Halloween Hatch Along - Setting Oct. 10th

[MomsGoneMild]

Prepping for lockdown at 7 tonight!!! Just candled for the last time. Final count; 15 of 31 are locking down, so basically 50% made it safely through the mail. Cross fingers for all pullets. ; ).

Going to sit on my hands. Thank goodness Halloween is coming to distract me!

I cant wait to see the pics start rolling in! : )

Xoxo Annmarie

 

[ccmarie]

Hatch day is tomorrow! Can't wait!
I got a dozen in the mail, but one was cracked during shipping and one died about day seven, so I've got ten hopefully hatching soon. They're an assorted, so I'm really excited to see what comes out.

 

[Marthab1953]

Good luck to you guys!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Mine started pipping early, or else they were dead in the shell. I have 4 left, they're shrink wrapped. I think a combo of having too low humidity and not upping it in time as they're known to hatch early (seramas) also, I found a post somewhere, just a snippit that said something about hatching Seramas and humidity, and to look at the Serama council website, but I couldn't find anything I'm going to guess, they need more humidity than other chickens I'm still hoping to save these last 4??!!

 

[Pyxis]

Hey guys, I just found this thread. I too have eggs due on Halloween. Is it okay if I join in for the hatch? I'm currently just sitting here having mini heart attacks about the power going out courtesy of hurricane Sandy. After all this work, I'd be devastated if that happens. These are the first eggs from my birds that I'm hatching, too.

 

[Pyxis]

Mine started pipping early, or else they were dead in the shell.  I have 4 left, they're shrink wrapped.  I think a combo of having too low humidity and not upping it in time as they're known to hatch early (seramas) also, I found a post somewhere, just a snippit that said something about hatching Seramas and humidity, and to look at the Serama council website, but I couldn't find anything   I'm going to guess, they need more humidity than other chickens   I'm still hoping to save these last 4??!!

Have you thought of helping them out? If they're really shrink-wrapped, you're going to need to hatch them yourself. I've done it before and it's not too altogether hard.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Oh yikes, that would be devastating! I hope that doesn't happen! And thanks for offering your help, I'll keep in touch with PMs So don't let the power go out in case I need you! LOL

 

[TinaK]

Hi pyxis - I'll join you in crashing this thread!

I have eggs due to hatch tonight It will be 21 days exactly at 12:00am on the 30th. I'm from Aus though so I'll be at 12:00pm on the 30th at a different time to you!

It's amazing to think that you have a frankenstorm approaching and it's like 88 degrees here (in your language). I've been more concerned about temp spikes! For those of you who don't have generators to keep your incubators going, I suggest getting some jars, bottles or whatever ready to fill with warm water in case you do lose power. In a worst case scenario you will be able to hatch & keep hatched chicks alive by using the warmth from water.

cluck-cluck: If you notice that they are shrink wrapped after they have pipped.... some say not to.. but I would help out. I have done is successfully with ducks before and seen many people do it with chicks. My ducks didn't even pip by themselves. I pipped them using a sharp blade and tweezers

As others have said, make sure you are in a nice steamy environment and then quickly open the bator. Pick up the eggs in a warm wet wash cloth, take just a TEENY TINY little bit of shell off using tweezers, dab the membrane with a warm wet q-tip (being VERY careful not to get it near the little chickies noses so they don't drown) and then replace the lid. Keep an eye on them over the next hours or so and if they are not progressing by themselves repeat the steps.

You will be able to see if they are shrink wrapped as the membrane will be white and very tough.

Here is a link to my assisted hatch thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...them-to-hatch-assisted-hatch-success-pictures It is for ducks... but I think a lot of the same principals will apply for chicks.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Thanks TinaK, I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight, LOL

 

[TinaK]

None of mine have pipped yet... but I'm still watching the incubator like a HAWK! I could still be 24+ hours away from a pip..... I'm 5 hours off it being exactly 21 days!