Helping Chicks Hatch? Information why or why not

[shawluvsbirds]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/
One more article for you to look at when and if you feel like you need to assist a chic.
There are great points on both ends of the spectrum. Do your research and decide what works for you.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

One should never let the chance to blame Fake Eileen for something go by without jumping on the chance....

I get blamed for everything

 

[spiritbrook]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

I've referenced the above link many times. I do help chicks if needed but have found that since I have been using broodies instead of an incubator I rarely have a viable chick that doesn't hatch. Seramas are famous for poor hatch rates and since I've been using experienced hens I now have too many of them. And yes, whether intentional or inadvertently, I have seen hens help pipping chicks. Most of the problems I have had are directly related to the membrane drying out, and following the link above I have interfered as little as necessary and have had live and healthy chickens. I can't imagine anything being more cruel than listening to a very active peeper getting quieter and quieter until the sound stops and the chick dies without ever getting out of the egg. I've only done that once and I refuse to sit by and listen to another one die ever again. If all the assistance I do is to lift the end off the egg and spritz the membrane and it makes it work out in the end then why condemn the method if it results in a live chicken or duckling? When all I have is three pipping eggs and no chance for any more than I'm going to do my darnedest to make sure they do most the work themselves but still succeed and I have 3 live babies - those ones are coming on their second winter as I type this.

 

[savannahRoos22]

you're so sweet and experienced! Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it and am so glad there's been so much input.

Unfortunately most affordable cheap incubators have little water trays that make you open the incubator two times a day. and the ventilation holes make things difficult when it comes to opening it as little as possible.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

I've referenced the above link many times. I do help chicks if needed but have found that since I have been using broodies instead of an incubator I rarely have a viable chick that doesn't hatch. Seramas are famous for poor hatch rates and since I've been using experienced hens I now have too many of them. And yes, whether intentional or inadvertently, I have seen hens help pipping chicks. Most of the problems I have had are directly related to the membrane drying out, and following the link above I have interfered as little as necessary and have had live and healthy chickens. I can't imagine anything being more cruel than listening to a very active peeper getting quieter and quieter until the sound stops and the chick dies without ever getting out of the egg. I've only done that once and I refuse to sit by and listen to another one die ever again. If all the assistance I do is to lift the end off the egg and spritz the membrane and it makes it work out in the end then why condemn the method if it results in a live chicken or duckling? When all I have is three pipping eggs and no chance for any more than I'm going to do my darnedest to make sure they do most the work themselves but still succeed and I have 3 live babies - those ones are coming on their second winter as I type this.

I don't condemn assisted hatching in any way when it is appropriate to do so. I think the wording in the original post by the o p was the main concern everyone had here. It was misleading in the way it sounded as if they were saying all chicks should be assisted.
Hope the articles help out

 

[duluthralphie]

you're so sweet and experienced! Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it and am so glad there's been so much input.

Unfortunately most affordable cheap incubators have little water trays that make you open the incubator two times a day. and the ventilation holes make things difficult when it comes to opening it as little as possible.

You need to thread a small tube or long needle to go into one of the vent holes to push the water through to the tray...and use sponges to hold more water.

 

[authHeirlooms]

you're so sweet and experienced! Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it and am so glad there's been so much input.

Unfortunately most affordable cheap incubators have little water trays that make you open the incubator two times a day. and the ventilation holes make things difficult when it comes to opening it as little as possible.

We use a rigid plastic straw to solve this problem - it fits through the ventilation holes on our incubators at least and you can place it accurately over the reservoirs. Dip the straw into a jar of water, put your finger over the top. Put the straw into position over the reservoir and remove your finger. That said, a hen will typically leave the nest daily, and some people claim that the variation is healthy for developing eggs, especially ducks. The problem you might be having is with temperature spikes? Depending on the way the incubator re-warms itself after opening, it may be getting too hot temporarily. You may want to do a dry run before your next hatch, monitoring the humidity range and max temp? We assist only very occasionally - when a chick is clearly stuck and has pipped ~24 hours before. Those are generally problems due to OUR mistakes, not viability issues in the birds. They can breathe and may well still be absorbing the yolk.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

If the humidity is too low during any part of the incubation period

not during ANY part just at the end, I run my humidity at an average of 35%, but it fluctuates. One must really pay attention to the size of the aircell

Weak chicks/poor hatchers produce more weak chicks/poor hatchers. When dealing in animal breeding, the more poor traits you accept the more you have to deal with in the future.

i agree but I also disagree when one is dealing with a breed that is bred to extremes (silkies/vaults and calls/bills) yes because we are pushing those 'good' and wanted traits but sometimes we mess up, we are humans not chickens and we are using electricity and water to duplicate a hens underside but even broodies get poor hatch rates so it's really anyone's guess

This is a joke, right? Someone is punking me, because they know how I would react to this ridiculous post?

I am refusing to bite.
Who did this?

@DwayneNLiz
@rjohns39
@shawluvsbirds
@Wickedchicken6
@holm25

I know it was one of you. No one would really think this! Fess Up, I caught you!

not me

Unfortunately most affordable cheap incubators have little water trays that make you open the incubator two times a day. and the ventilation holes make things difficult when it comes to opening it as little as possible.

you need to get some aquarium tubing and a turkey baster or syringe

 

[duluthralphie]

Actually, I have decided it is not a joke, The OP and I have been talking in PM"s.

We have discussed her/his problem. I have a picture from them showing the setup they used to put water into the incubator. It is similar to one I use when I "slum it" and use a foamy.

I think they are trying to hatch in a room that is too cold or they have too much humidity inside the incubator. (I know too much humidity inside a foamy is hard to do, but can be done)..

The picture shows the "windows" on the foamy and they have a considerable moisture build up on them.

Even if the humidity is correct right up until lockdown, Too much humidity is going to cost you birds at hatching. Which would explain why so many pip and die.

Now that I have bestowed all my knowledge unto them. We can expect them to have 100% hatches from now on....

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Actually, I have decided it is not a joke, The OP and I have been talking in PM"s.

We have discussed her/his problem. I have a picture from them showing the setup they used to put water into the incubator. It is similar to one I use when I "slum it" and use a foamy.

I think they are trying to hatch in a room that is too cold or they have too much humidity inside the incubator. (I know too much humidity inside a foamy is hard to do, but can be done)..

The picture shows the "windows" on the foamy and they have a considerable moisture build up on them.

Even if the humidity is correct right up until lockdown, Too much humidity is going to cost you birds at hatching. Which would explain why so many pip and die.

Now that I have bestowed all my knowledge unto them. We can expect them to have 100% hatches from now on....