doing wonderfully though. I’ll be talking more pics soon of these absolute dolls.

 

[GreenJay]

so sorry the last 2 didn't make it!

 

[newchickychick]

so sorry the last 2 didn't make it!

I’m so disappointed in myself! I am just not sure how to tell what went wrong. I’m hoping there’s a “lightbulb” moment about it soon because I want to do so right by these eggs. Bah!

 

[TwoCrows]

We got home at about 1:30 am last night and had to get everyone wrapped up for bed. This morning, I checked on the other two but noticed a smell so I opened the incubator to candle. Neither of the other two made it. I’m wondering if they’re somehow drowning. The air cells are always nice and big, but I’m just not sure how it’s been twice now we’ve lost two at the final stretch. I’m not sure if low humidity during the incubation stage would be causing a shrinkwrap either even though the incubator wasn’t opened at all during lockdown. I’m going to figure out what’s going on to the best of my ability. I am very happy the other 4 are doing wonderfully though. I’ll be talking more pics soon of these absolute dolls.

I am so sorry you lost them. Drowning is a definite possibility, at hatch it's either going to be too much humidity or not enough. Sometimes you can see fluid in the air cells with candling, this will definitely drown them.

 

[TwoCrows]

An eggtopsy can also reveal if they were shrink wrapped and stuck to the shell.

 

[newchickychick]

I am so sorry you lost them. Drowning is a definite possibility, at hatch it's either going to be too much humidity or not enough. Sometimes you can see fluid in the air cells with candling, this will definitely drown them.

I’ll definitely keep an eye out next time, as I have already carefully removed them to clean the incubator and get the smell out of the room. I was worried about it possibly bothering the other eggs in the other incubator. How early on can you see this? And when you see it, can it be fixed by laying off the humidity/keeping it a little lower end of the range for lockdown? Or is it unfixable? I’ll take a look to see if there’s videos on what it looks like so I can be prepared on how to handle it. I did notice the air cells had one side that seemed very “wobbly” or even like the yolk was wiggly on those last two but figured that was just from being shipped.

 

[newchickychick]

An eggtopsy can also reveal if they were shrink wrapped and stuck to the shell.

I’ll research how to do a good eggtopsy next time too. Thank you so much for all the advice!

 

[TwoCrows]

I’ll definitely keep an eye out next time, as I have already carefully removed them to clean the incubator and get the smell out of the room. I was worried about it possibly bothering the other eggs in the other incubator. How early on can you see this? And when you see it, can it be fixed by laying off the humidity/keeping it a little lower end of the range for lockdown? Or is it unfixable? I’ll take a look to see if there’s videos on what it looks like so I can be prepared on how to handle it. I did notice the air cells had one side that seemed very “wobbly” or even like the yolk was wiggly on those last two but figured that was just from being shipped.

At lock down it's good to check air cells anyway, you can sometimes see fluid in the air cells then. After internal pipping you should be able to see the beak in the air cell of course there shouldn't be liquid at this time. Once fluid is in there, you can't really get it out other than lowering the humidity, which doesnt always work at this point. Just try and keep your humidity level at 60 to 65% at lock down. Some people even hatch them in egg cartons with the big end up so drowning is less likely.

I need to run to town real quick, I will stop by here when I get home.

 

[TwoCrows]

I’ll research how to do a good eggtopsy next time too. Thank you so much for all the advice!

It's gruesome and I don't like to do it but you just need to gently open the opposite side of the egg where the chick is not stuck.

 

[Slothinc]

Yes, it may help to do an egg topsy next time! I have learned a lot from doing them. Sometimes, the chicks are malpositioned (head down at the small end) so they can’t pip into the air cell. That can make it more likely that they don’t hatch. And then checking for too much/not enough moisture. In my case it is very common that the membranes dried out too much because I didn’t have enough humidity. We live in a very dry climate. But if you’re in a humid climate you may find the opposite. Sorry you lost the last two, but know that it is quite common to not have a couple of eggs make it, and especially with shipped eggs! Congrats on your other 4!!