Chicks pecking at other eggs- blood

[amandamann724]

This is our first time hatching chicken eggs. We have two out and they are pecking at the other eggs and each other. One of the eggs they are pecking at now has an open hole and blood. The other egg has a chipped shell where they are pecking but the air sac isn't broken yet. It looks like its shrinking though and the movement inside is slowing down (breathing specifically). What should I do?!

Humidity is at 70%, heat 99.6. This is day 20 and the 2 chicks were born at 3:45pm and 7:45pm yesterday (10/17).

 

[ValerieJ]

If the chicks are dry, move them to a brooder.

 

[amandamann724]

If the chicks are dry, move them to a brooder.

Thank you for your quick reply. I'm not sure they are quite ready. I'll post a photo.

 

[ValerieJ]

Pictures of the eggs would be helpful too.

 

[amandamann724]

Pictures of the eggs would be helpful too.

I can't get at an angle to take a picture of the bloody one. :/ I know this isn't great quality either. they are both right in the worst spot for photography, lol

 

[ValerieJ]

I am no expert in hatching, but if it were me, I'd want to protect the vulnerable eggs. Can you set up the brooder to be 99.5 degrees, with no cool space. In other words, usually we have half of our brooder heated and then the other half cooler so chicks can move in and out of the heat. In this case, and only for the next 12 hours, I would close off the cooler side and just keep it very warm. Then they could be moved there. They are mostly dry already. They are very close to being move ready to a regular brooder situation. The egg I saw looks like an egg pipped by the chick inside the egg. Are you sure it was one of the hatched chicks that broke the shell? If it is drying out, then a little coconut oil, I understand, can be gently applied. I didn't have to do this with my hatch.

I sure hope someone else chimes in on this. I have only ever hatched one chick, but I read everything I could get my hands on at the time. I followed some other hatches so I would know what to do. So, I should probably not speak up, but I know how nerve wracking this whole hatch process is.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Remove the ones that are out, put in a brooder with heat.

The egg that has the blood on it, is it bleeding or just bled some? The pecking hit a blood vessel, hopefully not too bad & that chick will make it to hatch. Is there a hole?

The one that is pecked at the air sac, how much of a chip? If any of the membrane is exposed, put some coconut oil or vaseline to the membrane to keep it moist and prevent shrink wrapping of the chick.

 

[ValerieJ]

I hope you'll keep us posted on the eggs, and the chicks!

 

[amandamann724]

I hope you'll keep us posted on the eggs, and the chicks!

Will do!! Working on getting the brooder a little warmer.

 

[amandamann724]

Remove the ones that are out, put in a brooder with heat.

The egg that has the blood on it, is it bleeding or just bled some? The pecking hit a blood vessel, hopefully not too bad & that chick will make it to hatch. Is there a hole?

The one that is pecked at the air sac, how much of a chip? If any of the membrane is exposed, put some coconut oil or vaseline to the membrane to keep it moist and prevent shrink wrapping of the chick.

What temp is the minimum for the brooder? I have a heat plate that they can go under that is about 100 degrees at the moment but the air in there is under 70 degrees. I'm trying to warm it up, I covered it and added some warm jars of water wrapped up in a blanket. Any other suggestions?