Buying hatching eggs in winter

[billiejw89]

only one chick. so far. Not sure the others will do anything.

 

[silkie1472]

Oh crap, now I'm wanting some. I'm not an expert at diagnosing chickens with diseases or anything, but I know quite a bit about hatching and raising them. Chicks that have been shipped are sometimes weaker and require encouragement which is usually given by a broody hen. Personally, I would candle the eggs and check for movement. I would see how much movement is going on, remember that information, and I would check on them about a 1/2 hour later to see if movement has slowed. By tomorrow, if no more have pipped or hatched, I would open the shell to allow more oxygen in. I do this by using a rotary tool (dremel), but other sharp objects work, just be careful. Hopefully more will hatch on their own.

 

[billiejw89]

Oh crap, now I'm wanting some. I'm not an expert at diagnosing chickens with diseases or anything, but I know quite a bit about hatching and raising them. Chicks that have been shipped are sometimes weaker and require encouragement which is usually given by a broody hen. Personally, I would candle the eggs and check for movement. I would see how much movement is going on, remember that information, and I would check on them about a 1/2 hour later to see if movement has slowed. By tomorrow, if no more have pipped or hatched, I would open the shell to allow more oxygen in. I do this by using a rotary tool (dremel), but other sharp objects work, just be careful. Hopefully more will hatch on their own.

Thank you I'll keep an eye on them. I candled and 2 of them don't look good anymore. 1 has movement.

 

[silkie1472]

So...how did the rest of the hatching go!?

 

[billiejw89]

So...how did the rest of the hatching go!?

Ohh I forgot to update here lol

I am so glad I decided to make a hole in the last living egg! It was shrink wrapped! I had humidity at 60-65 during lockdown, I think I will be increasing that next time around.

So I made the hole and there was thick white membrane shriveled around the chick. I wet the membrane and could see the beak, I used tweezers and very carefully made a hole and got the beak out. It started gasping once I did, and I didn't have much hope for it. The beak was also next to a big vein.. I was so nervous.

So I placed the chick back in the bator with a wet paper towel and prayed it would be ok.

I set my alarm for every 30 minutes all night long to make sure the beak was still out and hadn't moved back down into the egg.

Little by little the veins started to get smaller, and that little chick got louder every time!

After about 11 hours I was finally able to help the little chick out of the shell with no problems.

It's doing great and my lonely chick has a friend!!

I checked out the other 2 eggs, one was malpo and the other was shrink wrapped.

 

[silkie1472]

Well, it's definitely better for the other chick. That is actually considered a good hatch for shipped eggs.

 

[billiejw89]

I agree. It just seems terrible when there is only 2 chicks lol but i got 50% of the eggs that started so it is an ok number. It's actually nice having only 2 to care for, not as messy!

 

[silkie1472]

Definitely. 13 profusely feather legged silkie chicks are a challenge of their own. The pick up everything with their feathers...

 

[silkie1472]

So, how are the chicks doing now?

 

[billiejw89]

They are doing good. Both look to be roos

Here is one of them, they both look the same.
Slow feathering and big combs. Oh well maybe we will get a pullet next time.