Diary & Notes ~ Air Cell Detatched SHIPPED Chicken Eggs for incubation and hatching

[Roxannemc]

Familydragon
...Had a thought...... What is on the bottom of your incubator ?just the wire.? or some padding,?. Could it be fumes from the padding.... if there is some?the carpet padding might be ok for thebrooder but wonder if you use it for the bator too. Its totally closed so could build fumes?
they say new carpet does have chemicals in them that can affect lung problems.

Well just trying to come up with an idea.

 

[ozexpat]

Update on my 9 hatchlings that died - remember I was afraid the symptoms matched pullorum and had put in a call to out epidemiologist? I just got off the phone with the specialist and he said he feels very strongly that this was just a result of them being shipped eggs and the severe heat they were subjected to in transit, possibly combined with some kind of humidity issue with the dark/thick shells of Welsummers. So THAT is GREAT news! He said normally the chicks would start dying around 10 - 14 days if it was pullorum. So that is good news for my other chicks in the brooder - but not such good news for the 3 batches of shipped eggs I have going on

Wish me luck that they turn out better - I am trying new things with them like not turning for the first 5 days. Knock on wood....

I am glad you got reassurance.

Unless there is a specific reason not to turn, The most critical time to turn is the 1st week.

 

[chicksooner]

I am glad you got reassurance.

Unless there is a specific reason not to turn, The most critical time to turn is the 1st week.

x2

 

[ozexpat]

I forgot to show you guys my new chicks. I ended up with 2 quail and 2 Marans chicks. I always seem to hatch out chicks in pairs.

the chickens look like monsters compared to the quail

 

[familypendragon]

Yeah I agree.Had maybe 30-40 shipped hatches and none did that  no mass issue 
Even If he didnt find pallorum I would think it would be a good idea to really sterilize everything well anyway Cant hurt.. Maybe some other  kind of virus but could be an internal glitch still never seen that either to  all react like that. BUt have heard in puppies of a  virus that doesn't affect the adults at all  but will kill the babies right and left when first born  Comes on fast and they re gone May be some kind like that.
Almost seems like lungs as they all seemed to  do it when they were 1/2 out or all he way didn't they? or am I forgetting  Seemed  to make it until they hit the air but could be they were too weak  hatching was too  taxing.

All but 2 were OK at first and then started the gasping thing. One was gasping from the beginning and had the fluid - the other didn't do the gasping thing - just hatched and then chirped non stop, wouldn't lay down, wouldn't eat or drink and then fell down dead. I will def be bleaching everything I can. Not sure HOW to clean the heat coil, motor, fan???

 

[familypendragon]

Familydragon
...Had a thought...... What is on the bottom of your incubator ?just the wire.?  or some padding,?. Could it be fumes from the padding.... if there is some?the carpet padding might be ok for thebrooder but wonder if you use it for the bator too. Its totally closed so could build fumes? 
they say new carpet does have chemicals in them that  can affect lung problems.

Well just trying to come up with an idea. 

I used a scrap of organic hemp woven fabric - but I used the same type fine with the other hatchlings before with no problems. I don't *think* that could be it :/

 

[familypendragon]

I am glad you got reassurance. 

Unless there is a specific reason not to turn, The most critical time to turn is the 1st week.

On the first page of this thread it says not to turn them for the first 36 - 48 hours. Then in another link someone with very good hatches on shipped eggs (think it was the Quechua) said she doesn't turn for 5 days and gets great hatches. But today is about day 3 so I guess it would be good to start gently turning them side to side in the carton?

 

[familypendragon]

Here was what MA Mama had said when she got 12 of 19 BQO to hatch:

"I don't turn shipped eggs for the first week of incubation, and even though these weren't shipped, they did have a long drive so I didn't turn them. I also do MUCH lower humidity than most people recommend - like 25% or UNDER at all times, until lockdown, when I add water and let it be about 50-60%. I just used a regular Hova Bator with a fan and a turner."

 

[ozexpat]

Here was what MA Mama had said when she got 12 of 19 BQO to hatch:

"I don't turn shipped eggs for the first week of incubation, and even though these weren't shipped, they did have a long drive so I didn't turn them. I also do MUCH lower humidity than most people recommend - like 25% or UNDER at all times, until lockdown, when I add water and let it be about 50-60%. I just used a regular Hova Bator with a fan and a turner."

Shipped eggs are special.

There is a balance between killing the embryos by not turning them and messing up the air cells by turning them.

My current practice is to set the eggs as soon as possible and then start turning them at 24 hours.

 

[familypendragon]

I let them rest for 18 hours and then set them in the carton with cut out bottoms without turning for 48 hours or so. Now I am turning them by leaning them in the carton side to side over about a 45 degree angle. After the last ones I am trying to be more careful - but its hard to know what the "right" thing to do is.