Hands on hatching and help

[RubyNala97]

Oh I forgot I wanted to update on my silkie set. I set 24 old eggs, don't know the exact dates they were laid but at least 3-4 weeks old. 18 are developing nicely!! A couple started but quit very early. Not even a red ring but I see some red where the embryo first started but didn't continue and only 2 looked totally clear, no development. The hova bator is holding nicely. I still can't find my calibrated thermometer but I order a new glass one and it will be here Tuesday. Temps are around 99.5-100.5. And humidity holding around 40-45% with the two smallest wells filled. But it's a pain to add water under the eggs (why do all incubators have the wells underneath the flooring without an easy way to add water?) I put a shot glass in there and am topping that off daily. So much for old eggs not being viable. Now what am I going to do with them all?

I am so glad I found this thread!! I am going through my first hatch - 5 guinea hens eggs. The first two hatched no problem. The next two pipped, started to zip, then stalled for hours. I couldn't help myself, I knew they needed help! Sadly the one had died, but it was malformed. The other one looked like she was malpositioned and just couldn't get traction. She's currently resting in the incubator. I'm waiting for her too dry off and the last bits to fall off. I'm praying she makes it! I felt sick to my stomach the whole time, but she kept cheeping, cheering me on!

I was feeling guilty about helping b/c of reading all the "don't touch!!" Comments. Glad to know I'm not the only one who helps!

Good job!! How's the last egg doing? You e got one more to go, right?

She has already been discharged!  Can you believe it?  Wednesday morning they told the kids that she'd be in the hospital for between 5-7 days.  She was discharged from the hospital 48 hours to the minute!  Even her doctors are amazed!  There are a lot of updates and photos on this thread, starting on this page:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/935165/raising-chickens-and-special-needs-kids/130

I didn't think it was fair to hijack a lot of other threads with updates and was too lazy to keep retyping everything so I thought I'd just post everything in one spot.  Then just the people who were interested could follow along. Kendra spent the night in the hotel with Mom and Dad instead of in the hospital.  They'll stay in Denver for a few more days so Kendra is close to the hospital.  The kids will take her up to the urology floor daily to have her incisions checked, and then on Monday she'll have a final thorough checkup in clinic.  Looks like they'll head for home on Tuesday at the earliest, most likely Wednesday.  Thanks for asking!

Good news!! Yes, I'd love to read the details, thanks for the link and so happy she did so good! Can't wait to see the silkie pics!

Thank you everyone! As he was drying I saw a lot of membrane was still stuck to its head and one wing, so i got as much off as I could w/a warm washcloth, then popped him back in the incubator to finish drying. He was cheeping and fighting the whole time, my little fighter!

I think one of his wings may be deformed

But since I only have arm myself, I'm rooting for my little guy!

When I've had chicks stall out they usually end up sticky. That's why all the membrane and shell was stuck to the chick. Hows your humidity been and where did you get the eggs from. for your little guy!

 

[SlikerFarm]

Thanks for asking, Ruby! Still no sign of piping from the last egg. I'm giving him til tomorrow before I give up on him.

The one on the right is the one I helped hatch. He seems to be doing great.

We had to move the oldest chick because he kept attacking the second chick, biting his toes until one started to bleed. I'm hoping he doesn't know something I don't, because that second chick is very quiet. This is the precocious first chick, who hatched 12 hours before the next!

 

[Blooie]

Didn't take time to get any fancy individual shots, but did take some. Had a bucket of chick to take out to the run when it was time. Katie helped. The other shots are the Silkies out in the outdoor brooder. Hard to imagine that they are just 3 days younger than the bigger chicks they are with!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Didn't take time to get any fancy individual shots, but did take some. Had a bucket of chick to take out to the run when it was time. Katie helped. The other shots are the Silkies out in the outdoor brooder. Hard to imagine that they are just 3 days younger than the bigger chicks they are with!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Didn't take time to get any fancy individual shots, but did take some. Had a bucket of chick to take out to the run when it was time. Katie helped. The other shots are the Silkies out in the outdoor brooder. Hard to imagine that they are just 3 days younger than the bigger chicks they are with!

Aww I want silkies so bad. My husband won't let me get anymore chicks though..

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh I forgot I wanted to update on my silkie set. I set 24 old eggs, don't know the exact dates they were laid but at least 3-4 weeks old. 18 are developing nicely!! A couple started but quit very early. Not even a red ring but I see some red where the embryo first started but didn't continue and only 2 looked totally clear, no development. The hova bator is holding nicely. I still can't find my calibrated thermometer but I order a new glass one and it will be here Tuesday. Temps are around 99.5-100.5. And humidity holding around 40-45% with the two smallest wells filled. But it's a pain to add water under the eggs (why do all incubators have the wells underneath the flooring without an easy way to add water?) I put a shot glass in there and am topping that off daily. So much for old eggs not being viable. Now what am I going to do with them all?

I cut a couple extra slots where the top of the styro meets the bottom, big enough to insert a bendy straw. I dont think a little extra ventilation hurts anything, but you could always stick a piece of tape over it.

And I'm also experimenting with some older eggs. I set some new golden sebrights, and added a few that were almost a month old. They are in the Brinsea, and I candled once, day 5, and saw alot of dwvelopment, and a few I suspect are clears, but haven't checked the dates on them to see if any of the older ones are developing. Will check them all on Monday.

 

[RubyNala97]

Thanks for asking, Ruby! Still no sign of piping from the last egg. I'm giving him til tomorrow before I give up on him.

The one on the right is the one I helped hatch. He seems to be doing great.

We had to move the oldest chick because he kept attacking the second chick, biting his toes until one started to bleed. I'm hoping he doesn't know something I don't, because that second chick is very quiet. This is the precocious first chick, who hatched 12 hours before the next!

You know I've had 2 batches of chicks where 1 got its toes pecked till they were bleeding. There were lots of chicks so I never knew exactly who the culprit was but after the first few days it didn't happen anymore. I've never heard anyone else say that! I think the first one just has more energy and spunk and he's trying to get the second one to get up and cause trouble with him! They are both adorable.

Didn't take time to get any fancy individual shots, but did take some. Had a bucket of chick to take out to the run when it was time. Katie helped. The other shots are the Silkies out in the outdoor brooder. Hard to imagine that they are just 3 days younger than the bigger chicks they are with!

Omg, they look so cute! Love the bucket and Katie. Great pics! They sure are tiny. Thanks so much for posting these, Blooie.

I cut a couple extra slots where the top of the styro meets the bottom, big enough to insert a bendy straw. I dont think a little extra ventilation hurts anything, but you could always stick a piece of tape over it.

And I'm also experimenting with some older eggs. I set some new golden sebrights, and added a few that were almost a month old. They are in the Brinsea, and I candled once, day 5, and saw alot of dwvelopment, and a few I suspect are clears, but haven't checked the dates on them to see if any of the older ones are developing. Will check them all on Monday.

That's a good idea. Do you have any pics of it? And interesting about the eggs, right? I'm curious to see your dates!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Question ? Can you incubate duck and chicken eggs together until lockdown then seperate them?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Question ? Can you incubate duck and chicken eggs together until lockdown then seperate them?

If you will set the duck eggs(not muscovy) 1 week before the chicken eggs then they can hatch together. If you set them at the same time without another incubator to move the chicken egg into on day 18 to start hatching------that's a staggered hatch and is not recommended in my opinion.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

If you will set the duck eggs(not muscovy) 1 week before the chicken eggs then they can hatch together. If you set them at the same time without another incubator to move the chicken egg into on day 18 to start hatching------that's a staggered hatch and is not recommended in my opinion.

I'm not a big fan of staggered hatches either. I was going to say the same, set the ducks as long as they are the 28 day incubation breeds, a week before the chickens and they can all hatch together.

But to answer your question, Jennifer, yes you can incubate them together and seperate them out at lockdown.