Help! About to incubate for the 1st time & recevied double the hatching eggs asked for - feeling ov

[VeggieMinette]

Most of my assists, I think all actually, have been stage by stage, due to the vascular system between  the chick and egg still being active at some point in the egg. I've never had a compromised chick. However, I agree, especially with malepositioned that if the vascular system has shut down, (though it's rare that it has for most of us before we start an assist because most people can't wait 24 hours plus) to go ahead and at least do a full zip.

When doing an assisted hatch, it's best to start the assist, go as far as you can, moistening the membranes so that you can see the veining and stopping when you get to an area of veining. Moisten the membranes and replace them for another hour or two before trying again. A good share of the time mine end up finishing the hatch themselves, which is excellent because they get to strengthen those muscles.
It is a hard to descision. I usually assist my malepositions after 18-24 hours. Haven't lost one yet.  I agree, many people don't believe in assisting because it causes "weak chicks", but my experience has been just the opposite. Out of the assists that I've done, and there's been a few, I have only lost 1 and that was just over  week later because of digestive problems, all the rest have gone on to be healthy very productive members of my flock. People shouldn't write a chick off that needs a little help so quickly.

I think that the chick was malpositioned VeggieMinette. It's legs are in the air cell end whereas the should be the other way around. That would explain such a low external pip in the first place.
With regard to an assisted hatch if you choose to do it, personally I feel that if you do not see excessive blood or what appears to be a "flow" (a dramatic term) of blood, and if the chick is full term, I would attempt to fully hatch the chick. Helping stage by stage otherwise can, in my experience leave a totally compromised chick.
It is a hard call to make. But I know from lots of experience that some assisted chicks do die but thankfully more do go on to thrive and become valuable additions to the flock.

I was slowly removing bits of shell but pulled on the membrane accidentally and it bled a bit at the beginning of my assist. When it had a leg out, I tried to assist by taking away additional bits of the shell. I think it became too exhausted.
I will know what to look out for next time. Unfortunately, for the little one, it wasn't soon enough.

 

[Guyswithchicks]

Most of my assists, I think all actually, have been stage by stage, due to the vascular system between  the chick and egg still being active at some point in the egg. I've never had a compromised chick. However, I agree, especially with malepositioned that if the vascular system has shut down, (though it's rare that it has for most of us before we start an assist because most people can't wait 24 hours plus) to go ahead and at least do a full zip.

When doing an assisted hatch, it's best to start the assist, go as far as you can, moistening the membranes so that you can see the veining and stopping when you get to an area of veining. Moisten the membranes and replace them for another hour or two before trying again. A good share of the time mine end up finishing the hatch themselves, which is excellent because they get to strengthen those muscles.
It is a hard to descision. I usually assist my malepositions after 18-24 hours. Haven't lost one yet.  I agree, many people don't believe in assisting because it causes "weak chicks", but my experience has been just the opposite. Out of the assists that I've done, and there's been a few, I have only lost 1 and that was just over  week later because of digestive problems, all the rest have gone on to be healthy very productive members of my flock. People shouldn't write a chick off that needs a little help so quickly.

I think we are on the same page AmyLynn by and large. I'm just one of those people who watch on the sideline and assist only when necessary and after a specific time has lapsed.
We have to assume that if we have been able to keep the incubator conditions as optimal as we can throughout, and can rely on the knowledge that the eggs and parent stock were healthy and robust, then most fertile eggs will have hatched by the end of day 21.
Given this scenario, and taking into account slight variables, there may be the occasional chick that needs assistance.
I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that if we are in to day 22 and under good incubation, a chicks vascular system should be shut down and a complete assist should be completed in my opinion. But I completely agree AmyLynn that evidence of bleeding needs to be treated differently and I would do exactly as you suggest.
I agree, one should never write off any unhatched chick. Assist with knowledge and confidence

is my motto. I know that in some cases I learnt the hard way.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I think we are on the same page AmyLynn by and large. I'm just one of those people who watch on the sideline and assist only when necessary and after a specific time has lapsed.
We have to assume that if we have been able to keep the incubator conditions as optimal as we can throughout, and can rely on the knowledge that the eggs and parent stock were healthy and robust, then most fertile eggs will have hatched by the end of day 21.
Given this scenario, and taking into account slight variables, there may be the occasional chick that needs assistance.
I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that if we are in to day 22 and under good incubation, a chicks vascular system should be shut down and a complete assist should be completed in my opinion. But I completely agree AmyLynn that evidence of bleeding needs to be treated differently and I would do exactly as you suggest.
I agree, one should never write off any unhatched chick. Assist with knowledge and confidence

is my motto. I know that in some cases I learnt the hard way.

I use an older LG (9200) so temp control is tricky, I usually err a tad warmer than colder, so my hatches start day 19/20 and are usually done at the end of day 20, beginning of day 21, so I don't experience to many that even at 18 hours after pip has a shut down vascular system...lol So I have noo choice but to stage it if I assist. I have noticed though the chicks that pip on day 21 like they are supposed to onlytake a matter of hours to zip unlike the early ones who take 12-18 )or more hours before transitioning. I am just thankful that I have not had to deal with starting an assist to find that the yolk isn't absorbed. I've had two hatch natural without all the yolk absorbed but never done an assist to have it happen. Of course I wait as long as I can before assisting too, usually between 18-24 hours.

Now, delayed hatches past day 22 and assisting, I think the chances of survivors are low. Doesn't mean I wouldn't still try, but I would not hold out hope with delayed chicks.

 

[VeggieMinette]

Amylynn and guyswithchicks, I had to assist this one and it has this hanging from its backside....help!

 

[VeggieMinette]

Amylynn and guyswithchicks, I had to assist this one and it has this hanging from its backside....help!

It's very active and seems fine with the exception of this. Is it an unabsorbed yolk sac?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

It's very active and seems fine with the exception of this. Is it an unobserved yolk sac?

Yes, it's unabsorbed yolk. If you can put her in a deep cup, like a coffee cup with a damp paper towel in the bottom and set her in there in the brooder and give it time, it should finish absorbing. As long as it doesn't rupture and finishes absorbing she should be fine. The trick is to keep her from rupturing it.

 

[VeggieMinette]

Yes, it's unabsorbed yolk. If you can put her in a deep cup, like a coffee cup with a damp paper towel in the bottom and set her in there in the brooder and give it time, it should finish absorbing. As long as it doesn't rupture and finishes absorbing she should be fine. The trick is to keep her from rupturing it.

Great to know! Thank you very much!

 

[VeggieMinette]

Fingers crossed!

 

[Guyswithchicks]

This has all happened while I've been asleep! You have received great advice there... How is it now.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Fingers crossed!

This has all happened while I've been asleep! You have received great advice there... How is it now.

xs 2...How is she doing? Has the yolk absorbed?