Is it time to intervene?

[shandiane78]

I set the eggs the evening of 3/10. So I'm considering it the 23rd day today, until evening comes, when it switches to day 24. Yesterday and last night, we had 6 out of 15 eggs hatch. Now today, we have had none, though two have pips, and I can hear one chirping. Is it best to wait at this point, or might things be getting critical for these stragglers?

Thanks for your advice!

*edit* The two that have pips today have been that way since yesterday evening. No changes since then.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

What has your humidity been at? Have you opened the incubator? If humidity is low, or you've opened it up (yes, even once) the chicks could be shrink wrapped and they won't hatch on their own, and you'll need to help them. IF your humidity has been fine, and you haven't opened the bator, there's a really good chance they weren't meant to hatch in the first place, it is from personal experience that I tell you if this is the case, DO NOT help them hatch!! Also, I have read on here that some people have had hatches go to day 25 or so...

 

[equine chick]

If it has been 24 hours since the pip and still no progress I would intervene especially if the breathing seems irratic or slowing down. It's a gamble but I have found after 24 hours it gets very slim if they are not hatched at this point. This happened the other day over 24 hours since pipped and I only ended up saving one, the rest were dead. Just be careful of the blood vessels. I usually pick the shell first just enough to see the chick and it it is moving and seems okay I put it back in the brooder. I cover it in a wet warm paper towel if I need to further take off the membrane. I don't like helping but sometimes you have too. I have a gorgeous fat black amercauna that would not be here if I didn't I am sure.

 

[shandiane78]

Thanks for your replies. I have opened the incubator to take out the hatchlings from yesterday. I wasn't comfortable leaving them in there overnight because they were starting to climb on top of each other and get over my barrier that protects them from the fan, the light, and the water dish. So the humidity has varied quite a bit. On the two that are pipped, I've been keeping an eye on those membranes. When they turn white, I mist in warm water, and/or add a wet sponge. I have opened it quite a bit (adding water, etc). It appears to be quite humid in there right now, but that has not been the case through the whole hatching process. There have been times that they have dried out some. I don't have anything in there to monitor the humidity, so it's all guess work on my part. So...The short story is, humidity has not been constant.

Thanks again!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Then at this point I would definitely get in there and start helping. crack away all the top of the shell, slowly and carefully, as the membrane can stick to it and rupture blood vessels. If there is inner membrane stuck to the chick (very likely at this point) carefully peel it away, and just rub membrane back off the chick. Don't peel it/tear it (other than the dried part) or you'll rupture blood vessels. Once you've rolled back some membrane, the chick may push up and out of the rest of the shell. If it's fairly weak, lift its head out, and put the whole thing back into the incubator for a rest. Repeat with the other one. Good luck!!

 

[shandiane78]

Thanks CloverleafFarm! I will give it a try. What about the ones that have not pipped?

Thanks again!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

You can candle them and see if there is any movement while you've got the bator open anyway...if you don't see any movement or hear any peeping, gently tap a little hole in the air cell and chip away the shell like you are doing for the others and see what you've got.


You're welcome!!

 

[shandiane78]

Thanks again, Cloverleaf Farm. It was exactly as you said. They were way too dried out.

The two that had pipped were dead. I decided at that point to open them all up. Five in all were dead in their shells. The remaining four, I put back in the incubator after opening, because they were not ready to come out. I put a hole in the side of the box so I could mist in warm water regularly without opening (just covered hole with tape between mistings). Of those four, two have died at this point. The other two are peeping and their beaks are sticking out. They seem to be doing ok. Honestly, if they make it I'll be shocked and very thankful. Looks like I have a long night ahead of me...My so-called incubator is a cardboard box, and it doesn't hold the moisture very well. I'll have to keep misting them, I think.

This is my first hatch, and I guess it was foiled by design flaw in my incubator. The chicks were a little taller and more vigorous than I'd expected. If I'd thought my barrier would hold them, I'd have left them in! But I couldn't go to bed thinking they could get hit by the fan, drown in the water, or burned by the light. *sigh* Live and learn I guess. Considering all the difficulties I had, I'm feeling lucky to have the six in the brooder right now. Honestly though, I don't think I'll ever do this again!!! At least not with an incubator. I might try hatching with a broody hen. Ok, I'm rambling now. I haven't slept much the past couple days!

Thanks for your help! If either of these make it, I have you to thank.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
I'm sorry about the lost babies

I'm glad I could help. We are all here to learn, some lessons are just more painful than others. Don't give up on incubating, if you can swing it, save up for a Hovabator 1588, it's very user friendly, and I've had amazing hatches in them!! Good luck with the others!!

 

[shandiane78]

Thank you! I was trying to see if those two remaining could hatch out if I kept them extra moist, but they could not. Once I saw that they were struggling, I figured they were ready, and got them out myself around 12:30 this morning. Talk about stressful!!! One bled a bit. That had me really worried, but both appear to be doing well this morning, thanks to your advice!

I am pleased to have 8 out of 15, but of course sad about the ones that didn't make it, because there was nothing wrong with them. It was just my mistakes. Who knows...There may be a next time. Just months ago, I was saying I never wanted to hatch chicks in an incubator. Then I became consumed with the idea almost overnight. LOL!

THANK YOU AND HAPPY EASTER!