Classroom Incubating Project - HELP!

[EMV1017]

Thank you all so much! I did go to the feed store and found nutri drench. The building was already closed for the night but I will move the chicks to the brooder early in the morning. I can get in by 6am eastern time. When I left 2 more had hatched and another 1 had started to pip. I am thrilled the project has gone so well and the kids got to see quite a few hatch today. I am sure my attendance will be great tomorrow Thank you for all the advice. I hope they will be ok overnight. I'd hate to loose any. It is possible to call the building manager to open up if needed but it is frowned upon and I'd need to get the principal permission before that happens.

 

[EMV1017]

Hard to get a good pic, but here are some of the chicks resting. I was able to get a great video of one coming out of his shell but don't know how to upload it.

 

[WalnutHill]

Success stories are fun

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hard to get a good pic, but here are some of the chicks resting. I was able to get a great video of one coming out of his shell but don't know how to upload it.

Yay!! Congrats! You can only upload videos through youtube or vimeo. You can't upload directly to the thread.

 

[EMV1017]

I came in this morning to a total of 16 hatched and 1 more about to hatch very soon, his shell is almost all the way open. We counted 5 more eggs with cracks or small pips. That will make a total of 22 out of the 30. Should I attempt to assist the remaining eggs, or leave them alone?

I moved the 16 to the brooder set up and added nutri drench to the water. I dipped their beaks and a few have already started eating the crumble.

It has been quite the excitement around school, many classes have some to see the chicks.

They are all huddled under the brooder. I bought a brinsea? yellow table like brooder/warmer. I can't have a heat lamp at school for safety reasons. I hope it stays warm enough for them, it is set at the lowest setting.

They are chirping happily and I haven't heard any distressed peeps. I have never raised chicks without a hen. All of our chicks born at my house have been tended to by the hen and I had little interference.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. I think I have created a classroom of future chicken farmers! They are smitten!

 

[WalnutHill]

That is an incredible success rate for a classroom, when so many factors are stacked against success. Congratulations, and thank you for the positive impact on the next generation!

 

[lazy gardener]

Regarding helping the delayed chicks: I'd wait until they have pipped, and then, I'd further wait until it's evident that they have not made any progress over the next 12 - 24 hours. At that point, if it looks like the membranes are dry, which will probably be the case, you can slowly assist, but stop at any sign of blood. The biggest risk in your situation is if you assist and have a chick die in your hands while you have a classroom full of youngsters looking on. Delayed chicks may be dry or too large in shell to successfully postition for successful hatch.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I came in this morning to a total of 16 hatched and 1 more about to hatch very soon, his shell is almost all the way open. We counted 5 more eggs with cracks or small pips. That will make a total of 22 out of the 30. Should I attempt to assist the remaining eggs, or leave them alone?

I moved the 16 to the brooder set up and added nutri drench to the water. I dipped their beaks and a few have already started eating the crumble.

It has been quite the excitement around school, many classes have some to see the chicks.

They are all huddled under the brooder. I bought a brinsea? yellow table like brooder/warmer. I can't have a heat lamp at school for safety reasons. I hope it stays warm enough for them, it is set at the lowest setting.

They are chirping happily and I haven't heard any distressed peeps. I have never raised chicks without a hen. All of our chicks born at my house have been tended to by the hen and I had little interference.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. I think I have created a classroom of future chicken farmers! They are smitten!

As long as they are pipped and not in distress or have membranes that are drying out, you should leave them. Assisting should only be done if there's a problem. Many assisted hatches lead to chicks bleeding out because they are being performed before or when it is not necessary. If there is veining still prominent then there is a reason the chick has not hatched itself-because it's not ready.

Congrats! That is a great first time hatch rate not to mention schoolroom hatch! So happy the little ones got to experience it!

 

[WVduckchick]

Such an awesome experience for the kids. They will remember it forever!! Congratulations!

By the way, I don't remember if you said what age group or grade these children are. Just curious. Thinking ahead if some of the eggs don't make it....((and I honestly hope that isn't the case!!!..)).. but if you have any that don't survive, do you plan to eggtopsy with the kids?? Its not a "fun" thing to do, but it is very informative.

 

[EMV1017]

The one that was almost out has hatched and is chirping but not drying too much. I am leaving him alone for now. The others have made bigger holes but nothing yet. I am worried that the membranes look to be drying a bit, but they are still working on the egg, and the beaks are showing breathing. At what point would I intervene? They are breathing, chirping and have made some progress on the egg.

I teach 4th grade, I hadn't thought about an eggtopsy! Are there any resources you can point me to for that. I don't know if it would be too much for the kids to do that. They are already very attached to the chicks, I am worried they may be upset about the others?

I have seen no movement in the remaining eggs, so I am assuming they won't make it at this time. I am very happy with what has hatched, they are noisy little peeps but very cute and very active in the brooder.

I am already planning for next year, I think I left way too much to chance this time around, but I am learning a lot! You all have been so helpful.