Due around 3/26? **non-intervention success story pg 9**

[sandyj]

I have 6 EE eggs from luvmychicks that are due to hatch tomorrow, the 25th. I don't hear anything yet. OH PLEASE,

PLEASE,

PLEASE!!!!

These will be my 1st chicks ever.

Wish me luck!! I hope at least ONE hatches. I will be sooo sad if none hatch. I'm really nervous.

sandyj

 

[walkswithdog]

What I learned I learned here on the assisting threads and on the "incubation sticky thread" up at the top.

It covers a few people assisting, someone has video of helping chicks hatch.

Really important is patience. If at any point the hatching chicks membrane bleeds wrap them in a damp cloth or paper towel and let the rest and keep catching up.

Also really important is knowing your dates. A day early can be a disaster.

I pipped the two that couldn't even pip themselves after 12 hours on the large end, only to find I was speaking to Wrongway's rear end. That's not a good sign.

I spent several tense minutes playing "where's your face" until I found where he'd managed to tear the inner membrane but not pip.

Instead of something sharp and scary like a knife, after the pip I use tweezers and just nip tiny bits of shell at a time. Sometimes just giving them a starter zip in just the outer shell and outer membrane results in the getting enough room to finish themselves.

Don't let them get cool. Keep them warm and damp and let them rest for a couple of hours to see how they do. Once they can breathe there's no real rush.

Too fast and they bleed. Too early and too fast and they have the yolk still outside. I've never done it that early but I see it here a LOT.

I just settle for making sure they can breathe and try to just nudge it loose with them. Wrongway just had to flat have help out. Poor stuck little thing.

 

[OCchickens]

Quote:
Thanks for that! Very interesting. How do you know WHEN to help?

 

[OCchickens]

Quote:
Good luck, Sandy J! We will be hoping with you! Odds are good you'll get at least one, maybe a lot more! Please keep us posted. Don't get too discouraged if they're a little late -- I've heard of them hatching even a few days late.

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
Thanks for that! Very interesting. How do you know WHEN to help?

When is something that's hard to describe. I'm paranoid from my first hatch and then using all pullet eggs this time. Which I know are chicks who have trouble.

It's about a feel for how much time they've tried and a balance of how long I can stand it. I held out too long the first time and lost two or three I might have saved.

I play each chick by ear, sounds they're making weak or loud, how often ( first rule of EMT if the "patient is screaming his head off, he can breathe). I remember hearing the first batch dying... it sticks with you.

I just take it a tiny bit at a time and do a lot of in between waiting and seeing once Im SURE they can breathe well. I keep temps up and stable and humidity right. And hope. And do it with as much care and patience as I'm able.

Today it went well, on the 29th I guess we'll see again.

HUgs and luck to you all.

 

[Chickenfeet]

My hatch is due on the 26th!!! I cannot stay away fro mthe bator! I can not wait.

 

[kyeschicks]

im placing eggs in the bator this friday! im not sure when they'll hatch yet

 

[OCchickens]

I've got a pip!!!

I'm so excited!!

Cheeps & peeps too!

 

[gabrielle1976]

Gratz

 

[OCchickens]

This guy is a speed racer! He (hopefully she actually) has already zipped most of the way around the shell, cheeping like crazy & wobbling all around. This pip just appeared about 2 hours ago, altho I thought I was hearing cheeping around dinner time.