Homeschool Hatch-Along (2/23 hatch)

[Mjismom]

The kids are so happy with the two we got. Praise the Lord it wasn’t a total loss! And we all learned so much!

 

[Cheekychook12]

She didn’t make it. Thank you so much for all your help. I can see now why you are an early assister, Slothinc. I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long like so many resources say to do. I’m pretty sure I would have been able to save her if I would have done it earlier. I cried. I’m glad my kids didn’t.

I told them we are going to a local hatchery to get some chicks this week to add to this brood. And on top of that, my friend gave me 10 fertile eggs so I get to do this all over again.

I had the exact same result, two surviving chicks out of twelve eggs my first time, lessons were learnt and I’m slowly getting better
It is good you are getting them buddies, I raised my two alone and they bonded too much..
Are these next eggs being shipped?
Lots of people may disagree with this but if there’s no progress I usually help after 12 hours and sometimes less
My two when they were babies

 

[tviss711]

She didn’t make it. Thank you so much for all your help. I can see now why you are an early assister, Slothinc. I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long like so many resources say to do. I’m pretty sure I would have been able to save her if I would have done it earlier. I cried. I’m glad my kids didn’t.

I told them we are going to a local hatchery to get some chicks this week to add to this brood. And on top of that, my friend gave me 10 fertile eggs so I get to do this all over again.

Don’t beat yourself up. You did the best you could with the knowledge you had, and tried to make the best call for her. It’s so hard to know when to wait and when to help. I’m not super experienced but I remember the agony of not knowing what to do, to try and help (with the fear of doing more harm than good), or not help (with the fear of them dying because they needed assistance). You did a great job and I’m sure your next hatch will be great, too, and you’ll learn even more. You have two beautiful babies!

If it helps at all, I was pondering the loss of my little chick Hunnicutt, and I came to the conclusion that for her whole life (even though it was cut short), all she ever knew was what it felt like to be kept warm and comfortable. The same is true for your little baby. you did a great job!

 

[Squawkers]

I know I am late to the party, but I have been following this thread and just wanted to say my first hatch was pretty similar. I started with six eggs, only three made it to lockdown. One died while hatching and one never started hatching. I only got one chick from that, and of course it was a rooster.

 

[Slothinc]

She didn’t make it. Thank you so much for all your help. I can see now why you are an early assister, Slothinc. I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long like so many resources say to do. I’m pretty sure I would have been able to save her if I would have done it earlier. I cried. I’m glad my kids didn’t.

I told them we are going to a local hatchery to get some chicks this week to add to this brood. And on top of that, my friend gave me 10 fertile eggs so I get to do this all over again.

You did so great! I can’t tell you how many times I have cried over chicks. It is so hard! And many times I have started with a dozen or more eggs and only had 1-2 that hatched (and sometimes zero if they really got beat up in shipping.) Im so glad you are going to get these babies some friends and also that you’re going to hatch some from your friend! Super exciting congrats on your two adorable babies

 

[Mjismom]

I had the exact same result, two surviving chicks out of twelve eggs my first time, lessons were learnt and I’m slowly getting better
It is good you are getting them buddies, I raised my two alone and they bonded too much..
Are these next eggs being shipped?
Lots of people may disagree with this but if there’s no progress I usually help after 12 hours and sometimes less
My two when they were babies

Oh my goodness!! So cute!! Thank you so much for sharing. This really helps me feel better. The next eggs are not shipped - my friend was so sweet and gave them to me yesterday. They are random breeds so I won’t be too invested in these (I hope - lol).

And yes I agree now - I think I should have helped at the 24 hour mark at the very latest. I think she was still trying to peck at least an hour or two before I assisted. I honestly didn’t know she could die in there if she was pipped. Some resources said 40 hours! I’ve learned so much.

 

[Mjismom]

Don’t beat yourself up. You did the best you could with the knowledge you had, and tried to make the best call for her. It’s so hard to know when to wait and when to help. I’m not super experienced but I remember the agony of not knowing what to do, to try and help (with the fear of doing more harm than good), or not help (with the fear of them dying because they needed assistance). You did a great job and I’m sure your next hatch will be great, too, and you’ll learn even more. You have two beautiful babies!

If it helps at all, I was pondering the loss of my little chick Hunnicutt, and I came to the conclusion that for her whole life (even though it was cut short), all she ever knew was what it felt like to be kept warm and comfortable. The same is true for your little baby. you did a great job!

Awww. Thank you for this!!

 

[Mjismom]

I know I am late to the party, but I have been following this thread and just wanted to say my first hatch was pretty similar. I started with six eggs, only three made it to lockdown. One died while hatching and one never started hatching. I only got one chick from that, and of course it was a rooster.

Oh man! You had a rough go of it too! Why did people tell me this is easy??

 

[Mjismom]

You did so great! I can’t tell you how many times I have cried over chicks. It is so hard! And many times I have started with a dozen or more eggs and only had 1-2 that hatched (and sometimes zero if they really got beat up in shipping.) Im so glad you are going to get these babies some friends and also that you’re going to hatch some from your friend! Super exciting congrats on your two adorable babies

Thank you so much!! And thank you again so so much for your help! I printed your instructions and had them right next to me as I did it. I know your instructions would have saved her life if I would have done it earlier (as you also said!) So thank you for taking the time. It was so helpful and truly means a lot.

 

[Squawkers]

Oh man! You had a rough go of it too! Why did people tell me this is easy??

I don't know who would have told you it was easy!! Hatching is definitely challenging.