chicks not hatching when almost fully developed

[Avonshire]

I hear ya--the guilt gets less as time goes on. Plus the hope of a new batch is helpful too. Although sometimes I worry I will screw this one up too and maybe I should stop now and cut my losses!

 

[cashdl]

Don't start panicking. Yes humidity is way high for incubation and to raise it even more at hatch is not great but its done. Don't mess with the temp now because it is so hard to get it to stabilize. Make sure both vent holes are open and let them do their thing. If they pip and don't do anything more afte 24 hrs then you can gently start removing the shell a piece at a time. Keep on the lookout for blood. If the membrane around them has obvious veins in it put them back and leave for a couple of hours and check again. Or you can just leave them and see how they do. Some breeds are good about higher humidity some are not.


Lanae

 

[HEChicken]

I was not pulling the plugs. I am using a new bator this time I got from a friend and it is still a styrofoam one but it has a fan. Should I still pull the plugs on day 18?? Thanks for all the info!

Yes, you definitely want to pull the plugs when you go into lockdown. They need the ventilation in order to hatch.

For next time....it would be a good idea to calibrate your hygrometer AND thermometers before you start, so you know for sure where they are reading. Just because a thermometer says 99.5 does not mean that is the temperature in the incubator. It took a friend of mine several failed batches before she tested her thermometer and discovered it was reading low. The actual temp was 104 while it was reading 99.5 on the money. As soon as she tossed that thermometer and added one that reads accurately, she started hatching chicks like crazy.

 

[croach510]

I keep my plugs out through the whole incubation, never put them in. I have read on a couple threads that in the case of having the humidity to high the first 18 day, during the lockdown period they do not raise the humidity to normal hatch levels. It's seems to help with the babies not drowning when they internally pip. I don't wear gloves when I handle the eggs. I just had such a bad hatch rate my first 2 tries, that I decided that I wouldn't handle them as much. I'm sure that doing the dry incubation and keepn my plugs out, had alot more to do with a successful hatch rate, then handling the eggs did. For me setting them and for gettn them, instead of stressing over every little detail, proved to be the key to a good hatch. For me anyway. Good Luck to all and I really hope you get some cute fuzzies.

 

[teachininthesun]

I went to school today and there were 4 pipping. One has only made a tiny slit in the membrane (?) he was chirping this morning but is very quiet now. When I look he is still moving in there...how long can he go on like this. Do we open up the membrane some more-it looks dry-not wet and bloody.
The second one has a good size hole in the egg and something peeks out every so often (I am assuming beak) and he chirps quite a bit. this has been going on since 9 am this morning and it is almost 7 pm now.
The third one is just starting and when you put your ear near it you can hear a slight tap tap sound.
The fourth-there is just a tiny crack in the egg.. this happened around 1 this afternoon.

The other 20 some eggs are just hanging out. I am assuming some are bad-but how do you know?? Day 21 was on Friday (It's Sat night now) How long do we let these babies hang out. Since my temps were off..will they be too weak.

Thanks again

 

[Avonshire]

OH they weren't suppose to hatch until today anyway--you are fine! I have been told they can pip and then take 24-48 hours to get out of the shell. It is hard work so it is probably resting in between work. I will say though my live chick pipped and got out within say 12 hours. The others took longer than 24 hours and I ended up helping one out. I would say give them 24 hours and then maybe you could help them get out but read the instructions on helping several times before you start! You don't want to mess that up!!! It is very possible that this time tomorrow you will have more pips! Very exciting but unfortunate that the timing was over the weekend and the kids are missing it!!!

 

[teachininthesun]

Avonshire-thanks for the encouraging words. I guess it's a good thing I am not an OB/gyn. Let's just get that baby out NOW...LOL. I can't stand the thought that their membranes might be drying out and then thinking back to when someone said they would be swollen chicks-I am all worried they are stuck in the eggs-best that they are at school or I would be all over them trying to get them out. Patience. The thought that they peeped thrilled me-I am just terrified they won't be alive on Monday :0( come on babies-YOU CAN DO IT!!!

 

[Avonshire]

We have kind of hijacked this thread but I totally know how you feel! I hate the thought of them being stuck in there but yours really aren't hatching late. Sounds like they are doing what they are supposed to(remember I have only done one not so impressive hatch! lol!). I give you permission to help though after 24 hours if nothing results. Many people will say not to do anything with them and maybe that is the right thing to do but it is so hard to be patient! Plus like you said if they are stuck in there you hate for them to die when you could help! I would just help with a little zipping at first though. The one I helped did start to bleed so I had to stop and put the egg back in the incubator. I felt horrible. It is no fun!

 

[teachininthesun]

I am pleased to announce we walked in to find 2 chicks chirping and bopping around like CRAZY! Over the next 3 hours 4 more popped out for a total of 7! 4-5 more or cracked and working on the rest of their escape! We are hoping others will follow. Wish the students could have been there, but we recorded a couple of hatches for them!

Thanks for all the support! I am exhausted. :0)

 

[Peter1975]

Superb....we'll done, keep taking the tablets