day 24, what to do?

[Londonchix]

Update! One pip found. I woke up this morning and couldn't see any pips so I picked up the one that had the smallest air sac and found a pip on the bottom! I quickly put it back down. Hopefully I didn't disrupt him too much. I left the others alone assuming they too will pip.

Now of course I am stressing out because I have to leave for work!

 

[TheBeardie]

That's better than starring into the viewing window all day. who I'm I kidding what other way is there to spend the hatching process than watching it as it happens. Good luck to you and your unhatched baby
Laters

 

[Londonchix]

That's better than starring into the viewing window all day. who I'm I kidding what other way is there to spend the hatching process than watching it as it happens. Good luck to you and your unhatched baby
Laters

You got that right! Writing this poston my train commute and a nail biting experience. I calculated the 21 days so that I would be home when they hatched. There went my plans since they are 4-5 days late! Hopefully there will be a few fluffy chicks when I get home.

 

[Outpost JWB]

Hoping you get a bunch of chicks!

I just went thru the dreaded wait myself. But it's not my 1st go around with chicks. What breed are you hatching out? 21 days is a baseline but some breeds take longer than others. Good Luck and keep us posted please!

 

[Londonchix]

Outpost, I had a whole load of expensive eggs but looks like the only ones left after the clears and bloodrings were discarded are aruacanas. Are these usually late hatchers?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

No. Your temp was low and that delayed the hatch, resulting in poor hatch rate. I think we were talking 2 degrees F or 1 degree C low. I hope you get some fluffy butts this go round but next time you'll have much better success. We all had to go through a first hatching experience and you get better at it. Using an oral thermometer you'll be accurate or just use what your already have and know it's low reading. Eventually you'll straddle that 21 day hatch, piping late day 19 or early day 20 then hatching day 20 into day 22. That's when you know you got the temperature right. Your hatch rate will soar when that happens.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Wow, that's a great tip! I will suppose I can't trust my digital readings at all on the incubator. I will try your suggestions after these ones at hatched, hopefully.

NEVER EVER EVER trust a thermometer or the bator's gages w/o checking them first. (I learned the hard way.)
Now, you say that your air cells are small. In my opinion 50% for the first 17 days is high, especially if you are using a styrofoam bator. I'm not comfortable with anything over 45% myself and prefer 30%. The best way to gage your humidity is by checking the air cells. Many hatches are compromised because the humidity was too high for the first 17 days and even though the chicks are alive and moving going into lockdown they do not make it out to hatch.
If you want to learn how to tell if your humidity is adequate by monitoring the air cells and how to adjust take a look here: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity This is how I manage my humidty. But it is important to have thermometers and a hygrometer that has been checked and is accurate for any method to work. Good luck!!

 

[Londonchix]

Sad news friends. The chick died. My hubby informed me that it finally broke through the shell on the side but looked very sickly. Then it took its final breath. He removed it from the incubator to bury and said there was a large tumor type growth on its back. He said it looked as if it erupted because it was bloody.

I asked him if it could have been unabsorbed yolk bit he said it looked like skin. He didn't take a picture because he was so disturbed by it. Have any of you heard of such a deformity?
By the way it was the smallest egg too. And the chick didn't do the typical sawing out of the shell. Rather kept poking the same hole and then with a final jump the whole side fell off.
Heartbroken. What are your thoughts?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

My thought is put it behind you and go for another hatch. Don't look back but remember what you've learned from it. With proper temp you'll have success.

 

[Londonchix]

Yes, definitely a learning experience. The poor little guy or gal.

Anyway, I still have 7 others in the incubator. Today is day 25. I guess I will candle them tonight to see where they are at. As of yesterday many of these had air sacs about 15% of the shell size. Perhaps they are still growing. Or perhaps they will have a similar fate as today's hatchling.

Any ideas on why such a deformity? I wish I had a picture to share. I know you experienced folks will know. Depressing!