I think it's a good idea too because every one is different and while it's nice to have a guidline for assisting, not every assist should neccessarily be done the same way either because of circumstances.I don't help near as much as you guys, but I will occasionally. Just different hatching styles.
But most of all, I do think it's important that people know the best way to assist, and I'm glad you started this thread to help talk people through it!
I use a Hova Bator 1588 and swear by it. I am getting ready to buy a second one because I have become addicted to hatching. I can no longer wait the 21 days it takes for my chicks to hatch before I start a new batch. Haha! I have a bator full right now of BCM and 4 Polish that I threw in to test for fertility (didn't want to waste a fertile egg by cracking it right now cuz my girls are laying only a few a week - too cold!LOL! who can blame them?!).
I too use a "dry"method during incubation - right around 30% and then increase to at least 75% for hatching. Once I did this my hatch rate went from the 30%s to the 90%s. I also help out when needed. I have had many hatches that no one needed help, and then others where 2 or 3 did. I am a Firefighter/Paramedic/RN by trade. One of the first things that I learned as a paramedic was that you can't kill a dead person... what does that mean? If they are already dead, you really can't hurt them. So you do everything that you can to help them. The only place you have to go from there is up. In my opinion, helping a doomed chick is the same thing. If they are not going to be able to hatch on their own and they are going to die anyway, then what's the harm in helping?! Yes I know, maybe the chick was not meant to hatch, maybe it will be a weak bird, maybe it has lots of issues and will have to be culled in the end. Maybe. But maybe not. Sometimes they just get tired. Sometimes they get turned around. When I use to work as an RN I worked labor and delivery. We did C-sections all of the time. Some were scheduled. Some were emergent. Guess what... some of those babies would never have survived a vaginal delivery. And after a C-section, some were fine and some had problems.
I guess what I am trying to say is that if they are going to die anyway, why not give them every opportunity. If they turn out to be a weak bird, don't breed them. If they turn out to be special needs and you are not willing/not able to care for them - cull them later, then they are no worse off than before. But what if, just what if they turned out to be a strong healthy bird? What if they turned out to be your bird with the best personality? What if God put us there with our knowledge at that very minute to help that bird for a reason.
I too do not fault those who take a hands off approach. But I like Amy agree that those of us that CHOOSE TO HELP need a place we can help each other and others that also choose to help!e
I just wanted to bump this to the top again. I think this is an important topic and needs to be seen for those out there looking for help. I am a helper for sure but think people often help too early. I honk it's important to note that the majority of all hatches will go off without issue. It's really a very small number that truly need assistance. BUT for those few out there that do I think it is important to have correct information. When to act, when to stop, pros and cons, etc. I am glad to see there are people on this thread with experience.
That's awesome! Good job!
LMAO!Yes, I know it doesn't stress you out!!
You always say you can't believe how much patience I have...but that is why...it makes me a nervous wreck! So I hold out as long as possible.
Yes, a malpositioned pip has not had the +\-24 hours of internal pip time to breath oxygen and absorb yolk. Their external pip is equivalent to an internal pip on a correctly positioned chick. I've had about 50/50 malpositions zip on their own, the other half need help. But I always give them about 30-36 hours to make progress on their own. As long as they can breath, like you said they *should be ok to sit. And I've used corn starch with good success at stopping bleeding.
