Hands on hatching and help

[cheezenkwackers]

Please, just a word of caution... If you are going to do a whole zip like that, check for active blood vessels by moistening the membrane, and if there are none, then tear the membrane. Leaving it in the incubator zipped like that, it has nothing to press against to enable it to push out. Once you go that far, you have to continue. It would have tried to stretch and stretch and never been able to tear the membrane on its own, because it has nothing behind it.

I appreciate the word of caution. My concern was that the membrane was glued to him. I was hoping being wrapped in a wet paper towel in the incubator would help soften it. Guess not. Do you think the others will have the same issue? I re-raised the humidity before they pipped.
Also, all of the chicks have some matted down from hatching. Do I leave it or try to wash it off?

 

[Pyxis]

I appreciate the word of caution. My concern was that the membrane was glued to him. I was hoping being wrapped in a wet paper towel in the incubator would help soften it. Guess not. Do you think the others will have the same issue? I re-raised the humidity before they pipped.
Also, all of the chicks have some matted down from hatching. Do I leave it or try to wash it off?

What WV meant was, before doing a zip you should open just the air cell, check the internal membrane in there for blood vessels, and then if it all looked good you can proceed to removing more shell from there. It's always important to do that first. Even if you open up the whole air cell, as long as you leave the internal membrane over the chick, they won't push out early.

Once you start the zip, you are committed to a totally assisted hatch. After you zip you need to pull the shell off and get the chick out. You don't want to leave it zipped but still in the shell with membrane intact or like she said, it can exhaust itself and die.

But it all turned out well and it looks like your chicks are doing good, so no worries

 

[WVduckchick]

I appreciate the word of caution. My concern was that the membrane was glued to him. I was hoping being wrapped in a wet paper towel in the incubator would help soften it. Guess not. Do you think the others will have the same issue? I re-raised the humidity before they pipped.
Also, all of the chicks have some matted down from hatching. Do I leave it or try to wash it off?

If you open from the pip hole, work your way toward removing the air cell end. Slowly. Watching for any active blood vessels or bleeding. Once you get the air cell end open enough for the chick to breathe comfortably, moisten any exposed membrane, and carefully run the qtip between the chick and the membrane. Avoid the eye! If positioned correctly, the eye should be at about 10oclock position, if looking straight at the fat end of the egg.

Don't pull them out of the shell. Once the entire end is gone, they will either push right out on their own, or if they dont, they need a little more time. Sit it back in the Bator and wait.

The damp paper towels seem logical, but I think most of us feel that it can cause a chill instead of helping the moisture.

The others may or may not have the same issue. It's a toss up.

But I do commend you for jumping in when you felt it was necessary! Glad it all turned out for the best.

 

[WVduckchick]

What WV meant was, before doing a zip you should open just the air cell, check the internal membrane in there for blood vessels, and then if it all looked good you can proceed to the zip. It's always important to do that first. Even if you open up the whole air cell, as long as you leave the internal membrane over the chick, they won't push out early.

Once you start the zip, you are committed to a totally assisted hatch. After you zip you need to pull the shell off and get the chick out. You don't want to leave it zipped but still in the shell with membrane intact or like she said, it can exhaust itself and die.

But it all turned out well and it looks like your chicks are doing good, so no worries

Guess I was typing while you were replying. Thanks!

 

[Pyxis]

Guess I was typing while you were replying. Thanks!

Lol! Teamwork you gave better details on the process though

 

[WVduckchick]

Although Pyxis, I prefer to remove quite a bit of the membrane if possible too. I had one start to turn and tucked underneath the membrane and die.

This last hatch, I had assisted one and I actually watched it rotate and act like it was zipping, even though there was nothing for it to remove. It's head was still tucked up under (beak was out) so I guess it didn't realize the whole end was already gone!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Do I leave it or try to wash it off?

If I have this problem---I wash it in 100 degree water with a few drops of dawn, holding its head above the water---let it soak in the water to soften things for a few seconds----I work off anything that is stuck. Then I rinse in 100 degree clear water and dry it a little with a towel and put it back in the incubator for a few hours. Works great.

 

[Pyxis]

Although Pyxis, I prefer to remove quite a bit of the membrane if possible too. I had one start to turn and tucked underneath the membrane and die.

This last hatch, I had assisted one and I actually watched it rotate and act like it was zipping, even though there was nothing for it to remove. It's head was still tucked up under (beak was out) so I guess it didn't realize the whole end was already gone!

Yeah I take the membrane off too. I wasn't very detailed in that post, lol. That's what I get for replying while busy at work

 

[cheezenkwackers]

If I have this problem---I wash it in 100 degree water with a few drops of dawn, holding its head above the water---let it soak in the water to soften things for a few seconds----I work off anything that is stuck. Then I rinse in 100 degree clear water and dry it a little with a towel and put it back in the incubator for a few hours. Works great.

Baths for the chickens tomorrow! I am going back to hatching ducks -still stressful and difficult but at least they bath themselves.

 

[WVduckchick]

Yeah I take the membrane off too. I wasn't very detailed in that post, lol. That's what I get for replying while busy at work

I do that all the time.