HELP!!!! Humidity all wrong!!!

[vivaciouswoman]

I have put washed eggs and unwashed eggs in my incubator in the past and saw no difference in the hatch rate. I had to experiment.

Scientists! We're bound to experiment!

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Yep, those are some small air cells. But we still have hope!
Have you considered if you will assist or not, if they struggle to hatch? May not be a bad time to think about it.

You know me well already, @WVduckchick!

I've been playing with that idea since I started the post, but frankly I don't know enough about embryology to know when I'd be helping and when I'd be harming. If they start dying left and right on their own, the Mommy in me will strong-arm the scientist in me to figure it out as I go. I'm overwhelmed by the variety of articles out there that say never-never-never versus here's-how. The here's-how articles are overwhelming because I'm a novice and don't have enough cognitive structures in place to make sense of it all.

I'd better start reading some more, huh? I'm probably going to find myself freaking out. Any recommendations on authors who present this topic particularly clearly?

 

[WVduckchick]

You know me well already, @WVduckchick!

I've been playing with that idea since I started the post, but frankly I don't know enough about embryology to know when I'd be helping and when I'd be harming. If they start dying left and right on their own, the Mommy in me will strong-arm the scientist in me to figure it out as I go. I'm overwhelmed by the variety of articles out there that say never-never-never versus here's-how. The here's-how articles are overwhelming because I'm a novice and don't have enough cognitive structures in place to make sense of it all.

I'd better start reading some more, huh? I'm probably going to find myself freaking out. Any recommendations on authors who present this topic particularly clearly?

In my opinion, @Pyxis assisting article is the easiest to read and understand, plus she does things pretty much the same as I do, and I trust her.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

I am fairly hands-on with my hatching philosophies, seeing as artificial incubation is already away from the natural process of a hen hatching her own babies. I also have had so many broody hens, and have learned a ton from watching them.
I have breeds that don't normally need any assistance, and I will usually not assist them, but I also hatch Call ducks and Serama chicks, and they often need assistance. I like to give them every chance possible, and a very large percentage of my assists become very healthy, happy birds! The thing I try to stress with assisting or not, is being ready to make the hard choice if there is some other underlying issue of why it had trouble hatching on its own. But I'd rather deal with that than to not give it a chance it otherwise wouldn't have had.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Thank you for that! I’ll take a look. I have had to euthanize chickens, including one that I have done successful crop surgery for but she had complications afterwards. Tough to do! I don’t know what to do with chicks for euthanasia...yet. And I’m not sure I would know for sure when to do it or if I could. I’ll do the reading and serious thinking. Thank you, my friend! I am thankful for your wisdom, input, and presence as I struggle through this!

In my opinion, @Pyxis assisting article is the easiest to read and understand, plus she does things pretty much the same as I do, and I trust her.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

I am fairly hands-on with my hatching philosophies, seeing as artificial incubation is already away from the natural process of a hen hatching her own babies. I also have had so many broody hens, and have learned a ton from watching them.
I have breeds that don't normally need any assistance, and I will usually not assist them, but I also hatch Call ducks and Serama chicks, and they often need assistance. I like to give them every chance possible, and a very large percentage of my assists become very healthy, happy birds! The thing I try to stress with assisting or not, is being ready to make the hard choice if there is some other underlying issue of why it had trouble hatching on its own. But I'd rather deal with that than to not give it a chance it otherwise wouldn't have had.

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you for that! I’ll take a look. I have had to euthanize chickens, including one that I have done successful crop surgery for but she had complications afterwards. Tough to do! I don’t know what to do with chicks for euthanasia...yet. And I’m not sure I would know for sure when to do it or if I could. I’ll do the reading and serious thinking. Thank you, my friend! I am thankful for your wisdom, input, and presence as I struggle through this!

Happy to be of any help that I can. Even if its just for moral support.

 

[cmom]

You know me well already, @WVduckchick!

I've been playing with that idea since I started the post, but frankly I don't know enough about embryology to know when I'd be helping and when I'd be harming. If they start dying left and right on their own, the Mommy in me will strong-arm the scientist in me to figure it out as I go. I'm overwhelmed by the variety of articles out there that say never-never-never versus here's-how. The here's-how articles are overwhelming because I'm a novice and don't have enough cognitive structures in place to make sense of it all.

I'd better start reading some more, huh? I'm probably going to find myself freaking out. Any recommendations on authors who present this topic particularly clearly?

Be very careful. If the chick has pipped but hasn't zipped yet it may not be quite ready to hatch. If it hasn't started to zip after 24 hours after the pip, proceed carefully. First I would check and see if it is stuck and carefully with a tweezer pick some shell away from the pip area. I also use a q-tip and moisten around the pip. Somewhere I have a picture. I'll try to find it.

 

[cmom]

It's best if they can hatch themselves without help but sometimes some intervention is good. I usually mist the eggs during lockdown. I learned about doing that many years ago from another breeder.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

What a difference a day makes!! Here is an update from last night’s candling, just 26 hours after the pencil lines were drawn! I’m pleased with the air cell development. Last night was the end of Day 19, and I’ve run a bit on the cool side throughout (temp readings only in integers, so not sure if exact temperatures), and I’ve cooled it *slightly* further since stopping turning. I have my RH consistently at 25-29, and I don’t see signs of any pipping action, though I swore I heard a peep this morning. Is that possible if they haven’t pipped internally or externally? I’m just wondering if they can vocalize without air. I’m not in a hurry to bother them all to look for internal pipping unless I should.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

I’m going to try to keep everyone posted here, by the way! So many threads end like a mystery novel with the last pages torn out—no idea how things turned out, so no idea if all the advice and hard work paid off. Trying to leave a marked trail (to mix metaphors ) for those who follow!

 

[vivaciouswoman]

In my opinion, @Pyxis assisting article is the easiest to read and understand, plus she does things pretty much the same as I do, and I trust her.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

I am fairly hands-on with my hatching philosophies, seeing as artificial incubation is already away from the natural process of a hen hatching her own babies. I also have had so many broody hens, and have learned a ton from watching them.
I have breeds that don't normally need any assistance, and I will usually not assist them, but I also hatch Call ducks and Serama chicks, and they often need assistance. I like to give them every chance possible, and a very large percentage of my assists become very healthy, happy birds! The thing I try to stress with assisting or not, is being ready to make the hard choice if there is some other underlying issue of why it had trouble hatching on its own. But I'd rather deal with that than to not give it a chance it otherwise wouldn't have had.

I’m SO thankful for this article, by the way! I do wonder if there is any specific guidance for folks whose humidity was off and may be dealing with drowning chicks. After all, it’s my fault they are in jeopardy and has nothing to do with these poor babies’ genetics or life choices, for goodness sake! I have looked all over the Internet but not found specific guidance for rescue in that situation. If anyone knows more, I’d love to hear it! @Pyxis ?