Didn't use air sack?

[Shifty Joe]

So I've been following some of the how to guides on BYC to make a homemade incubator and have put one together to my best effort. This weekend I have my first hatch and I am wondering if I need to make additional mods after seeing the hatching results. Out of 8 eggs, 5 hatched just fine, two needed help, and one died. So here are the summary of the three problem chicks

Chick #1:
This is the chick that died in attempting to hatch, it looks like he ether started his pip on the bottom of the egg or he got flipped over in progress... Shouldn't the chick always pip towards the top of the egg? Isn't it normal to get rolled by an already hatched chick? Thoughts?

Chick #2:
This one just took to long to hatch on his own and I think the humidity ratio was to low for his 12+ hour hatch attempt (We had to pull chicks out due to a flaw in my design, one of the first chicks out decided to jumped the guard to go visit the fan). After a few pecks from the tweezers, he was good to go.

Chick #3:
This is the one that really makes me worry I did something wrong. After 12+ hours the chick was very much alive and active but you could tell there was issues. After working with the tweezers I found out that the chick still had blood in the membrane... after more forum readings I found you can simulate the zipping process (which is how the blood gets pulled back into the chick) by using a tooth pick. Long story short, the chick needed a lot of help but is out and seems to be doing well. HOWEVER, it looks like the issue was that the chick didn't break into the air sack and instead broke the egg in the middle. If it wasn't for the amount of fight it still had I would have left her alone, but I just couldn't give up on her after all that effort. Why would this happen?

Any suggestions and thoughts would be much appreciated, I really enjoyed the hatching out of my own incubator but I want to make sure I'm not missing something that can save them from issues down the road.

Thanks!!!

 

[bigstack]

I lost 1 who pipped on the bottom. I don't know if he got bumped and turned over or not. It is possible I lay mine on the wire racks. Alot of people use the carton meathod for hatch and love it. I just like to try to do as close to natural as possible. LOL Steady heat and I use 38% days 1-18 and 75-80% for lock down. When they begin to hatch I remove the plugs! The eggs hatching will add a ton of moisture to the bator! I wish I had more suggetions for you.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[Katy]

Quote:

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Actually rolling around on wire isn't close to natural either. In a nest under a broody they are nestled down together and don't roll all over.

 

[bigstack]

Yes, I know they don't get rolled all over. but Yes, the hen does move them allover the nest when turning the eggs. I just ment laying on their sides. I will gently shake the bator and tap on the glass to simulate the hen moving the eggs with her beak too. Kinda just to let them know some one is there waiting for them. As I stated " as close to natural as possible" But thanks for the comment. That is why I love BYC! Every one is here for the betterment ( I know its not a word)lol of the birds and their care. Their are so many different ways to do it and as long as it works for you, Knock yourself out. Every one can share their experiences and help others learn what to try and whatt NOT to do!

God Bless!

 

[mstricer]

I actually just had a broody hatch two eggs, when I removed the broken egg it was zipped towards the bottom and it also appeared not to break the air sac but upon father investigation it indeed broke through sac first to take the air and let carbon dixode in. It is not natural for a chick to hatch straight up but on its side. I use the shelve liners with the holes in it, due to the fact I had a chick pip on the side of the egg, which was in an egg carton and it smothered. I had no idea it had pip until I ended the hatch. They were very expensive eggs and I could have had 2 chicks instead of one. I never used the egg cartons again. The chick seems to have to struggle to get out and that is not natural. I know alot of people use them because its easier to clean up after the hatch. But it is just my opinion and I'm sure there are alot of others that feel the same way.

 

[Katy]

I don't use cartons because it makes clean up easier, but that is an added benefit. My chicks have never had a problem getting out of the carton...even the few bantams I've hatched. My hatch rate has gone way up since I started using the cartons to hatch in so that's why I continue to do it. I have friends that hatch laying on the wire and they have good hatches....I have better hatches using the cartons so I'll continue to do it that way. If we get right down to it no way of incubating, other than using a broodie is natural, so I guess we all have to find what works best for us.

 

[Shifty Joe]

Thanks for the reply guys, currently these are the mods I'll give a go:

1: Make a wired shelf (with lid) that has sections for each egg to prevent early raisers from rolling everyone else

2: By having #1 change, leave the door closed for the entire time to keep the humidity up

3: Found a suggestion regarding making three holes in the water heater regulator to improve consistory in the overall temperature, just in case temp issue caused any issues

4: Find other activities than watching the eggs hatch to avoid jumping the gun on helping them.



However, I still think the chick that piped at the center of the shell (and I reconfirmed she didn't get to the air sack) really did need help. You can still pick her out of a line up due to bald spots on her head, which I think she rubbed bald trying to turn in the egg. Breaking the shell and doing the pip for her with a tooth pick did the trick. But other than a bad hair cut, she is up and moving just fine.

 

[bigstack]

Congrats!!! Sounds good to me!

Good luck and God Bless!