Debbie's Silkies

[Debbie292d]

What happened with your double air cell eggs? If they were mine I'd probably put a pin hole in fat side once they pip so they dont run out of air. Are both air cells big or is one a lot smaller?
I've been lurking and just though that was interesting. I've never heard of or seen anything like that. Good luck with your hatch! I love silkies.

Thanks, MGG,

I have those two in the incubator's front right corner so I can sneak my hand in quick and pull them out if need be. There's also one with the air cell on the side with them.

They both are pretty relative in size, but one side is slightly bigger.

These technically aren't due until tomorrow, yet, two have hatched and another pipped.

I've hatched tons, but only ever assisted one and it died anyway. That was the one last week with the air cell on the side. This time, I'm interceding quicker. Once that one pips, I'm helping it out.

I candled all of the ones I just set yesterday as again, there are some I couldn't tell which end was the big end. So this time, they're all in there pointy end down, and a couple I still couldn't tell, I laid them on their side.

 

[MGG]

Thanks, MGG,

I have those two in the incubator's front right corner so I can sneak my hand in quick and pull them out if need be. There's also one with the air cell on the side with them.

They both are pretty relative in size, but one side is slightly bigger.

These technically aren't due until tomorrow, yet, two have hatched and another pipped.

I've hatched tons, but only ever assisted one and it died anyway. That was the one last week with the air cell on the side. This time, I'm interceding quicker. Once that one pips, I'm helping it out.

I candled all of the ones I just set yesterday as again, there are some I couldn't tell which end was the big end. So this time, they're all in there pointy end down, and a couple I still couldn't tell, I laid them on their side.

I'm interested to see how it turns out, I hope they make it! Keep in mind with the side air cell baby, if he doesn't internally pip into the air cell his external pip will also be his internal pip so give him at least 48 hours before assisting. I've done a lot of assisting, if you have any questions with that feel free to tag me. There's a bit of a science to it. Make sure there's no veins present in either the air cell end or the pointy end before assisting as well.
Good idea with laying down the ones you couldn't tell on in your new batch.

 

[MGG]

What kind of camera is that in your incubator by the way? I've always wanted to have one actually inside my hatcher but mine don't fit.

 

[Debbie292d]

What kind of camera is that in your incubator by the way? I've always wanted to have one actually inside my hatcher but mine don't fit.

It's a Blink. We've had several for years to watch for varments around the property.

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm interested to see how it turns out, I hope they make it! Keep in mind with the side air cell baby, if he doesn't internally pip into the air cell his external pip will also be his internal pip so give him at least 48 hours before assisting. I've done a lot of assisting, if you have any questions with that feel free to tag me. There's a bit of a science to it. Make sure there's no veins present in either the air cell end or the pointy end before assisting as well.
Good idea with laying down the ones you couldn't tell on in your new batch.

He was moving around but never pipped and was the only one left in the incubator. I poked a small hole on the side with the air cell, but that was worthless as it hadn't poked through its membrane yet or had blocked itself where it broke. I'm not sure, but I had left it alone, and the next day candled it and saw no movement. I left it alone until that evening and called it dead. Opened it up and it was a beautiful but dead chick that couldn't hatch.

That is what I meant about I'm not waiting this time. If all the other eggs are hatched but that one, I'm getting him out this time. I've got the tweezers, disinfectant, coconut oil, etc. so I will tag you when the time comes and we'll do it together!

 

[MGG]

He was moving around but never pipped and was the only one left in the incubator. I poked a small hole on the side with the air cell, but that was worthless as it hadn't poked through its membrane yet or had blocked itself where it broke. I'm not sure, but I had left it alone, and the next day candled it and saw no movement. I left it alone until that evening and called it dead. Opened it up and it was a beautiful but dead chick that couldn't hatch.

That is what I meant about I'm not waiting this time. If all the other eggs are hatched but that one, I'm getting him out this time. I've got the tweezers, disinfectant, coconut oil, etc. so I will tag you when the time comes and we'll do it together!

Yeah a lot of people say to never assist, but if you know what you're doing at least somewhat a lot of babies can be saved by it. Sometimes they have genetic issues or whatever and die later, but at least they have a chance.
Just keep an eye on veins, and if you notice they're mostly all absorbed they're ready. If you let them out before the veins are all gone though they have a rough time and usually don't make it. I've had some super slow absorbing babies and those drive me nuts, haha. If you have a high powered flashlight, keep an eye on the pointy end. That's where the last veins to absorb are, and they're usually the biggest. Those have to be gone before they can come out.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yeah a lot of people say to never assist, but if you know what you're doing at least somewhat a lot of babies can be saved by it. Sometimes they have genetic issues or whatever and die later, but at least they have a chance.
Just keep an eye on veins, and if you notice they're mostly all absorbed they're ready. If you let them out before the veins are all gone though they have a rough time and usually don't make it. I've had some super slow absorbing babies and those drive me nuts, haha. If you have a high powered flashlight, keep an eye on the pointy end. That's where the last veins to absorb are, and they're usually the biggest. Those have to be gone before they can come out.

Super good to know, I have never assisted a chick hatch, but then again I have not hatched many.

 

[Debbie292d]

Super good to know, I have never assisted a chick hatch, but then again I have not hatched many.

It's got to be these show-quality silkies as before with the regular silkies I never had a single issue and nearly 100% hatch rate whether by hen or by incubator.

These have been just a little bit more of a challenge. They are all barely a year old so some of it could be attributed to that too.

 

[Ponypoor]

It's got to be these show-quality silkies as before with the regular silkies I never had a single issue and nearly 100% hatch rate whether by hen or by incubator.

These have been just a little bit more of a challenge. They are all barely a year old so some of it could be attributed to that too.

Sometimes too close line-breeding or inbreeding can cause issues.

Of course my mutts give me issues also. Sometimes it’s just how it goes.

Any further progress with the pipped one?

 

[Debbie292d]

Sometimes too close line-breeding or inbreeding can cause issues.

Of course my mutts give me issues also. Sometimes it’s just how it goes.

Any further progress with the pipped one?

Still just two hatched and now two pipped. I guess today's the day instead of tomorrow. There's another 16 or so that better pick up the pace then!

Two of the six in the breeding pen aren't related to each other or any of the others. The rooster and three hens are first generation siblings.