Hatching Natural eggs

[gullinkambe]

I think I read somewhere that it can take up to 48 hours from pip to hatch? Is that right? I think @gullinkambe hatches, let's ask them. Oh, another one that hatches is @KF0002 maybe they know.

X2 on Lady of McCamley's post. Don't have much to add.

After I started incubating and hatching duck-eggs, chickens are a relief to hatch for me. Muscovy ducks are notoriously unnerving to hatch, especially in an incubator. They can go many days from internal pip to finish, which means bigger risks of shrink-wrap, suffocation etc. I usually do a lot of assisting there.

I personally don't do broodies anymore, incubation is just easier for me. But when I did, I always isolated them in small houses on the ground and away from others. I've had ducks hatch in the duck house, and it was chaos. Eggs stomped on, got too cold because mom removed all the bedding, and dead ducklings that got away from mom and froze to death. Baby birds are very fragile in their first day alive.

 

[Debbie292d]

I think I read somewhere that it can take up to 48 hours from pip to hatch? Is that right? I think @gullinkambe hatches, let's ask them. Oh, another one that hatches is @KF0002 maybe they know.

24, ducks are 48.

I also direct anyone who thinks that an egg needs help to this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

I've only assisted a few out of hundreds, particularly, shipped eggs in which the chick pipped at the wrong end or on the side. Some of those still get out themselves so I've learned to leave them alone and keep an eye on them.

 

[jessvolvochick]

It’s just so hard when the RIR are the ones not hatching the other day I only peeled off the bit where it’s beak was out so it could breathe better and it died after fully hatching and today the last but late one died when I didn’t help it at all but had fully hatched out. Maybe it got stood on? As the hen had gotten out to eat with her one chick.
So next time I’m going to put them in their own little coop under shade on one level with their own food and water I have nine eggs that I put under her all on same day and try one more time because it’s sad to see 90% dead chicks each hatch on average. The first batch I wasn’t there for and that’s how my hubby had it set up and he got 5/7 survived and it’s fine that 4/5 are roosters but I can’t handle seeing so many dying chicks fully hatched out

 

[KF0002]

I think I read somewhere that it can take up to 48 hours from pip to hatch? Is that right? I think @gullinkambe hatches, let's ask them. Oh, another one that hatches is @KF0002 maybe they know.

No usually if they havent hatched after 48 hours after pipping there is something wrong with them or they are shrink wrapped.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

No usually if they havent hatched after 48 hours after pipping there is something wrong with them or they are shrink wrapped.

Thank you. I have only hatched once so far but hope to do more in the next year. So much to learn!

 

[KF0002]

Thank you. I have only hatched once so far but hope to do more in the next year. So much to learn!

Definitely holler at me it you have questions! I have been hatching chickens for around 20 years total. I have my method down to a science and get excellent hatch rates.

 

[gullinkambe]

It’s just so hard when the RIR are the ones not hatching the other day I only peeled off the bit where it’s beak was out so it could breathe better and it died after fully hatching and today the last but late one died when I didn’t help it at all but had fully hatched out. Maybe it got stood on? As the hen had gotten out to eat with her one chick.
So next time I’m going to put them in their own little coop under shade on one level with their own food and water I have nine eggs that I put under her all on same day and try one more time because it’s sad to see 90% dead chicks each hatch on average. The first batch I wasn’t there for and that’s how my hubby had it set up and he got 5/7 survived and it’s fine that 4/5 are roosters but I can’t handle seeing so many dying chicks fully hatched out

Aww! How sad so many of them died!

Hope it goes better next time! You learn a bit every time, and I'm sure you'll figure out the recipe for success. I think a lot of difficulties with broody-incubation comes down to the environment. We, as their providers, can try our best to make it as natural and easy as possible. Lots and lots of good bedding, enough space for mom to move around the nest, no interference from other animals etc. Good luck!