chickie in trouble... maybe not... turn for the better :)

hipeatall

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I'm having a terrible time not opening the bator... day 22... 13 adorable chicks have hatched... 2 pips... but one is in trouble... I really want to help it... argh! I don't want to shrink wrap the babies... I am stepping away and I know I need to leave it be... but it's sooooo hard!!! argh again!
 
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I haven't had much experience hatching, but I just had a broody that kicked 2 eggs out while her babies were hatching I put them in the incubator after I candled them. She had 12 eggs, and she is a bantie so I think she was overwhelmed. After she hatched out a few and one of the eggs in the 'bator pipped I gave it back to her. To make a long story short, I candled and moved a few of her eggs no less than 3 times and they still hatched. And I did this during "lockdown".

She had one egg that was ready to explode so she left the nest with the bad egg and one pipped egg. I candled them both, got rid of the bad one and gave her back the pipped one. She letft it again, it was cold when I found it. This time I did help. I finished the hatch for it. It was cold and weak, but as I stuck it in the incubator to dry it started to look much better. It was very cold when I got it out of its shell. 2 days later it is hard to tell it from the others. It is not quite as aggressive when it comes to eating, and I make sure that it gets some alone time to eat. But I really do think it will be ok. It would have died if I hadn't intervened

When I did my incubator hatch a few weeks ago I opened the incubator and took the babies out and put the eggs that were left in cartons so they wouldn't get pushed around. I misted the inside of the incubator with warm water everytime I opened it. All of the chicks hatched on their own. I didn't have to help them. I know that people more experienced than me say DO NOT OPEN, but I am not convinced that it is the source of all the problems. I also ran my humidity close to 70% + or - during lockdown. I had 10 eggs that had developed and 9 hatched. The other looked like an early quitter when I cracked it open. It was definately not fully developed, and it was dead.

If you have one in trouble, I know that I WOULD help. IMO

Good luck with your chickies.
 
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I shrink wrapped the majority of my last hatch. It was my first ever hatch and I opened the incubator a few times during lockdown. This caused me to loose humidity and so many of my perfectly healthy ready to hatch little pips died... it was really awful. I am scared that if I intervene and try to save the one in trouble I may hurt the many others that are not in trouble but need the humidity. It's really hard to do nothing... I wish I could help... but, I think for my situation and for my sanity, doing nothing is what I have to do.
Thanks so much for lending your ear and your words...
 
Often people on this site has encountered similiar problems - they sidestep trouble by running hot water in the shower and steaming up the bathroom. You take the incubator in the bathroom and remove the chick you need to help. Spray some warm water in the 'bator and close up. You should have no problem afterwards. Please do intervene and try and help the baby.
 
Well, it seems that this one is making a little progress on it's own now... the pip has gotten larger.
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I appreciate your advice, but, after last time, I am just unable to intervene. I keep thinking of those little shrink wrapped chicks... so sad and I'm pretty darn sure that was all my fault. The temperature and the humidity in the incubator are perfect right now and with so many other eggs in there waiting to hatch... I just can't chance it for them.
It's really hard to do this, but I'm going to have to let this little chickie try to hatch out on it's own. I hope this little chickie keeps working...
 
this is too funny! I just PM'd you thinking about your hatch I wasn't sure when it was due! Then I decided to look at you topics you posted and here it is! well, good luck
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let me know how it turns out ...hopefully the little one struggling will get out on it's own!
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I understand you not wanting to chance all your others yet to hatch!
 
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He's out... and seems to be doing pretty good... hopefully he'll make it.
We are on day 22 and 14 out of 32 have hatched... one more has a pip... maybe we can add a couple more to the total tomorrow
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this little guy is still doing just great... whesh, that was stressful...
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I meant to update... I'm pleased to report that this little chickie is doing great...
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After reading Babsbag post, I think we can assume mama broody doesn't always know best. Maybe they do push some eggs aside because they are overwhelmed. If the op didn't assist she would have lost some chicks. Good call.
 

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