Help!! Can I do anything more?

[Areel]

I’m going to try to not make this long.. I’ve read post here before but never joined! Here I am, I need y’all.

My step daughter(14) found my incubator, plugged it in her room and candles some eggs and put them in without telling anyone. It was tucked in the corner on the floor, not easily seen from the door. I don’t really go into her room to give her some privacy here. Anyways, walked in last Wednesday discovery what she had done! We have her week on week off. So during the week we do not have her, eggs were not turned or humidity checked! I found one egg zipped left to right and then going back up. Looking at it I could tell he was breathing but the membrane was dry and he couldn’t move. So I ran and got tweezers coconut oil water… and ran back. Not thinking took the lid off and went to work. Got the poor thing freed and he lived 4 days and I just found him dead . So I talked to her and told her if she wanted to do that, it has to be a group activity cause when she’s not here things need to be done.

So I candled the other eggs to see how far they were and put them back in. Well, one pipped at some point over 16 hours time. That time frame was about 20 hours ago. Outter membrane was already yellow, so I went to the bathroom created humidity, opened the bator and used some coconut oil on the membrane. There was a hole but could not see the beak. Today I get home I see another has pipped. No progress to the other egg other than I can see his beak. He was moving chirping this morning, he’s still now, like still still, I can’t even see breathing. His beak is dark but the ends are white?? Question since all this is complete chaos without any time frame should I go ahead and grab that one out and pull pieces of the egg off? Or just let it be and hopefully his partner is ok.. ? The odds aren’t really in their favor at all!

Yes I’ve spoken with my step daughter and we are gonna do this again together and I will help her and show her the correct way for this to be done!!

 

[BarnyardChaos]

So sorry no one has responded yet! I just found your thread myself. Since no one knows exactly when the eggs were put in, nor what effect a week without heat might have had, it's impossible to tell when they are supposed to hatch. I can only suggest a couple of things:
1. If it has externally pipped, and goes 24 hours without any progress, then it's time to assist the hatch. Don't jump in too soon - Often they'll pip, chirp and rest over several hours or a full day before making the final push to zip.
2. You can make a "safety hole" in the air-cell end of the egg, to help it breathe and to see what's going on in there.
3. The one that pipped yesterday, but was still when you got home - yes, go ahead and assist the hatch. If it's already dead, then no further harm will be done. Depending on how long ago that partner egg pipped, you might assist that one, too.

Oh, and welcome to the forum! Happy you joined. This is probably the best place on the internet for chicken information and is full of very helpful members. Looking forward to seeing your step-daughter's chicks (whether these few, or the next batch) grow! Please keep us posted.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

FWIW, I had a broody hen which happily hatched 4 chicks, then kicked the remaining egg from the nest. I didn't notice it for two days (amongst all the shell pieces and one or two chicks that didn't make it, it got lost in the shuffle). It sat in the cold for three days past when all the other eggs hatched - and it was laid at the same time. So I thought it was a dud, of course. Prepared to toss it in the trash - and then I heard a "cheep!" and noticed a pip-hole! This little chickie had spent three cold days trying to get out of that shell. I got him warmed with a damp washcloth and heating pad, nested in a shoebox, and then assisted the hatch. He did fine!!! Nature can amaze you, sometimes.

 

[Areel]

So sorry no one has responded yet! I just found your thread myself. Since no one knows exactly when the eggs were put in, nor what effect a week without heat might have had, it's impossible to tell when they are supposed to hatch. I can only suggest a couple of things:
1. If it has externally pipped, and goes 24 hours without any progress, then it's time to assist the hatch. Don't jump in too soon - Often they'll pip, chirp and rest over several hours or a full day before making the final push to zip.
2. You can make a "safety hole" in the air-cell end of the egg, to help it breathe and to see what's going on in there.
3. The one that pipped yesterday, but was still when you got home - yes, go ahead and assist the hatch. If it's already dead, then no further harm will be done. Depending on how long ago that partner egg pipped, you might assist that one, too.

Oh, and welcome to the forum! Happy you joined. This is probably the best place on the internet for chicken information and is full of very helpful members. Looking forward to seeing your step-daughter's chicks (whether these few, or the next batch) grow! Please keep us posted.

Update: Left the lifeless one in overnight, just to make sure he was indeed deceased. I didn’t really question it, but I was more worried about a drop in temperature with the other pipped egg since his environment from the start has not been great. Woke up this morning to hear racket like banging, and loud chirps. Walk to the incubator, which is now on the island in my kitchen, and the last piped is running around playing kickball with the other unhatched eggs. Still wet, like drenched! So, I snuck my hand in quickly and grabbed the one who is for sure in another place. And let that crazy chick finish its tournament! Never seen a baby chick eat another one, but I didn’t want it to be the first. By the time I get off this evening if he’s fluffed, I’ll move him to the brooder. I went ahead and turned it back on this morning, so it will be ready if he’s alive and willing! I’ll post pictures if he’s still kicking tonight! Got 2 more eggs left! I know the odds aren’t great, but we will see. I’m trying to address my step daughter with gloves in reference to this chaos! She loves, loves animals. We have a small farm because of her! So I know this wasn’t done with a bad intent. I told her we will start collecting eggs tonight for a “clutch” and I can show her the correct way this should be done and hopefully we will have more viable chicks! She was super excited and has apologized several times that she didn’t research or ask first.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Update: Left the lifeless one in overnight, just to make sure he was indeed deceased. I didn’t really question it, but I was more worried about a drop in temperature with the other pipped egg since his environment from the start has not been great. Woke up this morning to hear racket like banging, and loud chirps. Walk to the incubator, which is now on the island in my kitchen, and the last piped is running around playing kickball with the other unhatched eggs. Still wet, like drenched! So, I snuck my hand in quickly and grabbed the one who is for sure in another place. And let that crazy chick finish its tournament! Never seen a baby chick eat another one, but I didn’t want it to be the first. By the time I get off this evening if he’s fluffed, I’ll move him to the brooder. I went ahead and turned it back on this morning, so it will be ready if he’s alive and willing! I’ll post pictures if he’s still kicking tonight! Got 2 more eggs left! I know the odds aren’t great, but we will see. I’m trying to address my step daughter with gloves in reference to this chaos! She loves, loves animals. We have a small farm because of her! So I know this wasn’t done with a bad intent. I told her we will start collecting eggs tonight for a “clutch” and I can show her the correct way this should be done and hopefully we will have more viable chicks! She was super excited and has apologized several times that she didn’t research or ask first.

Welcome to BYC!
Just seeing/reading this now. Sounds like you managed. Great idea to make this a Family activity for the next time. I remember taking a puppy home without my parents permission when I was around 9 years old.
I hid it out in the garage. Thankfully our babysitter that night heard the puppy crying out there. Ended up having to give the puppy back but I remember that undying love for animals made me sometimes not make the best decisions when young.
Would love to see photos of your little chicks that made it!

 

[Areel]

So, this is the feisty little baby. Still alive and very active. He’s drinking water, haven’t caught him snacking yet, but we got time! Other picture is the last egg in the incubator. Shouldn’t be to much longer for that one, if he’s made it this far. But air sac looks good!

We collected some eggs, and dated them too. So once the last egg is done, hopefully we can clean the incubator and start another cycle together!

 

[Areel]

Welcome to BYC!
Just seeing/reading this now. Sounds like you managed. Great idea to make this a Family activity for the next time. I remember taking a puppy home without my parents permission when I was around 9 years old.
I hid it out in the garage. Thankfully our babysitter that night heard the puppy crying out there. Ended up having to give the puppy back but I remember that undying love for animals made me sometimes not make the best decisions when young.
Would love to see photos of your little chicks that made it!

Posted the pic, didn’t reply so what to be sure you saw it

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Posted the pic, didn’t reply so what to be sure you saw it

Thanks! I had not seen it.
Cute chick.
You can place a small stuffed animal in there with it until the other one hatches so it’s not lonely.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Yes I’ve spoken with my step daughter and we are gonna do this again together and I will help her and show her the correct way for this to be done!!

I just want to say that I think this is a really good response to the situation- granted she shouldn't have done what she did without permission/help, but I'm sure she didn't mean any harm by it. I think taking the time to show her how to properly incubate and learn about it all is an excellent lesson for her, and an experience she'll be able to reflect on. I imagine it would show her she doesnt need to hide projects like this, and that she can recieve help with it. I think thats really awesome parenting!

 

[Areel]

Thanks! I had not seen it.
Cute chick.
You can place a small stuffed animal in there with it until the other one hatches so it’s not lonely.

Thank you that is a perfect idea! Stealing my daughters now!