incubation

[kuchchicks]

Don't do anything right now. If they don't pip on there own I usually don't assist. It never turns out well. As for the others you need to give them time. There is a lot going on at the end. The chick is absorbing yolk and blood. They don't always hatch right on day 21. Sometimes it's 20 sometimes 22. 21 days is just a guideline. I do believe in assisting but also believe it needs to be a last resort. Assisting can cause its own issues. You can kill the chick while trying to help. Or you may end up with a special needs bird or one you need to cull later. I'm not trying to discourage you from assisting. Like I said I am a believer. But don't rush it. Most chicks will hatch completely on their own. It's only a small percentage that truly need help. Hatching is a long, exhausting process and chicks will rest frequently when they start. The entire process can literally take all day. I have noticed most chicks take 12-18 hours from the time they pip until they hatch. But I have had some take a little longer. If in the end you a chick that you feel needs assistance there is a thread that was just recently started for people who want help. I'll see if I can find the link. But I highly encourage you to wait (I know it's hard) and research a lot before acting.

 

[kuchchicks]

Here is that link to hands on helping. There are a lot of knowledgable people who have a lot of experience. But like I said it's too early to start assisting right now.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1081034/hands-on-hatching-and-help

 

[emmaellis111]

so my husband opened the egg as he was more then 90% the chick was dead, when he opened it the chick was a good size and defo filled the egg, the membrains looked fine too, and at lot of water, (advised to turn humidity up) my husband said that the chick has drowned, i am absolutly bloody gutted, the little chick was beautiful

 

[AmyLynn2374]

so my husband opened the egg as he was more then 90% the chick was dead, when he opened it the chick was a good size and defo filled the egg, the membrains looked fine too, and at lot of water, (advised to turn humidity up) my husband said that the chick has drowned, i am absolutly bloody gutted, the little chick was beautiful

Sorry to hear that. What was your humidity running for the first 17 days? Sounds like it was probably more than 45%?

 

[emmaellis111]

i cant remember what it was at first but i no the chick was fine cuz it was moving around, and i was adviced to higher the humidity, so i did and after i highered it to 75 and then next thing i no it wasnt moving at all,

 

[AmyLynn2374]

The thing is if your humidity was high the first 17 days the chick will still be moving around usually until time to hatch at which point it drowns unable to pip into a clear air cell. The extra fluid in the egg points to the fact that they egg did not loose enough moisture prior to lockdown. Higher humidity at hatch time is needed. This does not add moisture to the egg. It provides moisture to the air so when the chick pips the membranes do not dry out and stick to the chick making it impossible to progress or in worse case scenerio totally shrink wrapping the chick all together.

I myself incubate at 30% and higher to 75% at lockdown for hatch.

Here's some more info on humidity and it's control if you are interested. I hope you don't give up and maybe try again and consider using a low humidity incubation method such as the one in the link. Many of us have bad hatches before we find what works for you. Unfortunetely in most cases it's trial and error.

http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

 

[kuchchicks]

The thing is if your humidity was high the first 17 days the chick will still be moving around usually until time to hatch at which point it drowns unable  to pip into a clear air cell. The extra fluid in the egg points to the fact that they egg did not loose enough moisture prior to lockdown. Higher humidity at hatch time is needed. This does not add moisture to the egg. It provides moisture to the air so when the chick pips the membranes do not dry out and stick to the chick making it impossible to progress or in worse case scenerio totally shrink wrapping the chick all together. 

I myself incubate at 30% and higher to 75% at lockdown for hatch.

Here's some more info on humidity and it's control if you are interested. I hope you don't give up and maybe try again and consider using a low humidity incubation method such as the one in the link. Many of us have bad hatches before we find what works for you. Unfortunetely in most cases it's trial and error.

http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

x2. I'm so very sorry for your loss. But yes drowning is due to too high humidity during first 17 days. Try a little lower next round. Don't give up. Good luck.

 

[melmel89]

Hi all, i am a silkie lover and have tried now 3 times to hatch with no success yet, twice under a hen and now under a incubator. Had 24 eggs in this incubator, discovered yesterday at day 21 that only 3 were feetile. Checked one of the three today, it was under developed for day 22, still had a full yolk sack. Im leaving the other two but am sure they will be weak hatches. Im wanting to try again in an incubator, please give me tips as i am using a yellow ce incubator that is unable to be seen through . Only way to see is to open it. I am thinking to put the next eggs in and just not touch

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi all, i am a silkie lover and have tried now 3 times to hatch with no success yet, twice under a hen and now under a incubator. Had 24 eggs in this incubator, discovered yesterday at day 21 that only 3 were feetile. Checked one of the three today, it was under developed for day 22, still had a full yolk sack. Im leaving the other two but am sure they will be weak hatches. Im wanting to try again in an incubator, please give me tips as i am using a yellow ce incubator that is unable to be seen through . Only way to see is to open it. I am thinking to put the next eggs in and just not touch

I am very hands on and have high success in my hatches, so my advice is a little slanted to that perspective. First off do you have your own thermometer and hygrometer in the bator that has been checked? That is #1 priority. What temps and humidity are you incubating at? It sounds as though temps are a little low if at day 22 they are behind in development. Your incubator is a forced air incubator, right?

 

[melmel89]

Hi amylynn, i have been incubating at 37.5 degrees and humidity has been 45 to 50. I dont have my own thermometer in it, yes it is a forced air .