Incubator newbie. Refrigerated eggs.

[RubyNala97]

I'm a doula, will be starting midwifery next year. It's crazy how these things being back those memories!

This one pipped around 26 -28 hours ago, I decided to help. I've broken away some shell and wrapped in some wet paper towel. Chicks still alive but seems pretty weak. There's still some hair thin veins in the membrane which by now I think should be receded? I've peeled back some of the outer membrane as it was really dry despite the humidity, I think it's the fan in the incubator. Almost been an hour since I last had him out so I'll check again, see if there's anything more I can do then go to bed I think,

Well number 3 decided to finally join us, I was up at 630 and there he was, he is the mini brooder now drying off. The other 2 are fully fluffed and finding their feet.
So that's 100% hatch rate on what went into lockdown, 75% hatch in total, and the one that didn't make it was my fault so all in all I think my experiment was a huge success! Not bad for over 2 week old eggs who had 1 week in the fridge!
More photos soon once kids are at school

That is super cool that you are a doula. I've looked into that myself, as I'm a big advocate for natural childbirth when possible. I looked into having my babies at "the farm" in TN with Ina May. I spoke to the women there. Very great group of midwives. Love her books too! Congrats on the great hatch! Sounds like you did the right thing with that assist. So happy for you. Looking forward to seeing more pics!

 

[ChristieB]

 

[ChristieB]

I wish I lived in the US, I would love to birth at the farm, in fact I'd love to replicate the farm here once I've finished my study, our birthing situation is far better than there but still so medicalised. Being a doula is amazing! Tiring of course but I get to be there to witness a new life beginning, no matter how many times I see it it's always amazing best job ever

 

[RubyNala97]

I wish I lived in the US, I would love to birth at the farm, in fact I'd love to replicate the farm here once I've finished my study, our birthing situation is far better than there but still so medicalised. Being a doula is amazing! Tiring of course but I get to be there to witness a new life beginning, no matter how many times I see it it's always amazing best job ever

I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were not in the U.S.! Yes, birthing got very rough here for awhile. When I had my first child 10 years ago very few people were doing anything but scheduling their elective cs. I just had my last child 8 months ago and things changed so much in just those 10 years. Sorry, this is another topic I could talk about all day. Birth & chickens. Lol.

 

[ChristieB]

Unfortunately tragedy in the form of my cat has struck, only one chick survived. Fortunately I've just had a hen go broody, I was thinking about giving her the 3 anyway but left with a single chick too small to go with the others I decided to just do it, couldn't wait till dark and I'd already separated her so I just slipped the chick straight under her. 24 hours later and all is still well, Cho, the broody seems pretty chuffed to have a chick