Hands on hatching and help

[Ravynscroft]

Okay. Going into hour 22 of only having an internal pip. The baby is still chirping, but seeing as that it is getting close to the 24-hour mark, that her siblings died for no apparent reason right after lockdown, and that it's getting pretty late and I will have to sleep eventually (I have 4 young kids),.....I went ahead and gave her a tiny little safety hole. Oh boy was I nervous! I practiced with the screw on other eggs and made sure I wouldn't smash the egg in. I think my heart was in my throat. I barely punctured it with the tip of the screw at the top of the air sac, but it did go completely through. Will this tiny hole provide sufficient oxygen? .........................You can begin to make your grand entrance now little one........................... 

You did perfect!!

Yep, that teeny, tiny hole does it... any bigger and the membrane risks drying out without applying ointment...

 

[Kilkilkorken]

Question,..........I see the chicks beak inside the egg pretty clearly. What is the best place for that to be? Towards the top or the bottom. The way the egg has been laying has her beak towards the bottom.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Question,..........I see the chicks beak inside the egg pretty clearly. What is the best place for that to be? Towards the top or the bottom. The way the egg has been laying has her beak towards the bottom. 

Is it in the lower spot of the dipped air cell? If not it *could be* malpositioned... beak should be towards the top...

 

[Kilkilkorken]

Is it in the lower spot of the dipped air cell? If not it *could be* malpositioned... beak should be towards the top...

Without taking her out again, I "believe" that she is in the lower part of the dipped air cell, but that part is facing down towards the bottom of the incubator because that is the way I guess she positioned herself after lockdown. If I turn her so that the dipped part and her beak are towards the top, won't that make it harder for her to hatch since she's "settled" the other way?

 

[Ravynscroft]

Without taking her out again, I "believe" that she is in the lower part of the dipped air cell, but that part is facing down towards the bottom of the incubator because that is the way I guess she positioned herself after lockdown. If I turn her so that the dipped part and her beak are towards the top, won't that make it harder for her to hatch since she's "settled" the other way?

Nope, roll her over... it's ok and won't affect anything negatively... I sure wouldn't want to try hatching while standing on my head! lol... sorry, had to say that...

 

[Kilkilkorken]

Nope, roll her over... it's ok and won't affect anything negatively... I sure wouldn't want to try hatching while standing on my head! lol... sorry, had to say that...

LOL, true. I've been contemplating turning her, but from everything I've read people keep saying not to change their position after lockdown or that they might not be able to get in the right position to hatch. My gut told me to turn her, but I'm nervous to do something that will hinder her escape. Going to turn now...

 

[Ravynscroft]

LOL, true. I've been contemplating turning her, but from everything I've read people keep saying not to change their position after lockdown or that they might not be able to get in the right position to hatch. My gut told me to turn her, but I'm nervous to do something that will hinder her escape. Going to turn now...

Go with your gut... it's usually right...

Besides, nobody ever told a broody that rule, lol... mine play kickball during hatching... they always shift them around and kick out the empty shells and stuff...

 

[Kilkilkorken]

Nope, roll her over... it's ok and won't affect anything negatively... I sure wouldn't want to try hatching while standing on my head! lol... sorry, had to say that.

Egg is turned. The chick seems VERY very far into the air cell now. Cheeping up a storm when I tapped on the egg and moving around a great deal. I guess that is all I can do for her tonight. Should I continue to monitor every "x" amount of hours/minutes through the night? Let her be? Ughhhh! If I would have had any others hatch I would have probably been a little more relaxed, but I am on pins and needles right now.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Egg is turned. The chick seems VERY very far into the air cell now. Cheeping up a storm when I tapped on the egg and moving around a great deal. I guess that is all I can do for her tonight. Should I continue to monitor every "x" amount of hours/minutes through the night? Let her be? Ughhhh! If I would have had any others hatch I would have probably been a little more relaxed, but I am on pins and needles right now. 

I totally understand... those are all very good and positive signs though... go with what makes you feel better... either get good rest and check in morn or check if you wake up... either way it sounds like she has a great chance and you've done all safely possible for now...

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Okay. Going into hour 22 of only having an internal pip. The baby is still chirping, but seeing as that it is getting close to the 24-hour mark, that her siblings died for no apparent reason right after lockdown, and that it's getting pretty late and I will have to sleep eventually (I have 4 young kids),.....I went ahead and gave her a tiny little safety hole. Oh boy was I nervous! I practiced with the screw on other eggs and made sure I wouldn't smash the egg in. I think my heart was in my throat. I barely punctured it with the tip of the screw at the top of the air sac, but it did go completely through. Will this tiny hole provide sufficient oxygen? .........................You can begin to make your grand entrance now little one........................... 

I have 4 kids as well. I thought they were exhausting and then I developed my chicken/duck addiction lol. Now I never sleep good luck and make sure you post pics when she hatches!

I've seen yellow or white down and they colored out the same... not sure if it's similar to chicken colors in one might be silver based white and other might be gold based white...

I find genetics really interesting especially color genetics. I'll have to look into someday lol.