Hold my hand through first hatch?

[beckylein15]

Hi guys,

So all 9 of the khaki eggs I had incubated and posted about before made it through! We had started 4 in the incubator and 5 under a broody hen borrowed from a friend, but after sitting on them for a night, she bailed, so those 5 went into the incubator probably 18h later.

Yesterday was day 26/27 (started at 1PM), and 2 had internally pipped at 6:45AM yesterday. When I woke up this morning, neither had yet externally pipped, so I made him a safety hole per the assisted hatching guide and popped them back in. The shell of duckling #1 was very, very thick and hard compared with #2. Is the likelihood I will need to help that one further higher because the shell was so hard and thick? I hear those two peeping and I can hear most of the rest doing the clicky breath sounds. I'm so excited.

So now...I will wait as patiently as I can. Would you wait with me and hand-hold me through this?

 

[Isaac 0]

The thickness of the shell can definitely play a role in whether you need to assist or not, the thick-shelled one you may need to help if it doesn't start to progress within 48 hours, time will tell. It can definitely be stressful, just try not to "over assist" the eggs as it can actually do more damage. Keep us posted on your hatch!

 

[edoucet]

Hey @beckylein15 I am in the middle of my first hatch too!! We can do it!

 

[beckylein15]

Hey @beckylein15 I am in the middle of my first hatch too!! We can do it!

Yay! What are you hatching? Please keep me updated - it's nice to have folks who understand

 

[edoucet]

Yay! What are you hatching? Please keep me updated - it's nice to have folks who understand

I’m hatching Indian runner ducklings. How about you?

 

[beckylein15]

Oh, lovely! How many are in there? Runners are so adorable - I was very torn between runners and khakis but had easiest access tofertile khaki campbell eggs from a friend.

 

[edoucet]

Oh, lovely! How many are in there? Runners are so adorable - I was very torn between runners and khakis but had easiest access tofertile khaki campbell eggs from a friend.

I’ve got seven in there currently. I’ve never owned birds before so it should be interesting! I got my eggs from a local hobby farmer.

 

[beckylein15]

I haven't had birds before either - we just adopted 3 Rhode Island Red chickens who were "retired" at 18mo from a local egg farm. They are in pretty rough shape, but I am feeling pretty good about being able to nurse them to health. I wasn't planning to add chickens to the crew until later this summer or next spring, but here we are! Built them their own little A-frame coop this weekend.

 

[beckylein15]

Two of the later set have pipped the shell! The two I made safety holes for are peeping away but no progress. I plan to leave them to their own devices until tomorrow morning (48h) as long as they are peeping and seem well tonight and then assist if needed. I love hearing their little voices!

And the new ladies survived the night, which I am so glad about (their food/water situation isn't permanent - I've got PVC on order for that but it'll go below in the run anyways and they were so freaked out when we got them here that I thought it was probably best to contain them a while - plus it's snowy and so windy and they're pretty much naked ).

 

[Isaac 0]

How exciting! Good for you for rescuing those poor hens!