Help--Blood in the Incubator

[emalin]

I have two chicks out of their shells and another pipped. They are in a tiny Brinsea incubator with 7 eggs. It's very crowded. They are climbing all over the other eggs and now I see blood near the foot of one chick. Could it have cut itself? Should I remove them? It is probably quite obvious that this is my first hatch. . .and I am a nervous mother hen by nature. I was planning to keep the chicks in for at least 24 hours so as not to mess up the humidity for others, but maybe I should take them out? The first one hatched fully about 4 hours ago. Thank you for any advice!

 

[dheltzel]

Try making it dark, so they will go to sleep. It doesn't work entirely, but reduces the climbing around. The blood is residual from the blood vessels inside the shell, don't let it alarm you. The turner is off, right, so there is nothing mechanical in there to cut or smash their feet.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Congratulations on your hatched chicks Sometimes when they hatch there maybe a little residual blood from the membrane/veins that may have not fully receded so your chick may not have cut itself. As to opening your incubator this has to be personal preference, I'm one that does open for 24 hours but others do and have succes with it. There is a chance and I say chance as there is no telling if this will happen or not that opening could shrink wrap chicks. It's a risk but these are your eggs so this has to be your call. There is no right or wrong in it. With your Brinsea though I would trust it as I do mine to get humidity back up quickly.
Good luck with your remaining eggs

 

[emalin]

Thank you! I am running around the house from incubator to computer in a tizzy--occasionally remembering to feed the kiddo and other animals. Did not anticipate being this nervous. One was standing on the other's head for a while and I almost started squawking. Mostly worried about lack of progress with the pipped egg. Yes, the Brinsea has been excellent--and so is their Eco-Glow heater. Just like a mother hen for our older chicks. Really like their products.

 

[RubyNala97]

Congrats on the hatch!! Do you have the brinsea mini? Is it the Eco or advanced? I'm on my first hatch, using the eco. I was wondering how it will be once they hatch, it's very small in there. How did the temp & humidity do with the incubator? Any tips you can pass on, when things get settled over there? Thanks. So happy that you've got chicks!!

 

[emalin]

The Brinsea (mini with auto egg turning) has been really easy to use. I don't have any problems to report at all. I didn't measure temp or humidity--just kept water levels up and trusted the device. We've had four eggs hatch so far and they were shipped across the country. I was told to expect 50% at best with shipped eggs. So not bad. The biggest issue for me has been resisting my urge to intervene. I like to tell myself I trust in nature--but it's hard. I ended up taking the chicks out once there were three trampling on each other. I probably should have left them in for 24 hours. Now I'm trying to distract myself from trying to help that pipped egg that still hasn't progressed.

 

[RubyNala97]

The Brinsea (mini with auto egg turning) has been really easy to use. I don't have any problems to report at all. I didn't measure temp or humidity--just kept water levels up and trusted the device. We've had four eggs hatch so far and they were shipped across the country. I was told to expect 50% at best with shipped eggs. So not bad. The biggest issue for me has been resisting my urge to intervene. I like to tell myself I trust in nature--but it's hard. I ended up taking the chicks out once there were three trampling on each other. I probably should have left them in for 24 hours. Now I'm trying to distract myself from trying to help that pipped egg that still hasn't progressed. 

Oh my goodness!! How exciting!! Your hands are full. That is so so great to hear! I am doing 7 eggs, shipped from several states away. I have the same incubator except I have to hand turn. I was also planning on keeping them inside for 24 hrs. But that plan may have to change. Post pics if you can! What breed are you hatching? Update when you can. I hope the little guy with the pip starts zipping soon!

 

[emalin]

So the little guy finally got out of the shell--kind of. His umbilical cord was still attached to the remnants of the yolk, which was attached to a piece of egg. I left him in the incubator overnight so he wouldn't be injured. Then the POWER WENT OUT!!! The power went out for four hours in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep. Luckily, my daughter woke me up and I could hear the babies in the brooder crying. I threw a blanket over the incubator, woke up my husband, and made him hold the brooder chicks. Then got the little guy out of the incubator. It was already pretty cold in there. He still had the egg attached. So I held him, while my husband held the others for half the night. They all made it, and the umbilical cord dried and fell off so I put that one in the brooder with the others. They are all doing well this morning despite the drama.

If any of the other eggs were planning on hatching, they ran out of luck. I do have them back in the incubator in case of a miracle, but they were very cold when the power came back on. So I'm putting the final count at 4 out of 7. They are Dominiques. We also have some older Crele Orphingtons. I was going to pick up a few Lavender Americaunas today to raise with the Dominiques to satisfy my daughters' desire for blue eggs, but I've had enough baby chick drama for now!

What breed are you hatching? I've never been into breeds when it comes to dogs or other pets--even prefer mixed breeds--but I'm totally obsessed with chicken breeds. They are so much fun.

 

[RubyNala97]

So the little guy finally got out of the shell--kind of. His umbilical cord was still attached to the remnants of the yolk, which was attached to a piece of egg. I left him in the incubator overnight so he wouldn't be injured. Then the POWER WENT OUT!!! The power went out for four hours in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep. Luckily, my daughter woke me up and I could hear the babies in the brooder crying. I threw a blanket over the incubator, woke up my husband, and made him hold the brooder chicks. Then got the little guy out of the incubator. It was already pretty cold in there. He still had the egg attached. So I held him, while my husband held the others for half the night. They all made it, and the umbilical cord dried and fell off so I put that one in the brooder with the others. They are all doing well this morning despite the drama.

If any of the other eggs were planning on hatching, they ran out of luck. I do have them back in the incubator in case of a miracle, but they were very cold when the power came back on. So I'm putting the final count at 4 out of 7. They are Dominiques. We also have some older Crele Orphingtons. I was going to pick up a few Lavender Americaunas today to raise with the Dominiques to satisfy my daughters' desire for blue eggs, but I've had enough baby chick drama for now!

What breed are you hatching? I've never been into breeds when it comes to dogs or other pets--even prefer mixed breeds--but I'm totally obsessed with chicken breeds. They are so much fun. 

Oh my goodness! I keep hearing about (or reading) about the power going out on people! That makes me so nervous! I never had chicks before, do they like to be held? That's good thinking, to keep them warm! I'm sorry about the other eggs! That really does stink! I have 7 in there too! I would be thrilled if 4/7 hatched since they are shipped too & I'm a first timer. I have Silkie eggs. I don't know much about chickens so I read they are friendly with kids, so I figured I'd start with them. I'm going to look up the breeds you mentioned now. I guess I should start schooling myself on chicken breeds because I'd really like to hatch again. Congrats on the babies!!!

 

[emalin]

They have to be kept warm or they will die. If they are all crying, it's usually because they are cold. I made a little "corral" for them with a rolled towel and put it on my husband's belly, then had him hold his hands on them and put a sheet over it all. I boiled some water, put it in a glass container, wrapped it in a towel so not too hot, and put that in the corral with them. (A hot water bottle would have been better.) My husband was super thrilled to be woken at 2am and be forced to perform mother hen duties, BTW. But hey, it worked. They stopped crying within a minute or two, which is a sign that they are comfortable. He is always warm to the touch, whereas I run cool. He made a great hen! I probably should have included the eggs, but was so focused on the chicks. By the time I remembered them, they were cold. FYI--while I was searching for ways to keep the chicks warm, I ran across someone on this forum saying that she keeps gel hand warmers around for these occasions--the kind that you shake to activate. Seems like a great idea for the emergency kit.