How come people are so anxious to help chicks hatch?

[poultrykeeper08]

i have helped chicks hatch alot and i have never had a problem . They are always healthy and never die . I have a little giant and when the chick pip the inside skin of the egg dries out and if i dont help they die . I guess im just lucky !

 

[aberfitch]

the inside membrain of the egg should not dry out if there is enough moisture in the bator.

 

[ChickNLittle]

I have a little giant bator also. And I also notice that after the pips "on the brown eggs", the membrane does dry out. Even with great humidity. It don't happen on the white eggs! ??

 

[NYREDS]

Everyone who posts a hatching question on this site should read this thread! NATURE KNOWS BEST! Hens don't "help" chicks out of the shell-neither do other birds.
If the chick is intended to hatch it will & it will do so w/o help.
Anyone who is at all interested in raising healthy poultry will want to start with healthy chicks that are meant, by nature, to survive.

 

[Corey NC]

I am really bad about helping eggs and I know it.

But I just get it stuck in my head that "what if I wait too long and it dies?" I just worry that'll be too late which I have been before, but every chick that I've helped has always made it.

I just wish there was an easier way to tell when I shoul intervene.

 

[tiki244]

This is a good thread hinkjc and very informative----maybe the reason newcomers get the idea to help chicks hatch is because right when you go to Incubating & Hatching Eggs there is a big sticky on top that says "helping your chicks hatch"

 

[tazcat70]

With my first an only hatch I helped. I doubt that they really needed my help but as someone said I was impatient. This time (set them 4/3 am) I plan to be sitting on my hands!

 

[twigg]

Quote:
Hey Jody,

Two things pleased me about this post.

Firstly, lot's of people agreed, and secondly .... what a healthy dose of reality on an site that can tend towards over-complicated rationalisation, at times.

It's simple folks ....... get the settings right and, except once in a long while .... leave them alone. The healthy and strong will survive.

Well said.

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
If the membrane is too dry and you have had humidity at the right levels try limiting airflow over the eggs by leaving the plugs in the last 3 days. It has worked for a few I know.

 

[jimnjay]

Excellent Thread Jody! It has bothered me in the past how anxious our newbies are to help or interfere with an ongoing hatch. I will never forget all the posts on the original BYC to STEP AWAY FROM THE BATOR! I started out much like the rest and tried to save that poor baby trying to make it out but I have finally learned to let nature take its course.

Humidity issues can cause the membrane to stick but the thing to remember is that bad humidity can also cause all kind of development issues. The ones that hatch in spite of the incubation problems are the healthy and hearty chicks you want in your flock.

I agree that this thread should be required reading for those just starting the adventure of hatching chicks. Good choice for a Sticky