February Hatch-A-Long

[Honora]

How is the the little wrong ended chick? I have had to assist in this situation a few times, this current hatch included. Sometimes they pop out just fine. If you haven't already done, read this: article:https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660 or https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886

I start by enlarging the pip hole slightly to ensure the chick is able to breath and that the beak is visible, so I can keep an eye on it. Sometimes they can not progress as they are completely turned around in the shell.
I do it under a heat lamp over a hot/damp towel to keep the humidity up and antibacterial ointment on the membrane if needed to keep it moist if is looks like it is starting to dry out.
It is quite similar to a regular assist, you may need to help the chick fully. If so, it may need some physical therapy or foot corrections as they often have some issues with their feet/legs as they need that last push out they do to straighten out their feet and build up leg muscles.
Good luck!

The chick has a pretty large pip but is not zipping yet. I am definitely keeping an eye on it, might start assisting tonight if it doesn’t zip on it’s own. My other pip has hatched now but I don’t have any other pips right now.

 

[Offshoreorca]

How is the the little wrong ended chick? I have had to assist in this situation a few times, this current hatch included. Sometimes they pop out just fine. If you haven't already done, read this: article:https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660 or https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886

I start by enlarging the pip hole slightly to ensure the chick is able to breath and that the beak is visible, so I can keep an eye on it. Sometimes they can not progress as they are completely turned around in the shell.
I do it under a heat lamp over a hot/damp towel to keep the humidity up and antibacterial ointment on the membrane if needed to keep it moist if is looks like it is starting to dry out.
It is quite similar to a regular assist, you may need to help the chick fully. If so, it may need some physical therapy or foot corrections as they often have some issues with their feet/legs as they need that last push out they do to straighten out their feet and build up leg muscles.
Good luck!

Love your new avatar picture! I've never had a malpositioned chick (miraculously), but I've been learning a lot about what to do if it ever happens from this forum. I've also never hatched shipped eggs, so that may be why I've been lucky so far

 

[LadiesAndJane]

The chick has a pretty large pip but is not zipping yet. I am definitely keeping an eye on it, might start assisting tonight if it doesn’t zip on it’s own. My other pip has hatched now but I don’t have any other pips right now.

Everyone has their own wait time in these situations. I will start slowly assisting if it has been over 24 hours since pip without any progress at all, it may not be able to zip.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Love your new avatar picture! I've never had a malpositioned chick (miraculously), but I've been learning a lot about what to do if it ever happens from this forum. I've also never hatched shipped eggs, so that may be why I've been lucky so far

Thanks. Little chick from this hatch.
The malpositioned chick I had this week was from my own eggs, think is may be because they are bantams. Definitely more commom in shipped eggs. The chick needed "shoes" for a day only and is doing great. I try to let them do the last push out with their legs themselves, if at all possible, to help avoid problems.
On another note, I have 4 more of my own eggs hatching today and tomorrow (staggered hatch) and on day 10 of my shipped silkie eggs. All 4 still look good, still incubating upright. Air cells starting to firm up, still have some jiggly edges.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Bummer. I think this ones a goner. Any input from those more experienced? It’s the only white egg I have that’s easy to see into. Should be 17/18 days.
Positive note I’ve got a pretty good view of many of the others which all look good, (not much like the attached photo) and some newly installed lights I can turn on to check everyone out. This is lockdown so should be just watching and building a brooder in the mean time. Which is about par for this course. I barely got the temperature controls stabilized before throwing the eggs inside LOL. Humidity is pretty stabile 48-52%

I still see some veining in that egg photo, are you sure it is a goner? Unless it looks like it is just sludge in the egg, you might want to keep it. I have had eggs I was convinced were DIS at lockdown with no movement go on and hatch just fine.

 

[Courtkneekp]

I woke up to 7 baby chicks this morning! I moved them to the brooder, then 3 more pipped! There are still 3 that are not

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I woke up to 7 baby chicks this morning! I moved them to the brooder, then 3 more pipped! There are still 3 that are not View attachment 2532120

Congratulations!
Give the others a little time!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Posted some of these photos on the spectacular silkies site as well but just thought I would share in the cuteness! My 12-year-old was being creative with props.

 

[Mellowmalt]

I'm not the biggest silkie fan but those are adorable.

I'm super excited as I have some new eggs hatching at the moment, so far I have only ever incubated ebay eggs and as you know sometimes eggs can be infertile, sometimes they get shaken in the post but this one, I had all 6 make it to lockdown and the first chick hatched 1 hour ago on 19 days and 15 hours. Second one pipping. Fingers crossed for the rest. I want to give this ebay seller more than 5 stars as they clearly look after their birds well but alas I can only leave a few words for feedback.

 

[Offshoreorca]

Posted some of these photos on the spectacular silkies site as well but just thought I would share in the cuteness! My 12-year-old was being creative with props.View attachment 2532136View attachment 2532137View attachment 2532139

Oh my! The cuteness here is almost unbearable <3