Classroom Incubating Project - HELP!

[WVduckchick]

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.

Ah, 4th grade... well that may be a bit young, but we had another teacher recently that said she was going to give the kids the choice of watching or not. There are lots of eggtopsy photos on this site, and online, and even YouTube videos. Here's one from here that has a ton of pics. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/363717/eggtopsy-what-happened-to-my-egg-graphic-pictures There are also websites that show development by day, so you can tell almost exactly what day a chick died!

I'll let the other experts advise on intervention for the ones that haven't made it out yet. I'm still pretty new too. But as long as they are progressing on their own, and don't seem distressed, I'd give them some time. Continued luck, and post more pics if you get a chance. We love cute little fuzzbutt pics around here!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Ah, 4th grade... well that may be a bit young, but we had another teacher recently that said she was going to give the kids the choice of watching or not. There are lots of eggtopsy photos on this site, and online, and even YouTube videos. Here's one from here that has a ton of pics. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/363717/eggtopsy-what-happened-to-my-egg-graphic-pictures There are also websites that show development by day, so you can tell almost exactly what day a chick died!

I'll let the other experts advise on intervention for the ones that haven't made it out yet. I'm still pretty new too. But as long as they are progressing on their own, and don't seem distressed, I'd give them some time. Continued luck, and post more pics if you get a chance. We love cute little fuzzbutt pics around here!

I was going to say I would give them a choice too. My first couple hatches (that I did eggtopsies) I did outside w/o my son present because I didn't think he could handle it or want to see. (He's a very sensative litte boy...lol) He's 7 and this hatch I gave him a choice and he wanted to see everything. (We only had three that didn't make it out.) He was right there with me and handled it like a champ. I think it's much easier to handle when you have a bunch of survivors running around in the brooder. You feel bad for them of course, but it's not a total loss.

As for the ones that haven't made it out yet. As long as they are active and the membrane around the pip is still white I'd give them more time. If the membranes are turning yellowish/brown then I would pull one out, wet the membrane, enlarge the pip hole and check that inner membrane to make sure it is not drying and sticking to the chick, causing it to become glued and unable to move. If there are any spots sticking or glued to the chick, you would use warm water to moisten it and (if you have them) tweezers to pull it free (only where it's stuck). Then you would wrap a wet paper towel around the back of the egg, not covering the pip and return it to the bator to see if it will continue on it's own. That's my opinion and my methods.

You can always play youtube videos of chicks chirping for them and really motivate them...lol

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh Amy, I tried the chirping videos last night. Well, I guess I should say I found some. I'm just at day 19 today, so its not really time yet. But I will be giving that a shot. Its so cute, it got me excited! lol and my dog was tilting his little head back and forth listening to it, he's a hoot.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Oh Amy, I tried the chirping videos last night. Well, I guess I should say I found some. I'm just at day 19 today, so its not really time yet. But I will be giving that a shot. Its so cute, it got me excited! lol and my dog was tilting his little head back and forth listening to it, he's a hoot.

That's cute. The one I use is the one day old chicks peeping, I think it's called and it really is a great motivator, even if hatchlings are still in there, it seems to give them more desire to get out...lol The couple times I heard an internal peep and played it you could hear the chick get even louder from inside the shell.

 

[lazy gardener]

I think that regarding kids and eggtopsies, I'd not do it with them at school. I'd offer it for my 8 y.o. GDTR. But, she was present during processing day, and took that right in stride. Hanging right over the table asking what everything was. But, in a classroom situation, it might be difficult to monitor those children who internalize their reactions.

 

[EMV1017]

Nothing new yet. I am going to bring the incubator home tonight to monitor more closely what is left. I was just looking and saw another egg wiggling about quite a bit. No holes or cracks in it yet. Here are a few pics so far. Tried to get better ones, but when we go close the little peeps quickly go under the brooder.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Those are great. Have you thought about putting something on the bottom of the cage to keep their little feet from slipping through them? I'd be worried about leg injuries. (Maybe I am overprotective, I have that trait.)

 

[EMV1017]

I haven't but that isn't a bad idea. I have leftover chicken wire to use, to lay on the bottom.

It was cheaper with the grant to buy a large rabbit cage and modify it a bit to work for this set up. A coop was going to cost more than the grant was for.

So far nothing changing with the other eggs. I am getting worried they can't break free. Going to try the washcloth idea and see if that helps.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I haven't but that isn't a bad idea. I have leftover chicken wire to use, to lay on the bottom.

It was cheaper with the grant to buy a large rabbit cage and modify it a bit to work for this set up. A coop was going to cost more than the grant was for.

So far nothing changing with the other eggs. I am getting worried they can't break free. Going to try the washcloth idea and see if that helps.

I hear that. My brooder, (I call it a step one brooder cause usually they outgrow it fairly fast and have to be seperated out...lol) is one of the large small animal cages. Then I have a small dog metal crate and the double story ferret complex cage...lol

 

[EMV1017]

Well, I brought the incubator home. I learned a lot. I tried to assist the few remaining with pips, after the kids had gone home. They were very weak and wet. From the drive home (8 min) all but one had stopped breathing. I feel horrible. One that made it looks very sticky. I have been feeding him the nutri water and he is eating and cheeping but seems weak too. He also isn't drying up properly. Is there anything I can do to help him have a chance? He is walking in spurts but not as active as the other chicks were at this point.
I also candled the last remaining eggs. 3 had no development and looked almost clear, the rest had a large air pocket and shadow but no movement. I didn't want to attempt eggtopsy at this time because my 4 year old was home with me alone and I didn't want her to see that.