Hands on hatching and help

[countrygirl1326]

Hi everyone! I hope I'm posting in the right place. I'm a first time hatcher and I'm using a homemade incubator. This is day 24 and I had one chick hatch this morning out of the 11 so far. I candled the others and found two more with internal pips and so I helped them by making a pip. That was at 3:30 am CST. Its now been almost 13 hours and they have made no progress. They are moving their beaks but not peeping and they still have some of the sack around them. It's like they arent even really trying. Should i remove more shell or try to remove some membrane? Update... one of them is now peeping...

 

[mikeldb]

Hi everyone! I hope I'm posting in the right place. I'm a first time hatcher and I'm using a homemade incubator. This is day 24 and I had one chick hatch this morning out of the 11 so far. I candled the others and found two more with internal pips and so I helped them by making a pip. That was at 3:30 am CST. Its now been almost 13 hours and they have made no progress. They are moving their beaks but not peeping and they still have some of the sack around them. It's like they arent even really trying. Should i remove more shell or try to remove some membrane? Update... one of them is now peeping...

that's hard to say being it day 24 id say they're a little behind.... so it's hard to say with out being there but you can help. The big problem there is if the yolk sack isn't absorbed yet then you may kill them, being that far behind id give them time personally

 

[RubyNala97]

Hi everyone! I hope I'm posting in the right place. I'm a first time hatcher and I'm using a homemade incubator. This is day 24 and I had one chick hatch this morning out of the 11 so far. I candled the others and found two more with internal pips and so I helped them by making a pip. That was at 3:30 am CST. Its now been almost 13 hours and they have made no progress. They are moving their beaks but not peeping and they still have some of the sack around them. It's like they arent even really trying. Should i remove more shell or try to remove some membrane? Update... one of them is now peeping...

Under normal circumstances they pip and then rest. They don't try to get out until they are ready. But being day 24 these are not normal circumstances. Where did you get the eggs? What bator are you using and what has been your temp/humidity? Do you have a separate thermometer/hygrometer that has been calibrated? I do not make external pips for chicks unless it's been over 24 hours. Then it can take up to another 24 hours for them to break free from the shell. There's probably not much you can do at this point but wait. And make sure your temp and humidity is accurate.

 

[countrygirl1326]

So then it is okay to pull away a little of the shell and just leave the sack around them except for their beaks and they will just absorb the yolk sack and come out when they are ready???

 

[BantyChooks]

Update! She is now standing!

 

[Pyxis]

Update! She is now standing!

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[RubyNala97]

So then it is okay to pull away a little of the shell and just leave the sack around them except for their beaks and they will just absorb the yolk sack and come out when they are ready???

The problem with that is the more membrane you expose the quicker it will dry out and can create a sticky chick. You've gotta do what you feel is the right thing to do. I,personally, wouldn't but it's up to you. Make sure you use something like bacitracin or Vaseline to cover any exposed membrane. Just make sure you don't get it in the nostrils.

Update! She is now standing!

 

[PD-Riverman]

So then it is okay to pull away a little of the shell and just leave the sack around them except for their beaks and they will just absorb the yolk sack and come out when they are ready???

Countrygirl1326, you are asking questions that even experienced hatchers can only guess at a answer. Let me ask you a few questions.

Why you think your eggs are on day 24 and did not hatch on day 20/21?

I guess the temp is way off----what has your temp been the entire incubation?

You said you were using a home-made incubator. Is it vented for fresh air exchange?

Did you turn the eggs several times per day and if you did, what day did you stop??

How did you control the temp inside the incubator---what type thermostat and what kind of thermometer are you using?

What was your humidity running the first 18 days and the last few days?


I have never piped a egg----you might find someone on here that has that experience----I always been---if it can not pip on its own----I am not going to help.

 

[RubyNala97]

Countrygirl1326, you are asking questions that even experienced hatchers can only guess at a answer. Let me ask you a few questions.

Why you think your eggs are on day 24 and did not hatch on day 20/21?

I guess the temp is way off----what has your temp been the entire incubation?

You said you were using a home-made incubator. Is it vented for fresh air exchange?

Did you turn the eggs several times per day and if you did, what day did you stop??

How did you control the temp inside the incubator---what type thermostat and what kind of thermometer are you using?

What was your humidity running the first 18 days and the last few days?


I have never piped a egg----you might find someone on here that has that experience----I always been---if it can not pip on its own----I am not going to help.

I totally missed that it was a homemade. Definitely need lots more info before really diving into that one!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Hey guys me again lol. So I've been turning my eggs 3 times a day and twice a night about every 5 hours. I'm worried this isn't frequent enough. Do you more experienced hatchers think this is except able or should I turn them more? Someone on here suggested 5 times and not at night but I don't want to leave them sitting all night on one side and I don't mind waking to turn them. Just want to be a good chick mama any suggestions are appreciated.. thanks.