HALLOWEEN HATCH!!! Anyone

[Suechick]

Quote:
Yep, that sounds like me the past 24 hours. Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I can't wait to see pics of the hatchlings.

And about names... how about x-ray and Zena, my daughter likes pumpkin.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Anymore "Y" names for the little Halloween peepers?

Yucky
Yuppie
Yo-yo
Yogi
Yikes
Yolk

I dunno .... on to "Z" ..... We made it through the whole alphabet, and just in time! Who volunteers to go back through and write them all up together, so we can pick out our Halloween names for the new babies????

Oh, "Z": I'm not sure, but maybe these can be considered Halloween characters?
Zeus
Zip
Zombie
Zoro

 

[mayapooh]

OMG !! HELP!!!!!!! I just heard a crash and ran into my bedroom - cats had somehow knocked incubator off my dresser. Most of the eggs are damaged, ranging from small dents to large cave-ins, some with more than one. Please, help, what do I do?? I candled a couple quickly and saw movement, so at least a couple survived the fall. Should I melt wax over cracked areas?? I've righted the incubator and placed the eggs back in, but I need to go in there again to top up the water.

Help!!!!

 

[neferset]

I've heard that suggested. How are you with regard to lock down??? Right now, I mean.

Edit: The reason I'm thinking that is, they might be able to hatch with the cracks and no intervention so long as they aren't bleeding and you keep the humidity up. Maybe put a bit of damp tissue at most if you are very close to lock down or in lock down?

How close to the air cells are the breaks?

 

[mayapooh]

I had just done lockdown this evening - day 18 for some, day 17 for the rest. (I heard Serama can hatch early so I was splitting the difference.)

Edit: A couple have cracks on the aircell, most are around the sides and small ends. It just happened maybe five minutes ago - I will go back and do a thorough inventory of injuries. None of them seem to be leaking blood or fluids, though.

Edit #2: Temp is down to 85 and humidity up to 99. Are they all doomed??

 

[neferset]

I keep thinking about it and changing my mind. There are two things you can try.

If it were me and I felt it was possible that the babies could hatch within about 12 hours, what I would do is similar to what I did last night with my pipped and shrink wrapped babies. (Except yours aren't pipped yet, right?) Place them in paper cartons if at all possible. If you have breaks near the bottom and sides, line the cartons with a piece of damp paper towel. If close to the top, I would very carefully cover with a piece of damp paper towel, but carefully. You don't want it dripping wet.

If I didn't think a hatch was at all likely within that time frame, I would try the candle wax, but again carefully, especially near the air cell I'd be very careful.

 

[evonne]

maybe the cat knew they needed help getting those shells opened???

i'm thinking this close to lockdown i'd go with what nef said and maybe just keep an eye on them make sure the membranes don't dry out....

let us know how they hold up....

 

[neferset]

Also, did you candle right before lockdown (I usually do and weed out any quitters that I wasn't sure about on day 14)? How full did the eggs appear? Could you still see blood vessels at the top or was it totally crowded?

That can tell you something about the potential closeness of the hatch. I'd say I've had day 18 hatches before on some but you all know about that.

But if you don't get the hatch in the 12 hours, like I mentioned, you can probably just very quickly change the bit of damp towel you put on them. I would expect to have to help these guys hatch, because the possibility of drying out is so great.

Edit: But don't try helping until the last bell rings. I only help ones that are pipped and look like they are trapped for one reason or another.

 

[mayapooh]

Quote:
I don't think they're close to hatching at all. I did candle yesterday and removed a couple quitters - everyone else looked good. But, as of today, no rocking, no peeping, no pips, and I can still see a little rim of veins around the aircells. I will try candle-waxing, but I'm afraid of messing around too much with the 'bator down to 85. Should I let it warm up and then wax a couple at a time, or just get it over with and let the 'bator rewarm?

Lordie, those cats better lay low tonight. I am SOOOOOO

!!

 

[neferset]

I'd get it over with as quickly as possible. You have some time you can play with every day. About a half hour. Use it and go right back into lock down.