I need EMERGENCY advice. sorry it posted twice for some reason

[silkiebeginer]

My eggs are not due to hatch until Friday. So last night was my last night of turning them. Well I had the humidity between 50 and 55% and opened the bator once yesterday morning, once around 6 pm to turn the eggs. Then at about 11 pm last night i was turning them for the last time. I felt moving and heard noise inside a couple of the eggs and I found that one had been pecked. 1 little peck whole. So now I am wondering if i should go ahead and finish hatching that egg now? I tried to hurry and get humidity up to 70. But I had to have the incubator open for about 5 min. to get it filled up with water. That was after having it open for about 2 min turning the eggs. So I am afraid that the chick is going to stick and die. I saw the egg moving last night thru the window. But its now been about 7 hours since I noticed the pecked spot. So should i help it even though it is 2 days early and give it at least a chance? If I should open the egg, how do i go about doing that? Thanks for any advice ASAP. Thank you from a first timer.

Jennifer

 

[justusnak]

Jennifer.....this is the hardest part of incubateing....leave it be. If you have the humidity up now.....it should be ok. Once the humidity is up, the shell will soften and the chick should be able to get out by itself. Just leave the lid shut, and watch. This might take several days.....but it will be ok. Keep us posted! and get pics!

 

[silkiebeginer]

Thanks Deb...LOL I have heard this is the hardest part. I was just surprised that they were starting a few days early. I just looked thru the window and noticed another one of the eggs that was moving a whole lot has a small peck spot on it also. I hope me turning them last night didn't get them too out of wack. But how was i to know they would start the hatch process a day or 2 early,lol. But right now my humidity is 70-71%. I was counting yesterday as day 18 since I put them in on the 20th of July. But i hope i am on track now and will have some healthy babies in the next couple of days. Thanks so much for your help and support.

Jennifer

 

[tiffanyh]

Definately leave them--ecspecially if another is hatching now. good Luck!

 

[silkiebeginer]

I am going to take your alls advice and just leave them be and hope for the best. I am going to try not to stand over the bator looking through the windows all day either.LOL. It is gonna be over 100 degrees here today with the heat index. I am in southeastern KY. So with me staying inside all day it will be hard to not stand over it,lol. It will be way to hot to have my 3 year old out today and the school better not have my 6 year old out long either. I hope my poor hen on her eggs outside will be ok. I will keep changing the water all day but she rarely gets off those eggs. They are due around Saturday. The chick coop is under a Catalpa tree so it has shade. If she'll just come out of the nesting box to drink all should be well. I wouldn't dare trying to put water in next to her because she is a bit fiesty right now. Sorry to run on so long, I am a talker. Thanks again to Deb and Tiffanyh for the advice.

Jennifer

 

[justusnak]

Jennifer....I know they heat, UGH! I am in S Indiana....in the 100's with heat index. COME ON FALL!!!
Maybe you can find something to keep yourself busy?? Watch ice freeze....count chicken feathers...LOL This is the hardest part, in my opinion. Its like being in the last stages of pregnancy. Good luck on your hatch...make sure you keep us posted, and get pics!!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I posted under your other page, woops. I know its hard, but dont let the birds go a couple days in the egg, theyll be dead in a couple days trust me. After the first pip the chick has to be out in 24 hours, otherwise they get too tired and quit trying. More advice on the other thread

 

[silkiebeginer]

Ok 4-H chicken mom.....As much as I hated to, Iopened the bator and added an extra little cup of water to get humidity up just a touch more. I also picked up the egg that has the big peck place, the shell actually is more cracked looking then pecked but I couldn't tell if it had poked thru the layer of stuff right under the shell. But I did feel it moving and hear a pecking. So I will give it till late this evening and then if I need to help it I would try to do so. But i would need step by step instructions from you,lol. If you wouldn't mind emailing me or IMing me. But I see more eggs moving in there so it must be getting that time. I believe i seen another with the tinniest peck mark, so that makes 3. I am trying to get the humidity up to 75-80 to help soften the shell. I will check back here in a little while. Thanks to all who are helping make my first hatch as sucessful as possible.

Jennifer

P.S. If they seem to still be having trouble late tonight, should I try to use a spray bottle and mist a little over the eggs now and then?

P.S. to all of those hollering oh no she opened it,lol I tried to make it fast and my humidity said 66 when I shut the lid back and now is well on its way back up. So it don't look like it dipped below 65 for only about 1 min.