Fuzzy - PLEASE don't take this in the wrong context . It is only meant to help you in future incubations. Nothing mean in this. The reason they say to set it and forget it is because that is what you need to do. I know how hard it is and I know it drives you crazy but in the long run the chicks are better. They call it lockdown for a reason. When you open the bator after they have started hatching anything that has pipped will die. Doesn't matter if your humidity stays the same or not. If they have pipped even a little bity hole then they will die unless gotten out of the eggshell ASAP. I'm sorry this has happened to you. It's all a learning process and it actually took me awhile to learn this lesson but I have learned it finally.Nothing. I autopsied the eggs, and one was a quitter. Made it i'd say to a few days before, he was all there but small. He never even uncurled.
The other one i'm sad about, and trying to understand. He was too big, from the looks of it, and he did pip the air pocket but never was able to make the turn to start pipping the egg.That was probably why the bator got quiet that morning, he died. But i don't understand.........from everything i read the egg shell is breathable? I don't understand why he died. I know it happened earlier that day, though because i did listen to the bator after i fished everyone out, and there wasn't even a squeak or shuffle in there. Perhaps an unnaturally hatched egg isn't as breathable as a broody hatched, they wear them thinner with all the turning.
I know that realistically i couldn't have done anything, because i would not have known which egg it was without pulling them all and listening, and that would have been too dangerous for the others. I just wish i understood what happened.
Mrs B, i did the band aid thing for my splay leg and it worked out well! She's running with the others now.
You put the band-aid pad between their legs, and tape the ends over the legs and onto the pad, so they are braced at only the thickness of the pad. Recovery is anywhere from overnight, to 6 days on a little chick, the earlier you catch it the faster and better they heal. A 3 day chick would probably be ok within 3 days............ I had mine in a cool-whip tub with a washcloth donut around her off and on. She kept bumping her way out! I took her out to let her eat and drink. That way the others didn't run her little hobbled self over
That's good. I hope she continues to do well.Hey RBahmer,
My pullet only did 3 somersaults todayI'm still hoping
All her other functions are good
What is SF?? Ohh nevermind . Sure, I will take him and re-home mine that way they aren't related. Thanks
Aww. Well, i had to save cocoa's baby, she was hurting her leg worse and worse. Couldn't put weight on it by the time i got her out, and i let it go for about 10 min because i had the last egg externally pipped and he was trying to zip. He ended up out, but i know it was harder for him. I hate to be that way, wasn't the plan, but that chick was the object and since i can't replace her i already knew that i'd risk the others if necessary. Just was REALLY hoping i didn't get pushed to that 
