Hands on hatching and help

[Pyxis]

Hello is this thread still active?!?

We try to keep an eye on it, for those who need help

 

[NWCountrydancer]

Hi Everyone! First time hatching mama and I have questions. Last year I bought 4 hens about 14 weeks old and two Guinea fowl (which turned out to be male.)This year my Speckled Sussex went broody. I bought some hatching eggs to put under her. She’s a happy camper now. I’m trying to figure out the following:

1. Based on the picture/link of a coop similar to mine, do I need to move her and the eggs or chicks?

2. Should she and the chicks be separated from the rest of the flock?

3. Can the chicks eat the same food as the rest of the flock?

4. What am I missing that I need to know?

Thanks!

Michelle

https://chickencoophq.com/products/rugged-ranch-omaha-chicken-coop

 

[Teeisme]

For a few months @RubyNala97 and I have talked about having a thread for Hands on Hatchers to come together and for help for those who want to be more involved or don't want to accept the "Never help a chick" theory. People have different methods of hatching, and that's ok. When you find something that works for you, you do it. Don't worry about what other's views are, as long as your method is working- that is what is important. This thread is meant for us hands on people. A place to come together and talk, exchange our "hands on" methods, or seek help in assisting or just to see how our methods really do work for us. We aren't a thread to debate the differences for hands on/hands off, there's a thread for that. We are strictly for people that want to experience hatching in it's entirety w/out being literally yelled at because you are doing it different or because you are being hands on. OH no you opened your incubator at hatch??? That's ok, here we understand and will help anyone who needs it regardless of wether you did something we wouldn't. One of the greatest and most knowledgeable things is candling, and you shouldn't be afraid to do it.

A little about myself: I use an old LG incubator with fan attatchement, and I have awesome hatches. My last was 100%. I prefer a low humidity incubation method, and a high hatch humidity. I am VERY hands on. I open my incubator frequently during hatch and I have NEVER lost a chick that has pipped or started zipping. I seldom have post hatch mortality and my chicks are very healthy with no leg problems. And I am more than willing to assist my chicks if I feel it is neccessary. Why am I saying this? Because these are the things that a lot of hands off hatchers will swear to you will happen if you are not hands off. I respect a hands off hatchers philospohies and that's great for them. But I hate the fact that some would condem and put down those of us that don't share their philosophy. So if you are looking for a place to share your experiences and excitment in being hands on, without the worry of being scolded or threatened you won't be helped in a time of need, feel free to jump in and inroduce yourselves. Tell us a little about your methods and share pics of your flocks and chicks.

Hello. I had 2 ducks that sat on their nest together and hatched a bunch of eggs. Then they decided they were done at 20 and wouldn't sit any more. I went to clean up the eggs, candling and getting rid of the "bad" eggs. I had 3 that still had veins and movement. Before I found this site/chat/articles, I had one egg that I wanted to help because I noticed it pipped. I saw movement but no veins when candling. I did not assist and by the time I decided that I was going to help, against all the advice out there, she did not make it.
I now have 2 eggs, one I can see veins and one I couldn't. Both have movement. I decided to assist the one that I did not see veins because I didn't want another to suffocate.
I removed shell at the air sac. I am not sure how far along this duckling is. I do see the veins, so I did not go further. I put Vaseline on the membrane (did this before I found a place for help). The membrane looks like it did "shrink wrap" the duckling. She has been moving. I am not sure how long I wait since I don't know how long this one has been incubating by mom. The last hatch from the nest was 4 days ago. That is why I assisted. I don't want to loose another one. She has come so far already. Does anyone know what I should do and when? I am attaching a picture in hopes that maybe someone can tell me if she is close to being able to be helped further. I know wirh the veins still showing I need to wait. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Companihen]

Would appreciate some advice.... this egg pipped 24hrs ago, just over. And no change since this first hole. I have lifted the incubator lid a few tines since its pp to move very active fluffy chicks. It's day 20 now and first chicks hatched day 18 and 19. After opening lid I've misted in the incubator and humidity quickly rise again. It sits around 73. But fluctuates with hatches or lid opening.

Do I need to assist this one now? If so, please help. I can see something move in it when I tap the side of the incubator but can't be sure I see a beak. Thanks in advance

 

[rayndance]

Looks like this thread might be inactive but here I am. I'm incubating eggs in a bathroom with a space heater and a shower sauna. I have 2 thermometers that never agree with each other. This is my first time hatching an egg.

My first egg pipped this morning and one of my eggs got too hot last night due to lack of traffic in the bathroom at night. My eggs got too hot. I'm checking on my remaining egg every 30 mins or so. Sometimes I turn on the shower. I have a wet rag in the box with my duckling.

She wasn't turning and zipping so I assisted some. I'm at a stopping point now. If anyone is curious about the outcome of not having an incubator I will be updating this.

 

[RookieChickMama]

Is there a way to get one on one help with an exposed chick that isn’t ready? Thanks!

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

My incubator sucks, and I usually only get 50% hatch. That being said, I have done 2 assists and the chicken lived. The other assisted hatch was a quail, and she was really weak. I tried to keep her alive, but she died a day after I assisted her.

 

[LCsAChickenLover]

Looks like this thread might be inactive but here I am. I'm incubating eggs in a bathroom with a space heater and a shower sauna. I have 2 thermometers that never agree with each other. This is my first time hatching an egg.

My first egg pipped this morning and one of my eggs got too hot last night due to lack of traffic in the bathroom at night. My eggs got too hot. I'm checking on my remaining egg every 30 mins or so. Sometimes I turn on the shower. I have a wet rag in the box with my duckling.

She wasn't turning and zipping so I assisted some. I'm at a stopping point now. If anyone is curious about the outcome of not having an incubator I will be updating this.

How did it go hatching without an incubator? I am in this same position currently and looking for any tips I can find
I have one that has pipped and is chirping, just uncertain what signs of distress I’m looking for to assist hatching, if needed

 

[CrazyChickLady64]

Hello I am so glad to see this thread! I have 20 in the incubator now this is not my first hatch but I have only done 4 total. My first was great I had 10 out of 10 hatch no problems. My second I had 4 of 12 my third 1 of 12. At this point I am very upset with myself because I did the whole leave them alone if they hatch they hatch. Then I realized I think the humidity was probably to low for hatch and they couldn't get their shells to break. If I had assisted I believe I could have saved most of them. My fourth was only 2 that one of my hens went broody and then 12 or so days in decided she was done so I put them in the incubator and both hatched no problem. So I do have some questions. My eggs are starting to pip so excited!! They went to lockdown Thursday morning. This is Friday evening, is this normal? I have 4 that are pipped out of 20 Do I need to worry if a few hatch early those bumping the the ones not pip yet? Also I have one the pip is on the right end but it is facing down is this ok. If I open during this time should I spray the eggs with water before closing it back up? If I feel I need to open it. When would you start to worry about the eggs that have not pip. When would you candle the others that have not pipped. Again its Friday evening and did not expect any pip until Saturday afternoon at the earliest. Thank you for your advice. The picture is of the 2 my broody quit on they are now 13 weeks old.

 

[MrsWinterWheat]

I need some guidance or leta say reassurance…
timeline

Day 25 (Aug 18)
- first hatch (#1)
8pm - #2 (assisted hatch)

Day 26 (Aug 19)
AM - #3 and #4
11:30am - #5
At that time anyone who was moving and didn’t external pip I made an external hole in the top of the egg
8:30pm - #6 got stuck and passed away
#7 - no issues

Day 27 (Aug 20) - Today
7:00am #8, #9 #10 assisted out (only small part zippered but just quite, no bleeding and yolk absorbed)
9:00pm #11 found hatched

I had given up on the other eggs but I just listened and I have taping/peeping coming 4 more eggs. They all had external holes made by me and no other external cracks.

I am thinking I am just gonna go for it and help…it is now just past 9pm here