Day 21-22 Incubation of 36 welsummers UPDATE

[kafred]

Hi there. Yesterday I hijacked someone elses post because I was not sure how to create my own. Well now I know. So it is my first hatch. I started with 40 but had to pitch 4 on day 14. Yesterday I candled again and pitched 2 more. They were also clear. Well it is almost the end of day 21 and I have 5 that piped. One has his beak sticking out. We are patiently waiting to see who else is going to peak their heads out today. Since I opened the bator, I am worried about what everyone refers to aa shrink wrapping. Is there anything specific I should look for with this.

 

[sumi]

I wouldn't worry until about 18 hours after external pip (through the shell) passed with no signs of progress. They usually start zipping much sooner than that though. If you didn't have the humidity very low in the incubator for a prolonged period after the first signs of pips, I wouldn't worry too much about shrink wrapping. Just make sure you keep it at 65% + now and don't open the incubator unless necessary. Good luck with the hatch and please keep us posted!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi there. Yesterday I hijacked someone elses post because I was not sure how to create my own. Well now I know. So it is my first hatch. I started with 40 but had to pitch 4 on day 14. Yesterday I candled again and pitched 2 more. They were also clear. Well it is almost the end of day 21 and I have 5 that piped. One has his beak sticking out. We are patiently waiting to see who else is going to peak their heads out today. Since I opened the bator, I am worried about what everyone refers to aa shrink wrapping. Is there anything specific I should look for with this.

If your humidity is up at a good level 70%+ you shoudl be fine. Even when the humidity is lower it is more rare than it is made out to be. I run my humidity at 75% + at hatch because I am always opening the bator during hatch. I have never lost a pipper/zipper because of it. As long as you have adequate humidity and you make sure that the incubator regains lost humidity after opening you should be safe.

If the membrane around the pip hole turns brownish/yellow and leathery looking, that's a sign that the membrane is drying out and it's most likely that you will need to intervene.

 

[kafred]

Thank you so much. I have the humidity up. My last pipper is my first hatch! He zipped out on his own 100%. Now he is trying to walk around but it looks like a single vessel is still attached to the egg. Is there anything I should do to help?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you so much. I have the humidity up. My last pipper is my first hatch! He zipped out on his own 100%. Now he is trying to walk around but it looks like a single vessel is still attached to the egg. Is there anything I should do to help?

Could it be some of the "cord" left attached? It will probably work its way off on it's own. If it doesn't you can tie it off and cut it when you move them to the brooder. As long as it's not bleeding, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[kafred]

Thank you for responding so quickly. I looked up some pictures and I believe you are right. It is just the one "string". Everything else seems well absorbed. He is just chirping away. He is not trying to rest at all. He got the egg waste on another egg. Will this egg be okay or should I wash it? Sorry for all the questions. I appreciate all the help and advice.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you for responding so quickly. I looked up some pictures and I believe you are right. It is just the one "string". Everything else seems well absorbed. He is just chirping away. He is not trying to rest at all. He got the egg waste on another egg. Will this egg be okay or should I wash it? Sorry for all the questions. I appreciate all the help and advice.

That's fine. It won't hurt anything. If you leave your chicks in the bator for the hole hatch, you'll see a lot of gunk on the other eggs...lol As long as no gunk is covering any pips you should be fine.

BTW:

Don't apologize for asking questions.

 

[kafred]

I have another question now. I have an egg that piped yesterday. He looked to be malaligned. I took him out and candled. Where he pecked through there is no air sac. So I candled the egg sac and I am pretty sure there is another beak in the air sac. Have you ever had this situation? What would you do? There has been no progress.

That's fine. It won't hurt anything. If you leave your chicks in the bator for the hole hatch, you'll see a lot of gunk on the other eggs...lol As long as no gunk is covering any pips you should be fine.

BTW: 

Don't apologize for asking questions. 

 

[sumi]

Don't apologize for asking questions.

x2. Congrats on the first hatchling!

 

[sumi]

I have another question now. I have an egg that piped yesterday. He looked to be malaligned. I took him out and candled. Where he pecked through there is no air sac. So I candled the egg sac and I am pretty sure there is another beak in the air sac. Have you ever had this situation? What would you do? There has been no progress.

It's probably got a toe or something in the air sac… Twins are possible, but they seldom make it full term.

Either way, if the little one doesn't make progress by itself, this article explains the assisting process VERY well and there are loads of pics to show what to look for etc:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching