Hands on hatching and help

[NewChickieFarm]

No idea! I hope you get some answers!
You did what you could and at least you have some babies, like you said. But you do have a new incubator now. if you change your mind you know where to find us and we can get you through the whole incubation and hatch!
I'm sorry. I've seen many eggs like that and when they still haven't started hatching after their due date, they eventually just give up.
I'm glad to hear about the turkey! I found a lifeless newly hatched chick on my neighbors farm. It was laying there cold and I thought it was dead but it was still breathing. So I stuck it in my bra, walked home, put it under a light and a few hours later it came back to life. Then started drinking and eating and running around. I returned it to the mother hen the next day. It's amazing how they bounce back. I only saw the first episode of this season so far but I knew he came back to life! He's to cute to kill off!

Thank you! I am so glad I found such an amazing and supportive group! You guys are wonderful!

Now it seems I am still in need of help with this hatch.

This little guy made this pip sometime between 1300-1800 on Saturday. I tried to remain hands off but by this morning (Monday) there still hasn't been any progress. As I was checking it, I found out the air sack isn't at the end of the egg, it's more on its side. Also I shined a light in the hole and the baby is still very much alive, breathing through its beak, almost like a panting. I am unable to help because there are still veins everywhere. Does this chick have a chance of surviving even if it pipped so early? The membrane under the hole is turning white but the hole is too small to get a qtip in it to apply anything. I have it wrapped in a wet paper towel now.


On a lighter note, Akia is enjoying all the attention, loves to snuggle and is very vociferous just like its mamma (that's how mamma earned the name Hagitha lol)

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you! I am so glad I found such an amazing and supportive group! You guys are wonderful!

Now it seems I am still in need of help with this hatch.

This little guy made this pip sometime between 1300-1800 on Saturday. I tried to remain hands off but by this morning (Monday) there still hasn't been any progress. As I was checking it, I found out the air sack isn't at the end of the egg, it's more on its side. Also I shined a light in the hole and the baby is still very much alive, breathing through its beak, almost like a panting. I am unable to help because there are still veins everywhere. Does this chick have a chance of surviving even if it pipped so early? The membrane under the hole is turning white but the hole is too small to get a qtip in it to apply anything. I have it wrapped in a wet paper towel now.


On a lighter note, Akia is enjoying all the attention, loves to snuggle and is very vociferous just like its mamma (that's how mamma earned the name Hagitha lol)

Awesome little Akia!

Could the air cell just be drawn down as they normally do? We don't always see how drastically they draw down, when they hatch normally on their own, but they do it. The pip looks fine to me, although it has been quite a while now. White membrane is good, brown is bad. If there are still alot of veins, I'd just try to be patient and give it a little more time. But go with your gut. (play some audio of other chicks chirping, sing to it, talk to it!)

 

[NewChickieFarm]

Awesome little Akia!

Could the air cell just be drawn down as they normally do? We don't always see how drastically they draw down, when they hatch normally on their own, but they do it. The pip looks fine to me, although it has been quite a while now. White membrane is good, brown is bad. If there are still alot of veins, I'd just try to be patient and give it a little more time. But go with your gut. (play some audio of other chicks chirping, sing to it, talk to it!)

It could be...I really don't know since this is my first hatch, the only thing I have to compare it to is Akea lol.

So out of curiosity what would a brown membrane mean and what would I do if it happens?

 

[RubyNala97]

External pip, external pip, but in the wrong place. Just found it.
Yikes help please ladies.

Also I think #2 is maybe a quitter no movement again tonight.

It looks like it hit a vein while pipping through the membrane and bled some. I would take it out and make sure the blood didn't aspirate it. Just make sure the nose and beak are clear.

Soooo (she said nonchalantly as if it wasn't her burning question of the day) any truth to the rumors that Silkie eggs can have a tendency to be early hatchers?  I only ask because if that's the case, I need to send poor Ken out in the rain to get the hatcher out of the hot tub room so I can get the heat and humidity steadied.  I'd go out myself but I don't like the cold and rain.  He doesn't like the cold and rain either, but I like doing his laundry even less so it's a trade-off.  In 12 hours it'll be day 17.  Oh, and a new, stronger flashlight shows that all 14 are still moving around inside the eggs!  There is no way I can see that if all 14 hatch, there'll be adequate room for them in the Brinsea Oct 20, so I thought I'd take the pipped eggs and move them to the hatcher as I see them.

For me, when mine hatch totally depends on my temps. If I run 99.5-100. then they hatch day 21ish. If I run 100-101 then they hatch early, I'll have internal pips on day 18.

Thank you! I am so glad I found such an amazing and supportive group! You guys are wonderful!

Now it seems I am still in need of help with this hatch.

This little guy made this pip sometime between 1300-1800 on Saturday. I tried to remain hands off but by this morning (Monday) there still hasn't been any progress. As I was checking it, I found out the air sack isn't at the end of the egg, it's more on its side. Also I shined a light in the hole and the baby is still very much alive, breathing through its beak, almost like a panting. I am unable to help because there are still veins everywhere. Does this chick have a chance of surviving even if it pipped so early? The membrane under the hole is turning white but the hole is too small to get a qtip in it to apply anything. I have it wrapped in a wet paper towel now.


On a lighter note, Akia is enjoying all the attention, loves to snuggle and is very vociferous just like its mamma (that's how mamma earned the name Hagitha lol)

If you are sure that it didn't pip into the air cell and it pipped directly through the membrane then it will take twice as long. In that situation the external pip is actually the internal pip also and those can take to 48 hours.

 

[NewChickieFarm]

It looks like it hit a vein while pipping through the membrane and bled some. I would take it out and make sure the blood didn't aspirate it. Just make sure the nose and beak are clear.
For me, when mine hatch totally depends on my temps. If I run 99.5-100. then they hatch day 21ish. If I run 100-101 then they hatch early, I'll have internal pips on day 18.
If you are sure that it didn't pip into the air cell and it pipped directly through the membrane then it will take twice as long. In that situation the external pip is actually the internal pip also and those can take to 48 hours.

I'm not sure about anything but that would make me feel better thinking it still has time. My temps must've been messed up anyways because today is day 20 so they were a little head of schedule to begin with.

 

[WVduckchick]

It could be...I really don't know since this is my first hatch, the only thing I have to compare it to is Akea lol.

So out of curiosity what would a brown membrane mean and what would I do if it happens?

The membrane will stay white while the chick is active and not drying out. If it starts getting really brown, then the chick is usually remaining still, and the membrane is drying out, which in turn causes it to stick to the chick's feathers. At that point, they will more likely need help, by at least moistening the membrane, and possibly proceeding with more assistance.

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm not sure about anything but that would make me feel better thinking it still has time. My temps must've been messed up anyways because today is day 20 so they were a little head of schedule to begin with.

Here's a shot of the air cell after "drawdown". Once the chick starts getting into position, the inner membrane will shift and draw down. The black line was day 14 candle (blue was day 7), so as you can see, a lot happened after the egg was laid down. Sometimes when they appear to pip low, it seems low to us, but it is actually still hitting into the air cell.

 

[quackshack74]

RubyNala97
Good morning. I tried helping a little after I posted that picture of the external pip. Because she wasn't breathing. Maybe you're correct that she hit a vein. I'm so sad! I let her rest for about 1 hour after I found that pip & wish I woyld have gone with my gut that she was in danger. I didn't want to make an emotional decision. The other egg quit too. I'm doomed for hatching this year I think. Ugh

 

[ShanandGem]

One of our chicks hatched from our own pullet eggs was TINY (smaller even than the one I posted the picture of ) and has been living alone in the incubator since Saturday. This morning I cleaned the brooder and put her in with the big bruisers. So far so good; if anything she's the one doing all the pecking and acting obnoxious.
I got a black/silver chick and a yellow chick from the same hen. Chicken genetics is fascinating. Our third home grown chick didn't make it :-( I think I 'helped' too much. Patience is a virtue....
So from this hatch I got three out of 15. Really disappointing numbers, but since all three of ours hatched and from what people on this thread think I may have bought old hatching eggs. I didn't even get pippers; just a ton of late quitters. I went and bought 6 Ameraucana pullet chicks from a new hatchery here in a variety of colors so I have nine, plus I brought the runt of my BBS Orpingtons in from the coop to keep the early hatcher company while her batchmates showed up. Still disappointed, but I learned a lot again and have some blue egg layers.

 

[WVduckchick]

RubyNala97
Good morning. I tried helping a little after I posted that picture of the external pip. Because she wasn't breathing. Maybe you're correct that she hit a vein. I'm so sad! I let her rest for about 1 hour after I found that pip & wish I woyld have gone with my gut that she was in danger. I didn't want to make an emotional decision. The other egg quit too. I'm doomed for hatching this year I think. Ugh

We all have bad hatches occasionally. Learning from mistakes is just part of the process. I hope you will keep trying. If you didn't get emotional, you wouldn't be here!

One of our chicks hatched from our own pullet eggs was TINY (smaller even than the one I posted the picture of ) and has been living alone in the incubator since Saturday. This morning I cleaned the brooder and put her in with the big bruisers. So far so good; if anything she's the one doing all the pecking and acting obnoxious.
I got a black/silver chick and a yellow chick from the same hen. Chicken genetics is fascinating. Our third home grown chick didn't make it :-( I think I 'helped' too much. Patience is a virtue....
So from this hatch I got three out of 15. Really disappointing numbers, but since all three of ours hatched and from what people on this thread think I may have bought old hatching eggs. I didn't even get pippers; just a ton of late quitters. I went and bought 6 Ameraucana pullet chicks from a new hatchery here in a variety of colors so I have nine, plus I brought the runt of my BBS Orpingtons in from the coop to keep the early hatcher company while her batchmates showed up. Still disappointed, but I learned a lot again and have some blue egg layers.

Again, we all have bad hatches from time to time. Conditions can never be perfect. We do the best we can.
My last little chicklet that was so small, went home with @WildHens and she can tell you what a little spunk a smaller one can be!

I think they learn very quickly how to hold their own!
And I agree, the genetics are fascinating! I'm still dying to hatch some of my golden comet eggs. I've had other people hatch some of them, and they get some interesting mixes. I've only hatched a couple, and those went with a sale (and were soon eaten by predators! UGH) so I have yet to see any of them grow out. But they all hatched out looking different. That's the fun of mixes.

Post some pics of your new ones