Help Help HELP!!!

[TNBarnQueen]

I had just checked my still air bator and found the H was 57 so I opened to add a little water....my eggs where not to hatch until late Fri...early Sat. Well..heard a sound and found that I had an egg zipped about 2 inches and 2 others pipped....now that I added a couple teaspoons water the H is up to 70...is this OK. I don't want my babies to drowned!! Please...any advice would be appreciated! And I am sitting on my hands...a friend and i tried this a month ago and lost most of the chicks due to too high Humidity and countless times opening the bator. Learned a huge lesson.
Terry

 

[HathawayHens]

I am only on my first hatch, but the lady I got mine from told me that once the first chick hatches, the humidity goes way up anyway... she said high humidity is more damaging early in the set, if that helps you feel better at all... keep us posted!!! I have seen sites that say humidity for hatch should be as high as 80% anyway...

 

[gumbii]

what me and my friend do, (he has an LG and i have a fridge-a-bator) we use some big 50 ML syringes with some rigid tubing glued on the tip... i leave it like 12" long... i also get it at the local fish stores... i don't know what they use it for... but they have them... LOL...

i use them to spot feed some fish and corals in my tank... but i don't open the bator to throw in more water... just stick it in, fill it up, and put the tape back over the hole... pretty simple...

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Quote:
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! The first chick is about half way there.....guess it will be coffee instead of milk tonight...I just love seeing this happen. Thanks for your help and calming me down! Will keep you posted!

Great idea gumbii!!!

Terry

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! The first chick is about half way there.....guess it will be coffee instead of milk tonight...I just love seeing this happen. Thanks for your help and calming me down! Will keep you posted!

Great idea gumbii!!!

Terry

Oh yes,please do! Pics too if possible

If it makes you feel better..the first time I hatched I got 9/13 and I had no hygrometer so I had NO IDEA what the humidity was....and they are now full grown and in the coop sleeping as we speak

 

[TNBarnQueen]

NYRIR........ am becoming concerned about the chick that started zipping 12 hours ago...a large piece of shell came off exposing the membrane. When I first realized that there was one hatching i was putting a small sponge in to boost the Humidity and when I was closing it that was when I saw the chick. They where not suppose to start until late tonight/early Sat morn. I am so afraid this chick has shrink wrapped (wish there was another word for that;;LOL) I have to go to the doctors and will be back around 1....if it is not still out should I take it out?? There are 3 others pipped. It still peeps a lot but I think it may be getting a little weak now. This is worse than expecting my own babies!!!..THanks so much for your help!!
Terry

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
Hmmm...sorry I'm so late responding...haven't been on all day

As for the chick...how is it doing now? If it looks like I think it does,I would tell you I had one like that as well that hatched just fine.Some take a long time from pip to zip.I have read on here to not interfere for as much as 24 hours.I'm curious as to how things worked out for you today.I look forward to your reply

 

[TNBarnQueen]

NYRTR...well..after a long night of chickie setting I think we are getting close. I stunned me how quick they where hatching. There were 2 and 3 at the same time!! And fast!

They actually where not suppose to hatch until tonight (Fri)
13 of 21 have hatched. One of my OEs has pipped and another silkie has zipped. It has been like this since around 2am this morning. The other 6 are just sitting there. I had bought 18 silkie eggs..6 where not fertile and I don't know if the last 5 are going to hatch or not. I had talked to her about them...cause they where expensive coming from show stock. She just kept evading my question when I would mention replacing them...tomorrow will be 22 days.....if they have not hatched by tomorrow night should I open then up??
Thank you so much for your help and calming me down..

Will post pics as soon as i can get some good ones after they leave the bator!
Terry

 

[BrattishTaz]

The general rule is don't give up until the end of day 25.

Edited because I can't type after midnight.

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Great! I candled them and they still look good. One worries me as it is like a long torpedo and I think I read somewhere that eggs with very unusual shapes can be difficult for a chick to get out of the egg. I have been so happy with this being my first hatch. A friend and I are trying to start a small business with out chickens here. I am disabled and it keeps me busy as the horse business it really bad so I sold off all but one mare and my stud. This venture will keep me busy as I use things like this to help control my stress. (have Lupus and Fibromyalgia) The extra money would be a blessing too since the horses are not paying for their feed/hay. I was raised that things like this should pay their way. We sell eggs but want to get into selling fertile eggs, chicks and maybe grown chickens. We can't decide on what breeds to work with. With my Americanas and Welsummer roo the chicks from them are suppose to be Olive Eggers. I also want Polish and Silkies. Do you think these would be some of the more popular breeds or can you recommend some? We had chickens growing up but this is entirely a different game these days.
Do you mind if I add you as a buddy.....you seem like such a sweet person.
Have a wonderful weekend and will keep an eye of the straglers!!
Terry