Have a real dark egg anyone have suggestions?

[WVduckchick]

I agree with so much of that Amy! Sure there are some breeds that seem to need more help than others, call ducks apparently are notorious for needing help cause they are so small. Its easy to get so emotional and want to do all you can, especially after weeks of monitoring and worrying. You always want the best hatch possible. But I think going overboard can be just as harmful. I hope I never have to cull a chick that shouldn't have made it. Ya know?
And I agree about the Bator stories too. You have to do what you think is right. Its like climbing a ladder. Certain folks will accept the risk of climbing to the top, while others are more cautious and stay near the bottom. Your risk and reward are at your own comfort level!

And @mswendeu I was so happy to be of any help. I'm new to all this, and only try to offer productive assistance on things that I feel comfortable about... And good vibes! Lol Just knowing someone is there to offer a shoulder, or a hand to hold, is the way I look at it!

 

[mswendeu]

These forums are great..but I think they also cause us unnessary fear as well. We hear or see where someone's chick died after pipping and then when ours has been sitting there half the day, we think about that person's situation and then start freaking out wondering if we should intervene because we don't want that to happen to our chick.... then we assist when we probably didn't need to... I think most of the assists are probably unnecessary, but we are so scared to take our chances and trust nature that we do it anyway. Just like opening the bator. Some new people are so afriad to open the bator at lockdown to even add water because they've been warned if you open it surely you will cause damage to the unhatched chicks. I personally think that risk is blown way out of proportion if you have adequate humidity to begin with and your bator can recoup quickly. I plan to start researching that topic and seeing what I can find on fact based studies and not theory.

I agree with that. I am at a 50% hatch rate at this moment. That pipping/zipping chick from this morning still isn't out. But, I am not going to fret because it's still trying and still peeping in there. The other two well I don't know what to make of them yet. The chicks in the brooder seem to be eating. I have shown them to the water repeatedly. So hopefully their drinking as well. Let me know what your research yields on that. I know from my personal experience having opened it several times in the last 24 hours to remove chicks, shells, realign and inspect eggs, add water it seems it hasn't hurt any really. Except I can't be too sure since it has taken a ridiculously long time in my opinion for the last two chicks to egg-scape. But, that could just be something else and not a factor of opening the bator.

 

[mswendeu]

I agree with so much of that Amy! Sure there are some breeds that seem to need more help than others, call ducks apparently are notorious for needing help cause they are so small. Its easy to get so emotional and want to do all you can, especially after weeks of monitoring and worrying. You always want the best hatch possible. But I think going overboard can be just as harmful. I hope I never have to cull a chick that shouldn't have made it. Ya know?
And I agree about the Bator stories too. You have to do what you think is right. Its like climbing a ladder. Certain folks will accept the risk of climbing to the top, while others are more cautious and stay near the bottom. Your risk and reward are at your own comfort level!

And @mswendeu I was so happy to be of any help. I'm new to all this, and only try to offer productive assistance on things that I feel comfortable about... And good vibes! Lol Just knowing someone is there to offer a shoulder, or a hand to hold, is the way I look at it!

Good Vibes are just as wonderful as talking to someone on the phone. Now can you good vibe this chick outta the shell? Cause it's trying so hard.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I agree with that. I am at a 50% hatch rate at this moment. That pipping/zipping chick from this morning still isn't out. But, I am not going to fret because it's still trying and still peeping in there. The other two well I don't know what to make of them yet. The chicks in the brooder seem to be eating. I have shown them to the water repeatedly. So hopefully their drinking as well. Let me know what your research yields on that. I know from my personal experience having opened it several times in the last 24 hours to remove chicks, shells, realign and inspect eggs, add water it seems it hasn't hurt any really. Except I can't be too sure since it has taken a ridiculously long time in my opinion for the last two chicks to egg-scape. But, that could just be something else and not a factor of opening the bator.

When I have pippers and zippers, (especially the zippers) I play a youtube video (one day old chicks peeping) beside/on top of the bator with my phone and those babies just get motivated and zip right around there...lol

 

[WVduckchick]

Good Vibes are just as wonderful as talking to someone on the phone. Now can you good vibe this chick outta the shell? Cause it's trying so hard. 

Mmmmmmm...mmmmmm.mmmmmmmmmm.....mmmmmmmmm sending good vibes your way! Lol! C'mon little chickies!!!!

 

[mswendeu]

When I have pippers and zippers, (especially the zippers) I play a youtube video (one day old chicks peeping) beside/on top of the bator with my phone and those babies just get motivated and zip right around there...lol

Ok I did that and it started to move around more. Will try again in couple minutes.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Ok I did that and it started to move around more. Will try again in couple minutes.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

My son always knows when I am trying to motivate a zipper. He hears that video and he hurries in and says "Who are you trying to get out?" lol He knows one has started zipping....

I'll play it 3-4 times and then wait a bit and then do it again. Usually mine are unzipped in a matter of minutes...lol

 

[mswendeu]

My son always knows when I am trying to motivate a zipper. He hears that video and he hurries in and says "Who are you trying to get out?" lol He knows one has started zipping....

I'll play it 3-4 times and then wait a bit and then do it again. Usually mine are unzipped in a matter of minutes...lol

Lol that's funny. Well I have changed from one video to another. Will wait 5 minutes and play one again.

 

[mswendeu]

Funny part is: I thought well a watched chick never hatches.... (pun intended). So I went outside tended the seedlings. Planted my strawberry plants, planted some potato seeds and hoped it would be out when I came back in. I fed the chickens, had a chat with the feral rooster who thinks he owns my flock now. Fed watered and let my dog out.
Came back still in the shell. Poo