Day 23 - 3 chicks have opened their shells, haven't come out

[Happy Chooks]

Yay! So glad the 2 made it. Congrats!

 

[Msbear]

 

[NapsWithChickens]

Yes! If I hadn't banded those two chicks (the one with crooked toes and the skinny-not-gonna-make-it chick), I would know which was which. They all look healthy and happy - even the skinny one is getting fat and sassy (just like me!).

Thanks again for all the suggestions and support. It really means the world to me when I can make a difference in the life of a chick.

 

[BluffCountryShepherdess]

Thank you SO much for sharing this adventure! I set my first batch of mille fleur bantam cochin (project) eggs today and am a nervous wreck! I was so afraid to go to the next page as I followed your story. I'm VERY happy that two of your chicks have a happy ending. What a wonderful "momma hen" you are!

Will you be posting photos soon?

;-)

 

[RuffledFeatherz]

Here is a tip I recently discovered and have had 100 percent success rate with, completely healthy chicks since implementing(first year doing this). All eggs(chicken and turkey)that begin to show signs of cracking I Immediately remove from shell, after cleaning and stopping any blood flow with a tiny piece of paper towel put where necessary, I then hold gently in hand wrapped in something dry and dip their beak(1/4 to less then 1/2 inch deep) into a mixture of vitamin and electrolyte additive that is mixed with water(follow instructions on package for mixing proportions) You must be careful not to drown them(have hand raised Eclectus parrots from day old so was somewhat comfortable trying this, different procedure but wasnt intimidated) and make sure you visibly see them actually trying to ingest or swallow some of the mixture, do this 2-3 times, do not try to rush the procedure, dry with a paper towel dabbing lightly any excess on their face and neck. Put back in incubator till they are active(repeat every 2 hours for those still not fully active)then move to a brooder box. Waiting many hours or a day or 2 to remove shell causes deformities and death from my experience. Most of the chicks hatched so far this year are tiny, cross breeding species to create miniature tufted banty chickens, even the weakest and smallest of this years hatchings have been ready for the brooder box within 6-8 hours(turkeys usually are left in incubator much longer, up to 24 hours till they are capable of walking and standing)
success = 0 lost lives IMHO