Hatching peachicks

[jaudon77]

I don't know. I've only hatched twice before and had 100% hatch rate the first time out of my own flock and 100% hatch rate excluding the ones that never developed at all out of shipped eggs the second time. I'm at a loss. And really pretty depressed about it.

Out of the two that did hatch, one was malpositioned and is still struggling with a crooked neck. The other one is perfectly healthy and hatched no problem.

 

[DylansMom]

I don't know. I've only hatched twice before and had 100% hatch rate the first time out of my own flock and 100% hatch rate excluding the ones that never developed at all out of shipped eggs the second time. I'm at a loss. And really pretty depressed about it.

Out of the two that did hatch, one was malpositioned and is still struggling with a crooked neck. The other one is perfectly healthy and hatched no problem.

Crooked neck usually results from taking too long to get out of the shell as opposed to malpositioning, I think. It's like crooked toes, the bones are soft and pliable until the external pip is made and the chick starts to breathe air. From that point on the clock is ticking because the bones start to harden and tendons and ligaments need to be stretched. What kind of incubator are you using and do you have a second therm/hygr. to double check temp and hum. I think with age sometimes incubators start to drift a little and end up being a bit hotter or cooler than they tell you they are. My own pea eggs always hatch on day 27 but a little warmer in the bator could speed that up and a little cooler could slow it down. What day did the 2 that hatched come out on?

 

[casportpony]

Thank you everyone for your help. Unfortunately when i candled I didn't see any movement in any of the eggs at all. Two had internally pipped but none of the others. What causes chicks not to pip internally?

P.s. They are still in the incubator but I doubt any are still alive at this point.

Most of the time I've seen it it's been due to shrink-wrapping, malposition with feet over head, beak over wing or all three.

-Kathy

 

[Outback Rancher]

This is my first time hatching pea eggs, out of 12, 4 looked sketchy, so I left them in. Today 2 have hatched, but none of the others have. There were 8 live eggs at lock down when candled. As of now, no others have even piped. My incubator is an old Brower, and it's only got a tiny view window, so to check temp and humidity, I've had to open bator for a short time..... Should the others pip soon? How much longer can they take?

 

[Outback Rancher]

Should add, today is day 28

 

[Outback Rancher]

I could hear knocking this am, but nothing since have I lost them?

 

[casportpony]

I would candle it and see if it's still moving and I might even make a hole for it.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

This is a photo from @DylansMom

-Kathy

 

[DylansMom]

I could hear knocking this am, but nothing since

have I lost them?

I would agree with Kathy, get an air hole in the shell for them if they are still moving. This will buy them more time, I usually wait about 24 hrs. after putting in the air hole and then start to peel some shell if they are not progressing on their own.

 

[Outback Rancher]

I did poke an air hole in the one, and it's membrane has lots of blood vessels still. It was moving, but barely. I've placed a wet paper towel over the end.... It doesn't look ready to hatch to me? I don't have a powerful enough flashlight on hand, the eggs seem really thick shelled compared to chicken eggs? Water candling showed 3/4 more still wiggling..... Today is day 28, so perhaps the others need more time? These are not all from the same clutch, I purchased them (drove to get them, 2 hours) and they were collected over a period of 7 days. It's frustrating..... When is too early to step in? When is too late? The bator was holding temps well until a cold snap here in Ontario.... And has dropped temp by a couple degrees.... Perhaps that's why others are late? I can hear one scratching at inside of shell..... But unless I open bator, I can't see temp or hear peeps poor design I guess......