I haven't said much about my most recent hatch because it was such a disaster. Of 48 eggs set, only 7 hatched. They were sticky, sickly, and four of the seven had leg issues. I was just a basket case over these guys. Once I saw who couldn't stand, I made orthopedic appliances for them. Some had shoes to correct curled toes, some had hobbles for splayed legs and two had both. It was sad and disheartening. I checked out the
Brinsea Eco and realized that the mercury (or whatever the blue stuff is) had separated and it just looked like it was holding steady. The rest of the mercury was down at the bottom. I have no idea what temp these guys incubated at. I know they all had a hard time hatching, didn't fluff up for two days, and just had a rough start.
I am happy to say that the hobbles and shoes have all been removed and they all seem to be fine now. The one that was the worst had both legs flat out to the sides with no ability to stand at all. I just took his hobble off today and the shoes came off yesterday. He still has one curved toe but can stand and get around just like the others! I am going to watch him closely and put the hobble back on if he needs it. He spent the first two days of his life trying to get out of the little plastic containers, shot glasses, and boxes I tried to keep him in. He would cheep constantly until he mangaed to get out or turn it over and scoot over to the other chicks then he settled right down. I finally just gave in and let him be. This chick was the only one of 24 eggs in the
Brinsea Advance to make it to hatch. Just look at him this morning!
Here's the whole group. The two darker ones were camera shy. I didn't have any chipmunk pattern hatch this time. I am sure some of the other 41 eggs had chipmunk patterned chicks in them though.
My plan now is to replace the thermometer in the ECO and send the Advance in for repair when the emu eggs are done using it. At that point I may just decide to sell them both and start again with something else.
