FEBRUARY Hatch-A-Long, come join in!!

[chickette]

Congrats to everyone on there beautiful baby chicks! I am soooo.. jealous. Hatch day for us should be Feb 23rd if all goes well! I was wondering if anyone helps the little guys out just a bit?

I was told that if you were to help them out a bit that when a loud bang or thunderstorm comes around that the ones that had help will then die of a heart attack. Then I have also heard that NO that does not happen. It is fine to help them out a little. This is just stuff that I have heard from various chicken people.

 

[sandracollins]

Some pics of my first ever fuzzy butts so I am a very proud first time chicken mamma

 

[funnybirds]

Quote:
How long do you wait? I've read of people saying they have day 25 hatches commonly. I'll probably wait until then, another 2 days for me, just to see what happens. of the 3 unhatched, 2 were alive but smaller than the rest on day 18, and the other one appeared the same as the others.

I candle at Day 23 to see if any unpipped eggs are still viable. If they show no signs of movement then I commence the careful & precise break-ins. Note: It is best to do this in the bathroom with showr on as hot as it can go.

I've only done three hatches to date. But they do seem to start early then stop . I've got 7 eggs left in there so I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong. Hmmm. Humidity is at 65% and temp is steady at just under 100. Both thermometers confirm. Maybe I'm jumping the gun it's concerning.

When you assist a hatch does it end well for you?

 

[Livinwright Farm]

Quote:
I candle at Day 23 to see if any unpipped eggs are still viable. If they show no signs of movement then I commence the careful & precise break-ins. Note: It is best to do this in the bathroom with showr on as hot as it can go.

I've only done three hatches to date. But they do seem to start early then stop . I've got 7 eggs left in there so I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong. Hmmm. Humidity is at 65% and temp is steady at just under 100. Both thermometers confirm. Maybe I'm jumping the gun it's concerning.

When you assist a hatch does it end well for you?

I don't neccessarily assist a hatch, other than potentially placing a drop of water onto the membrane if it looks dry. When I "break in" It is usually an eggtopsy, but occassionally I will find that the chick is still alive, just slow. So far, ones that I have found living during an eggtopsy have done well. The one in my 'bator now is still squirming in the egg, seems content to stay in there...

wish it would hurry up and get out already!
edited to add: If you are going to break in to an egg, ALWAYS punture the AIR BUBBLE at the fat end of the egg! never punctur around the sides or small pointy end. This is so you don't accidentally kill a chick(if it is a sneaky bugger) in the process.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I put my Seramas into lockdown. I didn't ever get around to candling so

that they're A-Okay!

 

[Heckel's Hens]

I'm putting together a dozen eggs for my son's preschool to hatch. They do it every year, but this way I can keep the chicks and know they are what I want. LOL Probably 7-8 shipped eggs and 4-5 local. I think they should start Monday.

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
Very sweet pics!

 

[chickette]

Could someone please tell me how to post a pic and to put in where we are located. Just cant seem to do it. I am a total newbee to this computer stuff

 

[Livinwright Farm]

Here are the totals so far:
Group 1 (gathered within 4 days prior to incubation) started with 22 fertile eggs: 17 hatched = 77.27% hatch rate. If I don't count the egg that had pipped, but got crushed by my BG hen, then it rises to: 80.95%
Group 2 (sat in my basement for at least 2 weeks prior to incubation) started with 12 fertile eggs: 7 hatched = 58.33% hatch rate thus far... still waiting on one chick to fully hatch out. If it does successfully then the number rises to: 66.67%. Not too shabby for 2 week old eggs either way.. espescially when you figure that most people say they are only viable for 5 days, and beyond that good luck.

 

[JustAChickenLittle&More]

At top of page, hit "upload". New page opens, hit browse, find your picture on your computer and click on it. Then hit Upload below or next to pic. Can't remember. It will upload the pic. Then you have to copy all of the link down ; for ex: www.backyardchickens.com/74326_chickenlittle_018.jpg

I always skip a line before typing it in the box here. Good luck!