Hands on hatching and help

[Amanita]

Finally, all the eggs are accounted for! (sorry for spam )
One of the last 5 started zipping, but slowly like the others, so I gave him a bit of help before he got to the very sticky point and it went a lot better.
I opened the other four very slowly through the air cell, but they were already gone. The first one had a crazy hard shell; I had a lot of trouble breaking bits off with the tweezers. He had internally pipped but I guess he just couldn't make it through the shell. I wish now I'd done the safety hole sooner... the remaining three I believe were malpositioned, I couldn't find their beaks at all from the air cell side, they were tucked away down the wrong end of the eggs.
We now have 21 chicks, as of right now they all appear to be healthy and strong, and some of them are turning into proper little jerks
Thanks for listening!

Opened egg last night:


Last two in the NICU this morning:


The older ones snoozing under the brooder:

 

[ronott1]

Finally, all the eggs are accounted for! (sorry for spam )
One of the last 5 started zipping, but slowly like the others, so I gave him a bit of help before he got to the very sticky point and it went a lot better.
I opened the other four very slowly through the air cell, but they were already gone. The first one had a crazy hard shell; I had a lot of trouble breaking bits off with the tweezers. He had internally pipped but I guess he just couldn't make it through the shell. I wish now I'd done the safety hole sooner... the remaining three I believe were malpositioned, I couldn't find their beaks at all from the air cell side, they were tucked away down the wrong end of the eggs.
We now have 21 chicks, as of right now they all appear to be healthy and strong, and some of them are turning into proper little jerks
Thanks for listening!

Opened egg last night:
View attachment 1159175

Last two in the NICU this morning:
View attachment 1159176

The older ones snoozing under the brooder:
View attachment 1159177

Nice job!

The mal positioned eggs likely died before they moved into position. Something else killed them at that point--not being mal positioned. That is a common mistake in incubation hatch problem analysis.

 

[WVduckchick]

Great job Amanita!

I'm working on full assists on 5 call ducks. Been watching them rest and breathe all day. I lost one that had internally pipped, so I did safety holes in the rest, not wanting to lose them too. One with a safety hole wasn't moving this morning, but i opened it up and it was still alive. Obviously unable to pip, so i opened them all. Now just waiting for them to finish absorbing.

The only problem i have is one had nice vein that I didn't want to break, so i left the membrane for a while. By the time i got home from work, the membrane is cemented to the side of his head. And his eye! I cannot pry it loose! I can't decide whether to keep trying, or just wait till he hatches fully. Ron, what do you think? Work it loose now, or wait?

 

[ronott1]

Great job Amanita!

I'm working on full assists on 5 call ducks. Been watching them rest and breathe all day. I lost one that had internally pipped, so I did safety holes in the rest, not wanting to lose them too. One with a safety hole wasn't moving this morning, but i opened it up and it was still alive. Obviously unable to pip, so i opened them all. Now just waiting for them to finish absorbing.

The only problem i have is one had nice vein that I didn't want to break, so i left the membrane for a while. By the time i got home from work, the membrane is cemented to the side of his head. And his eye! I cannot pry it loose! I can't decide whether to keep trying, or just wait till he hatches fully. Ron, what do you think? Work it loose now, or wait?

I would get the membrane off now very carefully. I have had some lose an eye that way

 

[WVduckchick]

I would get the membrane off now very carefully. I have some lose an eye that way

I was thinking the same, but appreciate the confirmation. I worked on it a couple times, a little at a time. I will continue. I don't expect these to be fully out until morning at least.

 

[ronott1]

I was thinking the same, but appreciate the confirmation. I worked on it a couple times, a little at a time. I will continue. I don't expect these to be fully out until morning at least.

Wishing you the best!

 

[WVduckchick]

Wishing you the best!

Thanks. I got it off of the one, then noticed two more were pretty dry. Any chicken assists are usually out before they get that dry. Forgot these have several hours to go. Duh!
But they are all good now. I hope i didn't ruin any vision.

 

[ronott1]

Thanks. I got it off of the one, then noticed two more were pretty dry. Any chicken assists are usually out before they get that dry. Forgot these have several hours to go. Duh!
But they are all good now. I hope i didn't ruin any vision.

That is good news!
Please post pictures when you can

 

[WVduckchick]

3 are out, one in ICU with a little more to absorb. The one with the worst membrane stuck on the eye just kicked out. This one kicked out first.

 

[MagpieDucks]

3 are out, one in ICU with a little more to absorb. The one with the worst membrane stuck on the eye just kicked out. This one kicked out first.
View attachment 1160150