Hatching day 21 HELP!!!

[Lanaep10]

HELP! So I'm a nervous wreck right now. Today is day 21 and I have 7 eggs in the incubator. They were all alive when I put them into lock down. One hatched yesterday and is out and doing fine, but no others have even pipped yet. Should I be concerned??

 

[AtlantisPeeps]

If I were you I'd candle. If there are no blood rings (means they are dead), then you need to create an artificial pip in the air sack.

This is a dead chick with a blood ring-

When you candle, if you see a dark spot like this

This is what you call an internal pip. They may be getting ready to create an external pip, but I'd go ahead and crate an artificial one anyway. Read on.

When candling, take a pencil (You will need assistance or risk dropping the egg) and outline the air sack. Then take a small gentle drill and GENTLY make a hole in the top of the air sack so the chick can breathe. Don't crack the egg!

Example of an artificial pip-

Give it about 48 hours, and if no more progress has been made, take tweezers and chip away at the shell and outer membrane of the air sack. Do not cross the line you made in pencil.

Example-

Make sure your humidity level is up so the chick doesn't get "shrink wrapped" in the dry membrane.

After this, there's really nothing else you can do but wait!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

HELP! So I'm a nervous wreck right now. Today is day 21 and I have 7 eggs in the incubator. They were all alive when I put them into lock down. One hatched yesterday and is out and doing fine, but no others have even pipped yet. Should I be concerned??

I'd be a bit concerned not seeing any pips. The early bird could have been in a warm spot therefor causing him to hatch first. I would candle and look for any movement or internal pips. I am a big hands on person, but personally do not advocate for putting holes in eggs unless a chick has internally pipped and been pipped for 24 hours or more. Putting a hole in the air cell of a chick that has not internally pipped will do absolutely no good and as a matter of fact can slow down the transition from internal pip to external pip once it has internally pipped, as it is the build up of CO2 in the egg that prompts them to make the external pip and that build up will be lacking with an artificial pip added to the egg. Unless the chick externally pips and is given at least 18-24 hours AFTER the pip for the egg to chick vascular system to shut down, there isn't a lot you can do without a high probability of jepordizing the chick. Candling however will give you an idea and maybe some stress relief if you can see that there is still life.

What kind of incubator are you using and what was your humidity the first 17 days?

 

[Lanaep10]

It's a homemade styrofoam incubator. Still air. Did more of a dry incubation(35-45) for the first 17 days and now it's been staying at about 68% and 100degrees.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

It's a homemade styrofoam incubator. Still air. Did more of a dry incubation(35-45) for the first 17 days and now it's been staying at about 68% and 100degrees.

Still air is usually ran 101-102 with the temps taken near the top of the eggs, so it's possible that they may just be a slightly bit delayed.

Some more will start moving for you!!!

 

[Lanaep10]

I hope so. I cancelled but can only really see one move. Doesn't look like any have internally pipped. I really hope more hatch. The one that hatched seems very alert but is t walking well. It jumps around but doesn't stand.

 

[Lanaep10]

*candled. Also the incubator does get up to 102 in the late afternoon evening and then will drop back down late night/early morning.

 

[Lanaep10]

HHHH! So I thought one had internally pipped so I created a pip in the shell and it doesn't seem to have actually pipped into the air cell. I can see it moving a lot. Did I just doom it?! I hope I didn't kill it

 

[Lanaep10]

If I were you I'd candle. If there are no blood rings (means they are dead), then you need to create an artificial pip in the air sack.

This is a dead chick with a blood ring-

When you candle, if you see a dark spot like this

This is what you call an internal pip. They may be getting ready to create an external pip, but I'd go ahead and crate an artificial one anyway. Read on.

When candling, take a pencil (You will need assistance or risk dropping the egg) and outline the air sack. Then take a small gentle drill and GENTLY make a hole in the top of the air sack so the chick can breathe. Don't crack the egg!

Example of an artificial pip-

Give it about 48 hours, and if no more progress has been made, take tweezers and chip away at the shell and outer membrane of the air sack. Do not cross the line you made in pencil.

Example-

Make sure your humidity level is up so the chick doesn't get "shrink wrapped" in the dry membrane.

After this, there's really nothing else you can do but wait!

Help! It looked like one had internally pipped and I saw lots of movement so I made an artificial pip. It doesn't appear to have actually pipped inside. Did I just doom the poor little thing!? I still see lots of movement in the pip I made, but I had to leave for work so I can't watch it. Also there was a small amount of blood from the area. This is so stressful! I've never hatched anything before. One egg cracked on the side today but the chick was dead.

 

[AtlantisPeeps]

If there is a lot of movement just leave him. He should be able to pop out by himself! Take a damp paper towel and put it around the egg (keep the pip hole clear) and let him alone. Keep us updated and DONT PANIC!