Hands on hatching and help

[potatobaba]

Thank you for responding! I'm so nervous bc I've intervened prematurely in the past. Temps are good humidity good - it's killing me to hear the little peeps and no break through. I believe 32 days is about the max, so I'm getting equipment ready as we speak... I'll give an update this afternoon - hopefully it happy news

 

[Sarkchick]

He's out!! I'm officially a call duck mommy! Not only is that so awesome but this little guy came from a shipped egg that had a totally detached air cell. I've never gotten a detached air cell to develop, let alone hatch. So lots of firsts for me with this little one! I got him half way out and then was worried sick he was stuck in the shell by the membrane but after a short rest, he pushed himself right out of the bottom of the shell all by himself! Lots of pics coming once he's dry. He's going to be a lone duckling for 2 & 1/2 weeks until my next batch of calls hatch (yeah, I can't believe I'm doing this again). So any advice for keeping a single duckling?

It hit my funny bone too! You're not alone!
That's the thing with shipped eggs, (we discussed this on another thread a while back) you can not accurately weigh them. There is no way to know how much weight was lost while they were being stored and through transit. What you can do is weigh some of your own eggs next time after they are laid and watch the air cell growth carefully so you know by eye how much weight loss % looks like. Know what I mean?

Yes, you're 100% right. That's basically what I did. I removed only a tiny bit more shell and that membrane and he wiggled right out the top. But stayed in the bottom for about a half hour before pushing out.

Eta: because I screwed up!

That is totally awsome. Can you saw "spoiled rotten ". Congrats
Linda

 

[RubyNala97]

I am artificially incubating Sevastopol's. On day 30 I drilled a small hole in the air sac end because of previous egg deaths. Day 31 I hear chirping but no pipping or unzipping. Today is day 32 - should I help?

I have not done geese either. I'm not sure how long they take from pip to zip. I'm sure BYC has a geese section that may be able to give more specific advice. I just did my first call duck egg and after 24 hours of internal pip with a safety hole, I made the safety hole bigger. Used bacitracin to keep the membrane moist and then waited for veins to recede before going further. Keeping the membranes moist is a job though, once you open that shell more. Even with adequate humidity I had to remoisten every 4 hours. for you!! They are beautiful geese!! My fav!

I'm so happy to have found this thread.  I searched for help last night on assisting hatching, but everything I read said "WAIT", "DON'T TOUCH", "SHRINK WRAP", etc....  I was so discouraged and my instinct was telling me my chicks were in trouble. 

I could see through my Hovabator windows that two of the chicks had zipped but the membrane was still holding the chicks in the shell.  After hours of anxiously watching for them to break free, I finally snatched the one out that had the most zipping and was saddened to see the chick had died.  Fearing the worst, I pulled out the other chick.  This one had almost pushed off the top of the shell, but was "cemented" in place by what I assume was dried yolk.  It too was dead.  So much for 'HANDS OFF" for me.

I searched how to assist a chick and tackled one little egg that had pipped but would not progress to zipping, breaking a zip line around the shell and putting it back in the incubator and raising the humidity (I could see these shells are THICK!).  Another chick was also stuck with the membrane and I carefully helped that one out.  But it seems the membrane had dried where the pips were and each chick is carrying a large portion of egg shell on their backs and necks (ouch  for the wee Naked Neck!).  I was hesitant to try to pull the dried shell off last night in case I tore their feather and skin, hoping it would fall off on it's own.  No such luck, I'm afraid, dried on hard now.

So I'm torn, do I take these chicks out yet again and try to moisten the area with a warm cloth and see if the shell will release?  I'm afraid of chilling the chick or pulling off feathers/skin in the process.  Maybe I should just leave the shell on with the chick until they are ready to come out tomorrow night? 

I still have four eggs that are on day 21 which have not pipped externally, and one egg pipped externally yesterday (still in there the little peeper!).  Would it be safe to pull the non-externally pipped eggs out to candle tonight?  I'd like to know if they have broken through to the air sack and if so, decide whether to intervene with making the outside pip.

Love this thread, so many great people willing to dive in and help our feathered babies!

Sincerely,
Jennifer

Do you have a separate hygrometer that you've calibrated? What is your lockdown humidity? During my first hatch I had a chick that started zipping and 2 hours later was not out of the shell, so I went against the lockdown rule and opened the incubator and finished the zip. She is my favorite girl today. When I have eggs that are doing nothing during hatch, I wait until I either have no pips or am pulling chicks out to move them to the brooder and then I candle them quick to see if they are internally pipped. As for the egg shell on the chicks, it will come off eventually. I guess it would depend on how much is on there if I would get it off right away or wait. You've gotta figure out how good humidity is in your bator, how quickly it recovers and then do what your comfortable with. I run it higher at hatch and then once they start hatching and it goes way up with condensation I use that as an opportunity to open and do what I need to. If you have membranes drying out then you can moisten them with bacitracin or lubricating jelly or coconut oil.

 

[Blooie]

Aaa----nd, the deal is done! Looks like there'll be a few Silkie Eggs hitting the incubator soon. (Well, not "hitting" exactly - I've lost enough eggs not to want to toss them at the incubator and lose them on purpose!)

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Oh my goodness! I am so in love!! This little guy is imprinting already. He is so happy when he's out and with us. Otherwise he paces the brooder. I put him on the bed and he tries to jump up on me and nibbles at me and preens himself. He's going to be spoile rotten!!


Thank you for the advice. I'm tempted to let him sleep with me but then I know I'll never get him out of the bed!! Good luck on the eggs. I hope the all level out.
How are your air cells? Do you measure them each week? And where are you getting your numbers for humidity? You can't really pick one number but rather monitor the air cells closely and adjust so that they are growing properly. Are your hygrometers calibrated?

OMG Ruby!! He's adorable!!! Congrats! When Peep hatched and was the only, I ended up sleeping on the floor beside the brooder cage to keep him quiet the first two days and then moved him beside my bed so I could get some sleep. lol

GREAT JOB NEW DUCK MOMMY.


AMY, those pics are WAY TO adorable. lol

Thanks. I have to restrain myself from taking a million pics everytime I go to check on them...lol

I'm very hands on with mine. Everyone says let nature take its course, but it was I that put them in that box. I'll help as much as possible and

them much

That's about me...lol

I am artificially incubating Sevastopol's. On day 30 I drilled a small hole in the air sac end because of previous egg deaths. Day 31 I hear chirping but no pipping or unzipping. Today is day 32 - should I help?

The only thing I know about geese is I LOVE the sebbies!

I'm so happy to have found this thread. I searched for help last night on assisting hatching, but everything I read said "WAIT", "DON'T TOUCH", "SHRINK WRAP", etc.... I was so discouraged and my instinct was telling me my chicks were in trouble.

I could see through my Hovabator windows that two of the chicks had zipped but the membrane was still holding the chicks in the shell. After hours of anxiously watching for them to break free, I finally snatched the one out that had the most zipping and was saddened to see the chick had died. Fearing the worst, I pulled out the other chick. This one had almost pushed off the top of the shell, but was "cemented" in place by what I assume was dried yolk. It too was dead. So much for 'HANDS OFF" for me.

I searched how to assist a chick and tackled one little egg that had pipped but would not progress to zipping, breaking a zip line around the shell and putting it back in the incubator and raising the humidity (I could see these shells are THICK!). Another chick was also stuck with the membrane and I carefully helped that one out. But it seems the membrane had dried where the pips were and each chick is carrying a large portion of egg shell on their backs and necks (ouch for the wee Naked Neck!). I was hesitant to try to pull the dried shell off last night in case I tore their feather and skin, hoping it would fall off on it's own. No such luck, I'm afraid, dried on hard now.

So I'm torn, do I take these chicks out yet again and try to moisten the area with a warm cloth and see if the shell will release? I'm afraid of chilling the chick or pulling off feathers/skin in the process. Maybe I should just leave the shell on with the chick until they are ready to come out tomorrow night?

I still have four eggs that are on day 21 which have not pipped externally, and one egg pipped externally yesterday (still in there the little peeper!). Would it be safe to pull the non-externally pipped eggs out to candle tonight? I'd like to know if they have broken through to the air sack and if so, decide whether to intervene with making the outside pip.

Love this thread, so many great people willing to dive in and help our feathered babies!

Sincerely,
Jennifer

90-95% of cases that I see on here where an chick has started zipping and stopped and it wasn't helped out within the hour, it dies. I will not ever let a chick go more than 1/2 hour in "zip mode" without helping. If the zip line becomes funky-going in different directions or down/up instead of around, I will help it. It's actually easier to decide to help a zipper than a pipper cause you figure if they have started zipping, they SHOULD be ready.

If the egg shell is dried on you can take a q-tip get up under the shell and wet the area to loosen the stickiness and get the shell off.

Yes, you can candle the non pipped eggs and check on them, I'm not a big advocate for punching holes in shells unless it's been over 24 hours, but it's done. I candle mine. I NEED to know. (OK, at least I think I need to know

)

Glad you found the thread!

Aaa----nd, the deal is done! Looks like there'll be a few Silkie Eggs hitting the incubator soon. (Well, not "hitting" exactly - I've lost enough eggs not to want to toss them at the incubator and lose them on purpose!)

YAY!!! I can't wait!! I so hope this hatch is "the one".

 

[WVduckchick]

I agree with helping zippers that stop mid-way, but would also like to point out that some of my breeds zip quickly, and some seem to take an hour or more, totally normally. Lavender orpingtons are the slowest. I just make sure they are still active, keep them alert by talking to them or shining light on them, but usually let them take their time, unless the membrane starts getting brown.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I agree with helping zippers that stop mid-way, but would also like to point out that some of my breeds zip quickly, and some seem to take an hour or more, totally normally. Lavender orpingtons are the slowest. I just make sure they are still active, keep them alert by talking to them or shining light on them, but usually let them take their time, unless the membrane starts getting brown.

I play the chick music for them and that keeps them busting their tales and they are out in no time-usually...lol

 

[FridayYet]

I had one pip in the exact center of the fat end of the egg. Was sure I was going to have to assist, but then it finally started slowly zipping down the egg then turned to make an oval opening mostly on the side of the egg. It finally pushed itself out. Strangest zip ever, but the chick was fine.

 

[BigWeenMachine]

Oh my goodness! I am so in love!! This little guy is imprinting already. He is so happy when he's out and with us. Otherwise he paces the brooder. I put him on the bed and he tries to jump up on me and nibbles at me and preens himself. He's going to be spoile rotten!!


Thank you for the advice. I'm tempted to let him sleep with me but then I know I'll never get him out of the bed!! Good luck on the eggs. I hope the all level out.
How are your air cells? Do you measure them each week? And where are you getting your numbers for humidity? You can't really pick one number but rather monitor the air cells closely and adjust so that they are growing properly. Are your hygrometers calibrated?

Wow, that's a cute duck.

 

[RubyNala97]

I agree with helping zippers that stop mid-way, but would also like to point out that some of my breeds zip quickly, and some seem to take an hour or more, totally normally. Lavender orpingtons are the slowest. I just make sure they are still active, keep them alert by talking to them or shining light on them, but usually let them take their time, unless the membrane starts getting brown.

Yeah, I have some that take about 45mins to an hour. Usually if they go over an hour then they stop, I'll step in.

I had one pip in the exact center of the fat end of the egg.  Was sure I was going to have to assist, but then it finally started slowly zipping down the egg then turned to make an oval opening mostly on the side of the egg.  It finally pushed itself out.  Strangest zip ever, but the chick was fine.

They do do strange things sometimes! I had one that fully zipped but the membrane was sorta intact in certain places so it fully zipped all the way around again!