Help! On day 18 and I think I will lose all 9 eggs!!! SMALL AIR SAC

[dekel18042]

That is what is said, but there can be other reasons, so don't lose hope.
My humidity and temps were spot on the first 18 days. Some of the eggs never started developing but at 18 days 6 eggs were filled with dark. Where were the air cells?
I had a sinking feeling but carefully laid them on their sides with the tiny air cells up and increased the humidity. I thought it was a lost cause. Five tiny chicks are now in the brooder and the final egg is still in the incubator. I have a feeling it got moved around.
I figured if the eggs were on their sides with the tiny air cell up, the chick had time to get in the correct position.
I have a feeling my reason for the small air cells might be different from yours. I had lost my young rooster and wanted some of his chicks so I was hatching fairly small pullet eggs, something I wouldn't do under normal circumstances, but if I wanted his peeps I had no choice. I think it was baby peep taking up the space and not fluid. But in any case you never know. Sometimes you might be pleasantly surprised. And I'm still hoping that sixth egg in the bator hatches.

 

[Kentuckyrain]

That is what is said, but there can be other reasons, so don't lose hope.
My humidity and temps were spot on the first 18 days. Some of the eggs never started developing but at 18 days 6 eggs were filled with dark. Where were the air cells?
I had a sinking feeling but carefully laid them on their sides with the tiny air cells up and increased the humidity. I thought it was a lost cause. Five tiny chicks are now in the brooder and the final egg is still in the incubator. I have a feeling it got moved around.
I figured if the eggs were on their sides with the tiny air cell up, the chick had time to get in the correct position.
I have a feeling my reason for the small air cells might be different from yours. I had lost my young rooster and wanted some of his chicks so I was hatching fairly small pullet eggs, something I wouldn't do under normal circumstances, but if I wanted his peeps I had no choice. I think it was baby peep taking up the space and not fluid. But in any case you never know. Sometimes you might be pleasantly surprised. And I'm still hoping that sixth egg in the bator hatches.

So glad you got the 5 to hatch and good luck with the 6th one!

I'm not sure what you mean by "where are the air sacs"?

I'm on day 19 now, 7 of the 9 have lot's of movement and chirping, 1 has a tiny crack, I believe a pip on the outside shell. The other 2, no noise, movement or anything. Was not sure if it's ok to open the bator and check on them since they are on day 19.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

So glad you got the 5 to hatch and good luck with the 6th one!

I'm not sure what you mean by "where are the air sacs"?

I'm on day 19 now, 7 of the 9 have lot's of movement and chirping, 1 has a tiny crack, I believe a pip on the outside shell. The other 2, no noise, movement or anything. Was not sure if it's ok to open the bator and check on them since they are on day 19.

If there is a crack then chances are yes, it's externally pipping. As for opening the bator you will get different opinions about opening the bator after lockdown. myself, I open if I feel the need or desire, BUT I keep my humidity at 75% to make sure there is adequate humidity in the bator. Many people will go all Hulk if you mention opening the bator after lockdown. I, personally believe each hatcher should find their comfort zone and do what works for them, just remember if you do open the bator you need to make sure your humidity is up and that it recovers quickly after opening.

 

[dekel18042]

So glad you got the 5 to hatch and good luck with the 6th one!

I'm not sure what you mean by "where are the air sacs"?

I'm on day 19 now, 7 of the 9 have lot's of movement and chirping, 1 has a tiny crack, I believe a pip on the outside shell. The other 2, no noise, movement or anything. Was not sure if it's ok to open the bator and check on them since they are on day 19.

The air sacks were so small they were barely visible inside the egg. Not a good sign, I felt. First time this happened.
Once the pip is in, they should be able to get air.
I hate opening the incubator, but if the humidity is high and you feel it is an emergency......Depends on your comfort level. (Have I mentioned I'm neurotic?)

 

[tiffanyjcruz]

and good luck!

Thanks Amy Lynn!!!

 

[Kentuckyrain]

One just hatched, I'm not sure what I'm looking at, but there is something that looks like it should have been attached to the chick! I don't know how a newly hatched chick acts but this one is not able to walk yet, keeps getting up and chirping then falling down like sorta resting for a little cat nap then back up again. I don't know what that strange looking mass is on the screen outside of the egg, there is just some blood in the egg but I don't know what is normal.

 

[kuchchicks]

So I know you posted this last night and by this time you already have your answer... I am sorry I just saw this now. Yes it is normal for them to not be very good walkers when they first hatch. They stumble around for a bit as they are drying off and then within a few hours they are up and walking around like the little chicks we know and love.

As far as something that looks like it should have been attached to the chick, I tried to look at your pic but only saw the chick. There could be a couple of things and again since this was posted last night I think you probably already got your answer. But just in case... if it looks like a string, it could be the umbilical cord. Sometimes they come out with them off, sometimes they come out still attached, sometimes they come out still attached and with it attached to the shell. In that case just leave them in the bator, the cored will dry up on it's own, and then you can transfer the chick to the brooder no problem. On occasion after the cord has dried (especially the ones that are still attached to the shell), the cord has not fallen off and I have had to cut it. But if you have to cut it make sure it IS dry and don't get too close to the chick.

Now since this chick was hatching on day 18, my other thought would be that it could be yolk sac. What does it look like? If it is still there, can you send a pic? If it is a yolk sac, this too if it is not severe can be taken care of. Place the chick in a coffee mug or small bowl. You may want to add a slightly moist wash cloth to the bottom to place the chick on top of. Then place the mug back in the bator. This too usually absorbs on it's own and the chick usually does just fine.

I hope it is one of these two issues because they are usually easy to fix. Let us know and send pics if it is still an issue.

 

[Kentuckyrain]

So I know you posted this last night and by this time you already have your answer... I am sorry I just saw this now. Yes it is normal for them to not be very good walkers when they first hatch. They stumble around for a bit as they are drying off and then within a few hours they are up and walking around like the little chicks we know and love.

As far as something that looks like it should have been attached to the chick, I tried to look at your pic but only saw the chick. There could be a couple of things and again since this was posted last night I think you probably already got your answer. But just in case... if it looks like a string, it could be the umbilical cord. Sometimes they come out with them off, sometimes they come out still attached, sometimes they come out still attached and with it attached to the shell. In that case just leave them in the bator, the cored will dry up on it's own, and then you can transfer the chick to the brooder no problem. On occasion after the cord has dried (especially the ones that are still attached to the shell), the cord has not fallen off and I have had to cut it. But if you have to cut it make sure it IS dry and don't get too close to the chick.

Now since this chick was hatching on day 18, my other thought would be that it could be yolk sac. What does it look like? If it is still there, can you send a pic? If it is a yolk sac, this too if it is not severe can be taken care of. Place the chick in a coffee mug or small bowl. You may want to add a slightly moist wash cloth to the bottom to place the chick on top of. Then place the mug back in the bator. This too usually absorbs on it's own and the chick usually does just fine.

I hope it is one of these two issues because they are usually easy to fix. Let us know and send pics if it is still an issue.

Thank you so much for explaining that to me.

I believe it is what you called the umbilical cord, I was up late last night and fell asleep watching it. So this morning, I now have 6 that have hatched. I noticed that they all had that stringy thing either attached to them, inside the shell, or just sitting on the screen so I think that you were right on that. All 6 of them appear to be normal and are all walking around easily. 2 more eggs have pipped holes in them and I can see a beak and feathers from the holes. The last egg I think did not make it, no movement or pip or nothing.

Edit to say, that today is now day 20, the first one hatched at midnight last night so I guess technically it was day 20 for the first one.

This is so exciting, I have to leave to do errands but I am glued to this incubator just waiting for others to come out of their shell! UGH the agony, lol

 

[Kentuckyrain]

Thank you all for helping me in the beginning on day 18 when I was not sure what to do with very small air sacs. The egg carton thing worked great and I have 6 hatched and running around doing great,,, just waiting on the others.

 

[Kentuckyrain]

Edit: What do I do now? Ok, so I have 7 hatched and fine, 1 did not make it,, and the last one is still inside the egg, with blood, the yolk not drawn up inside it's stomach yet. Should I leave it alone or intervene?