EMERGENCY HELP PLEASE!!!

[jmez61690]

This is my first time hatching eggs. I had them under a broody and they started hatching today. The first chicks hatched and the hen killed it! Now I have six more that are pipping, three that aren't pipping yet, and the hen has abandoned the nest. I had another broody that I tried to get to take them, but she abandoned them too. I don't have an incubator, so right now I have them in the garage in a kiddie pool lined with wet paper towels and a heat lamp....they're at 95 degrees. Help me!! These chicks are trying to hatch as I type this and I'm freaking out a little bit.

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Hi there.

Sorry that happened.. You're probably going to need to raise the chicks yourself in a brooder now. That can be a plastic tub or anything, with food, water, pine shavings, and a heat lamp.

If you have any breaks, try to take a picture.

I'm not an experienced person with hatching or candling, sorry.

Once they are in a brooder, they should be able to figure out what is food just fine but dip one of the chicks' beak in the water.

Hope this helps!

 

[chicapee]

This is my first time hatching eggs. I had them under a broody and they started hatching today. The first chicks hatched and the hen killed it! Now I have six more that are pipping, three that aren't pipping yet, and the hen has abandoned the nest. I had another broody that I tried to get to take them, but she abandoned them too. I don't have an incubator, so right now I have them in the garage in a kiddie pool lined with wet paper towels and a heat lamp....they're at 95 degrees. Help me!! These chicks are trying to hatch as I type this and I'm freaking out a little bit.

If at all possible try and get the temp up to 98 to 99 and humid to at least 65%. Keep us posted.

 

[chicapee]

They may be better in a small tote to keep the heat and humidity up.

 

[jmez61690]

Here's so you can see the pips. I'm trying to keep the membrane moist because I can't get the humidity high enough, should I cover them with a wet paper towel? Help them hatch? Leave them alone?

 

[Meaola]

My broody hen left her nest with 4 chicks and 2 days later I decided to remove the rest of the eggs...I heard one chirping inside! So, I did something similar to what you are doing. I used a lamp and a box. It hatched 8 hours later and is fine (5 weeks old now and with the other chicks). But, it went for 2 days without being warm...I have no idea how it survived. I kept the box between 95 and 98 degrees. Let us know how it turns out. Best of luck

 

[Meaola]

Here's so you can see the pips. I'm trying to keep the membrane moist because I can't get the humidity high enough, should I cover them with a wet paper towel? Help them hatch? Leave them alone?
Maybe cover the pool and/or put a wet towel in there? I just put a wet sponge in the box. I would not try to help them hatch. It usually turns out bad. They have to absorb the yolk and that can take a long time...up to 24 hrs after you see a pip.

 

[chicapee]

You could wrap the pipped ones in a warm moist paper towel leaving the pip open and if necessary moisten the membrane with a qtip avoiding the beak and nostrils.

 

[chicapee]

Here's so you can see the pips. I'm trying to keep the membrane moist because I can't get the humidity high enough, should I cover them with a wet paper towel? Help them hatch? Leave them alone?

Looking good. Best of luck.

 

[jmez61690]

Okay, so I moved them into a smaller tub that I could halfway cover, lined it with a moist towel and moist paper towel, and also added a wet sponge. It seems so hot though, I'm scared I'm going to fry them! All I have are rectal or ear thermometers so I'm nervous that I'm not getting it right. They're just chirping away in there though.