Hands on hatching and help

[Pyxis]

Hi Ruby!!! It's good to see you here!

I've got guineas hatching away right now. In fact, I better pop down and see how they're progressing.

 

[Chicken George 2]

It is not abnormal for those correctly positioned to rest awhile. Certainly, without the space it will take more time. Malpositioned chicks can hatch on their own. But as it has been said often, there is danger of intervening too soon.
.
It also seems difficult for malpos since the space of the aircell is basically lost. Correctly positioned chicks gain this space when they pip into the air cell. I have some D'uccles that began pipping internally this morning (first one) and there are no external pips yet. But with 1, I saw a short time ago, she (hopefully) didn't just have her beak in the air cell, but much of her body shared the space. I love to see that.
Just remember that you have people to help on here. Some are very experienced.

We have a hatchling but the one that pipped first still hasn't hatched. But I can still here it. So it's still alive

 

[Chicken George 2]

One has hatched one has been pipped for about 14 hours. Do I leave the chick that has hatched in the bator or take it out into the brooder?
Thanks

 

[biophiliac]

One has hatched one has been pipped for about 14 hours. Do I leave the chick that has hatched in the bator or take it out into the brooder?
Thanks

Some people leave them in the incy til all are hatched, some transfer the hatchlings to the brooder. Your chick looks fine there, I'd leave it for now to peep at the others and encourage them.

 

[ChcknNurse]

Some people leave them in the incy til all are hatched, some transfer the hatchlings to the brooder. Your chick looks fine there, I'd leave it for now to peep at the others and encourage them.

I agree! It's adorable to watch how the one running around will peck at the egg and cheep and the one in the egg will get a burst occasionally and peck a bit more. Leave them a good 24 hours at least. I don't do the 3 days.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

GOOOOD MORNING!!

I didn't keep the light shining on them... but I did see 5 or 6 (out of 13) bouncing baby chicks! The BYC'er I got them from had intentions of breeding and I believe they are pure black/blue Marans, woohoo.

So another mention of how things went during incubation.. because I couldn't see much I just quit trying to candle. Humidity completely dry was 10%. So I never marked my air cells. And I quit turning at day 14, following what AmyLynn does. Some days, I have no idea how many times they got turned or if they were on the opposite side from the previous night because life gets whacked once in a while. I even ALMOST forgot I was incubating. Getting close to lockdown I upped my humidity to 57% (all wells full) after seeing pips and some advice I was able to get it up to 68% with 2 wet sponges. After some hatch it read 74% but I could see slight condensation on the windows but left it.

And since you guys mention silkies... I have 3 black hens (all brooding) that I got straight run last year, the local breeder sells for $5 but hardly ever. I drove 2 hours to get some... PAINTS! So I have 10 silkies ($8 each) growing out right now (and 8 Turken) Never mind all the others. Of course both paints are boys along with several others (they are black/blue) I can tell (even by day 4 by behavior on a couple). The guy told me so far all of his paints have been male, which is OK since my hens are black and those are what you breed together for more paint. It's encouraging that so many wanted them from y'all. So far all the chickens I have sold people drove not less than 2 hours. But I won't ship in the future unless I do get NPIP, which I really don't know if I'm interested..

Chicks!! Thank you all for being here to help!!

 

[RubyNala97]

View attachment 1021719 So many incubator/hatching threads, not sure which I should discuss this on. But, since I've been chatting most with you today...

Personally, I mark my air cells. I mark before I set them, day 7/15/18. If I pull them to candle, quick, I'll make a quick mark at the lowest point. I used to worry a lot that they wouldn't lose enough moisture. Now, I see that ballpark. And, I am amazed how much it grows during lockdown.
The first batches of eggs I set, I used permanent markers. Almost everything hatched. Then, I read this was a no-no and only use pencil. I tried, but for many this didn't even mark well.

Now, I use kid-safe markers (non-toxic). I have looked on the inside of the shells of permanent marker eggs, after hatch and there was nothing that came through. Still, just in case, I moved to non-toxic.

I find marking the air cells gives me a visual of how these air cells are progressing. At lockdown, it's awesome, as I can see the lowest point that the chick can hit to be inside the air cell. Let me tell you how important this is for me with terrible saddles! Originally, I drew dotted lines for the moving air cells and solid for the fixed portions. But with these, the air cell line is so haphazard that I need a better idea of the safe zone. At least, I don't need to worry about those within the zone.

I do the same. I mean after so many hatches I could pretty much gauge the air cell growth but it is SO MUCH easier to just look at the marks to make sure I'm on point. Also even with eggs of the same breed I have some that lay very thick shells and some that don't so I need to use different humidity for every single batch. There's no one number during the first few weeks...the air cells will tell you!

@RubyNala97 Yep, boys. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. LOL I had no previous experience with Silkies, so got all excited thinking I had some girls in there. Simple lack of knowledge on my part, that's for sure. But there isn't one of them who ended up out there that didn't have streamers and varying decibles of crow. We still have Smudge and King Tut. The others are happily living with a huge, extended family (kids, mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins) who loved them so much that it's gotten bigger than the original little boy's request to have one for 4H. Now they have a few coops of them. And I posted these a few months ago but think you may have missed it....Kendra and Smudge, and a not so clear photo of Smudge and King Tut (photo center) out enjoying the snow when it was 9 degrees:

View attachment 1021718 View attachment 1021717

Wow! That's unbelievable! Every egg that didn't make it must have been a girl. Of course, right?!?

I use pencil. I mark 7/14/18. I especially like the fact I can put the side up and see all my pips.



I only charged $5 a chick, well below breeder prices, can you believe I had someone ask if I'd take less?

People are nuts! I did $5 a chick in the very beginning too. But as you learn the sop, which I'm sure you have by now you can spot chicks that need to be way more then $5! Lol. But you need to take your location into account also.

I'd eat chocolate at this point if I had to. Yes, you read that right. Haven't been able to swallow since Wednesday. Just four 4 ounce containers of yogurt, some sips of water, and today almost 1/4 cup of chicken noooooodle soup, with the nooooodles mashed up. Oh, and half a banana, mashed, at about 3 this morning. Since Wednesday. Reaction to a medication has made my throat swell to the point where nothing will go down - it just sits in a little pouch about halfway and then slowly trickles further as the hours go by. But nothing to worry about...it's just uncomfortable and inconvenient at this point. This too, shall pass and in the overall scheme of where some folks I love are it's small potatoes. Oh, groan.....did I have to say "will pass" and "potatoes".




Not going to call me on it? You mean to tell me you'd let me walk around with broccoli stuck in my teeth and not say anything? Oh, groan again. Did I have to say "broccoli"?

Edited to add: Make that 5 containers of yogurt and I forgot the mashed, hardboiled egg I was able to get most of the way down on Thursday.

This is so scary!! My son had a severe drug reaction once and all I can say is it's sooo scary! I am sorry you're going through it!

Hi Ruby!!! It's good to see you here!

I've got guineas hatching away right now. In fact, I better pop down and see how they're progressing.

Hey!! How's it going?? I'm sure busy with spring, right?!

GOOOOD MORNING!!

I didn't keep the light shining on them... but I did see 5 or 6 (out of 13) bouncing baby chicks! The BYC'er I got them from had intentions of breeding and I believe they are pure black/blue Marans, woohoo.

So another mention of how things went during incubation.. because I couldn't see much I just quit trying to candle. Humidity completely dry was 10%. So I never marked my air cells. And I quit turning at day 14, following what AmyLynn does. Some days, I have no idea how many times they got turned or if they were on the opposite side from the previous night because life gets whacked once in a while. I even ALMOST forgot I was incubating. Getting close to lockdown I upped my humidity to 57% (all wells full) after seeing pips and some advice I was able to get it up to 68% with 2 wet sponges. After some hatch it read 74% but I could see slight condensation on the windows but left it.

And since you guys mention silkies... I have 3 black hens (all brooding) that I got straight run last year, the local breeder sells for $5 but hardly ever. I drove 2 hours to get some... PAINTS! So I have 10 silkies ($8 each) growing out right now (and 8 Turken) Never mind all the others. Of course both paints are boys along with several others (they are black/blue) I can tell (even by day 4 by behavior on a couple). The guy told me so far all of his paints have been male, which is OK since my hens are black and those are what you breed together for more paint. It's encouraging that so many wanted them from y'all. So far all the chickens I have sold people drove not less than 2 hours. But I won't ship in the future unless I do get NPIP, which I really don't know if I'm interested..

Chicks!! Thank you all for being here to help!!

What incubator are you using?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Update... 7 bouncers and 1 still pushing!

Hovobator 1602N, this is only my second hatch. And as dumbed down as I made it, It's going great. My first hatch I got 11/17 (mostly SFH and a few mix) and 2 passed within a few days.

I was so scared to incubate before my first time. Worried I would cry over every single one. Now I can't believe, I'm excited to hatch more chicks... each time it's like a celebration of joy! You would think it would become average after a while, but nope.

Next question... how many chicks do you think a Barred Rock can functionally brood? Last night 1 of my Silkies left her 4 week old babies in the box and went to roost. She left them a bunch of times yesterday. Earlier brood she did for 6 weeks. So these ones aren't completely feathered like on their heads. Our overnight low was only a few degrees less than our daytime high. so after debate to integrate with other chicks or leave them, I decided to tuck extra hay in around them. They seem OK this am. Note, 4 broody's in 1 coop might be too many! Especially if they all look exactly the same. They babies only got confused a couple of times. So cool to see the mamas and babies recognize the calls of their own family and respond accordingly.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

One has hatched one has been pipped for about 14 hours. Do I leave the chick that has hatched in the bator or take it out into the brooder?
Thanks

I try to wait until I at least have one friend to move it to the brooder with. After that I move them as they become active in the bator.

GOOOOD MORNING!!

I didn't keep the light shining on them... but I did see 5 or 6 (out of 13) bouncing baby chicks! The BYC'er I got them from had intentions of breeding and I believe they are pure black/blue Marans, woohoo.

So another mention of how things went during incubation.. because I couldn't see much I just quit trying to candle. Humidity completely dry was 10%. So I never marked my air cells. And I quit turning at day 14, following what AmyLynn does. Some days, I have no idea how many times they got turned or if they were on the opposite side from the previous night because life gets whacked once in a while. I even ALMOST forgot I was incubating. Getting close to lockdown I upped my humidity to 57% (all wells full) after seeing pips and some advice I was able to get it up to 68% with 2 wet sponges. After some hatch it read 74% but I could see slight condensation on the windows but left it.

And since you guys mention silkies... I have 3 black hens (all brooding) that I got straight run last year, the local breeder sells for $5 but hardly ever. I drove 2 hours to get some... PAINTS! So I have 10 silkies ($8 each) growing out right now (and 8 Turken) Never mind all the others. Of course both paints are boys along with several others (they are black/blue) I can tell (even by day 4 by behavior on a couple). The guy told me so far all of his paints have been male, which is OK since my hens are black and those are what you breed together for more paint. It's encouraging that so many wanted them from y'all. So far all the chickens I have sold people drove not less than 2 hours. But I won't ship in the future unless I do get NPIP, which I really don't know if I'm interested..

Chicks!! Thank you all for being here to help!!

Congrats!

I do the same. I mean after so many hatches I could pretty much gauge the air cell growth but it is SO MUCH easier to just look at the marks to make sure I'm on point. Also even with eggs of the same breed I have some that lay very thick shells and some that don't so I need to use different humidity for every single batch. There's no one number during the first few weeks...the air cells will tell you!

Wow! That's unbelievable! Every egg that didn't make it must have been a girl. Of course, right?!?

People are nuts! I did $5 a chick in the very beginning too. But as you learn the sop, which I'm sure you have by now you can spot chicks that need to be way more then $5! Lol. But you need to take your location into account also.

This is so scary!! My son had a severe drug reaction once and all I can say is it's sooo scary! I am sorry you're going through it!

Hey!! How's it going?? I'm sure busy with spring, right?!

What incubator are you using?

The male thing...makes you wonder about how they say males survive better at one temp females at another....

Location is a big thing for me. I do think I could get a couple more $ but pretty sure $10 would be a no go. Hoping to be outta this area by July sometime so it'll be interesting to see how it goes after the move.

Update... 7 bouncers and 1 still pushing!

Hovobator 1602N, this is only my second hatch. And as dumbed down as I made it, It's going great. My first hatch I got 11/17 (mostly SFH and a few mix) and 2 passed within a few days.

I was so scared to incubate before my first time. Worried I would cry over every single one. Now I can't believe, I'm excited to hatch more chicks... each time it's like a celebration of joy! You would think it would become average after a while, but nope.

Next question... how many chicks do you think a Barred Rock can functionally brood? Last night 1 of my Silkies left her 4 week old babies in the box and went to roost. She left them a bunch of times yesterday. Earlier brood she did for 6 weeks. So these ones aren't completely feathered like on their heads. Our overnight low was only a few degrees less than our daytime high. so after debate to integrate with other chicks or leave them, I decided to tuck extra hay in around them. They seem OK this am. Note, 4 broody's in 1 coop might be too many! Especially if they all look exactly the same. They babies only got confused a couple of times. So cool to see the mamas and babies recognize the calls of their own family and respond accordingly.

I don't know if it's good or bad, but I have hardened up a bit in the almost three years of hatching. I'm still a bleeding heart, still will try to save a life if I can, but I take most of the losses associated with hatching with a grain of sand. I'm also stronger where culling is concerned. (Chick wise). It's not any easier to do it, but if absolutely necessary I don't carry the guilt, just the sorrow.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

How do you make the decision when you need to cull a chick? And how do you do it? I also try to save the lives but... There does come a point when you know they aren't gonna make it. Actually where I got my silkies, he had some hatch with club feet (from shipped eggs) and didn't cull but you could tell they weren't going to live too much longer, once the real competion among the flock started. Gosh it seems calouse to cull right away on one hand but on the other hand, watching them eventually fail (assuming your not running a long term rehab home) or even worse be pecked to death by the flock has got to be even harder. I saw one of my chicks get stuck in bird netting that I have and as soon as it started screaming bunches gathered around to start pecking! Pretty sure it would have seen its' demise were I not there to intervene.

I think you said it well.. not guilty, just sorry I can't save them all. Maybe disappointed for some to.