I really could use some sound advice....

[Laurie39]

Hi, my name is Laurie. I am from Pennsylvania. I am new to raising chickens and have recently decided to incubate Brahma eggs. Well, when I began this adventure, I took only the advice of a friend of mine, who seemed to know what they were talking about. Little did I know that this would be one adventure I shall never forget.
I am having trouble with my eggs at the pipping stage. They start to pip and then stop. The first one died in the egg not even 12 hours after the start of pipping. The second one died due to assisting too quickly, again per advice from a friend. The third one is in the incubater as we speak, hanging on for life. I just don't know what to do at this point. What is going so wrong with the eggs? This third one, I assisted following a thread online, but when the chick kicked its legs out of the shell, the chord/yolk sac is still attatched and is not inside but on the outside. The chick is very weak. It is peeping, breathing & jerking but not moving as it should be & the end of shell is stil attatched.
Does anyone have any advice to provide me with. I really could use some help!!!!

Thank you

 

[SA Farm]

What are your temperature and humidity levels like?

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry you are having these troubles. There are a few things that can cause the chicks to pip and not hatch...Not enough moisture in the incubator during lock down, (chicks will stick to the inside of the egg and die) your vents are not open and the chicks are not getting enough oxygen, or possibly your eggs were not set right during incubation. (large end tilted upwards a bit).

As for the one hatched with a yolk not yet absorbed, this can be caused by your temps being too high. In the future, it is never a good idea to ever help a baby out of the egg unless it is more than 50% or 75% out of the shell. For this little one that has not absorbed the yolk, get him under 100 degree heat. They don't always make it when they hatch like this, but sometimes high heat will get them started. Like a premature baby. Keep him separate from the others so he doesn't get trampled. If he does manage to absorb the yolk, he will in a day or so and you can mix him back in.

Here is a link to our incubation page that you might read over...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-just-21-days-from-egg-to-chicken

You can also post this question in our Incubation and Hatching Eggs Forums for more help as well....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs

Good luck with your chicks and welcome to BYC!

 

[Laurie39]

Humidity and temps have been pretty much spot on. Haven't had that problem. As far as the position, they are laying. I'm hand turning them. is there anything else I should do for this chick? I seen where someone swaddled a chick in a warm paper towel? Thank you for the welcome! I have gotten a majority of my knowledge from this site.

 

[Kelsie2290]

You might try putting the chick in a small jar or plastic tub to let it continue absorbing the yolk sack without being disturbed, not sure if you have seen it, but the Hatching Eggs 101 article talks about open navels and unabsorbed yolk sacks etc and some things to try, about 3/4 way down the page. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[CarolinaHen]

It sounds like you are helping too soon. It can take from 24-36 hours after the first pip for a chick to start zipping. Don't rush the hatch.

 

[Laurie39]

Thank you everyone!!!

 

[Laurie39]

The little guy is still doing well. The shell is still attached by the chord/yolk sac. He is a little active, but still just lays. Not sure what I could do to help him. He is in the incubator at 99.5 degrees. Should I just keep him in there? Is he warm enough? Or should he be moved to a brooder with a heat lamp? Being my first experience with this, I am not sure how to handle it.
Any advice from more experienced people?
Thank you. Everyone has been so nice

 

[SA Farm]

The little guy is still doing well. The shell is still attached by the chord/yolk sac. He is a little active, but still just lays. Not sure what I could do to help him. He is in the incubator at 99.5 degrees. Should I just keep him in there? Is he warm enough? Or should he be moved to a brooder with a heat lamp? Being my first experience with this, I am not sure how to handle it.
Any advice from more experienced people?
Thank you. Everyone has been so nice

Leave him in there until he's absorbed the yolk and has started to fluff. It will also be more stressful for him if you move him without a buddy, so hopefully one of the other chicks will hatch or you may need to buy yourself a day-old for company for him.
Everyone who has replied are experienced with hatching chicks and have offered you excellent advice, including giving you links to tried and true information on hatching.
Hope the little one makes it

 

[Laurie39]

I meant more experienced than me. I did look at the links but I couldn't find similar to my situation. His feathers are like drying pasted to him. Is this normal?