Jan./Feb. 2014 hatch a long

[gimmie birdies]

I have a silky mix in my incubator it is a normal sized silky egg- but I see 2 embryos in their and there is soo much movement a tai boxing match going on.

 

[Heidisgran]

so final tally... Three hatched... Only one looks to make it, its up chirping and running around!! The other with splayed leg and curled toes, not so great, tried to help it but its pretty bad.. One still in the incubator, swollen purple color tummy, from what I have read its caused from not absorbing the yolk sack properly? Candled the remaining eggs, all dead, one had pipped the air cell and died, the rest I suspect drowned, never tried to pip... So sad to make it so far and see all these fully formed chicks in the shell..
Going to leave the little one with the swollen tummy in the incubator today and see how it does.
DH was frustrated as I was last night doing eggtopsies, , they were perfect chicks! many had almost absorbed their yolk


My brother called last night and wants me to incubate their eggs, I know the best thing to do when you fall from a bike is get right back on, but I didn't realize how much a bad hatch could be so emotionally draining! Told him to go ahead and save their eggs and we could set them this weekend.
Things I'll do different

1) never be so confident
2) move the bator into the spare room, better climate control in there
3) make sure temps are stable, I really think the swing of just 2 degree's is what did it..
4) go back to what worked the first time.. Temp of 101-102 and humidity between 45-50 until lockdown.

look up mushy chick

 

[Heidisgran]

it got cold last night and I brought in my 3 month old hen and 2, 5 week old chicks they have a heat lamp- but it was still pretty cold I think they liked it. briefly I put in my baby chicks as it was dark and they all crawled under the 3 month old hen and she had her wings spread to hold them.babies having babies.

got down to the 20's here last night...even my 7 week olds stayed out...handled it fine...don't want whimpy birds

but case by case because an immature unfeathered bird or tiny bantam I'd crate and bring in for the night

 

[AmericanMom]

look up mushy chick

Yes, I believe that's what it is.. Trying to keep it comfortable and clean, Put some iodine around the cord that's still attached.. wait and see, I don't hold out a lot of hope.

 

[Cynthia12]

I now have a Silkie out.

However, she left a perfectly formed yolk inside the shell. And she is not attached to the shell or yolk and has nothing hanging out her navel. Could it have been a second yolk in there?

Does anyone have suggestions for if the she didn't absorb the yolk?

Yes, I've seen it, but, you are lucky! Usually they don't make it. They will quit either close to lock down, or during. When I open one and see a perfectly formed chick, but it's gone, then wonder why..then I see the extra yolk. I'm so happy yours made it.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I am warming up the brooder that they had been in until recently. just too cold they will be happier.

 

[Cynthia12]

so final tally... Three hatched... Only one looks to make it, its up chirping and running around!! The other with splayed leg and curled toes, not so great, tried to help it but its pretty bad.. One still in the incubator, swollen purple color tummy, from what I have read its caused from not absorbing the yolk sack properly? Candled the remaining eggs, all dead, one had pipped the air cell and died, the rest I suspect drowned, never tried to pip... So sad to make it so far and see all these fully formed chicks in the shell..
Going to leave the little one with the swollen tummy in the incubator today and see how it does.
DH was frustrated as I was last night doing eggtopsies, , they were perfect chicks! many had almost absorbed their yolk


My brother called last night and wants me to incubate their eggs, I know the best thing to do when you fall from a bike is get right back on, but I didn't realize how much a bad hatch could be so emotionally draining! Told him to go ahead and save their eggs and we could set them this weekend.
Things I'll do different

1) never be so confident
2) move the bator into the spare room, better climate control in there
3) make sure temps are stable, I really think the swing of just 2 degree's is what did it..
4) go back to what worked the first time.. Temp of 101-102 and humidity between 45-50 until lockdown.

aww, sorry for the bad hatch. The tummy on the one should go down. Give it some time.

Splayed leg is very easy to take care of. Tape them thar legs closer together, set them in a low wide glass for a day, and they should be fine. If not, put the tape back on and leave them taped for another half a day. The curled toes usually uncurl after a day, if not..give it some booties. I use electrical tape. Sooo easy to work with.

I use the wider tape, and if the leg is splayed I just cut the width in half to tape the legs together. This tape goes on so easily, and comes off easily when taking it off..but..stays on well! I hadn't trimmed the corners yet..I round the corners up.

 

[Farmer Viola]

so final tally... Three hatched... Only one looks to make it, its up chirping and running around!! The other with splayed leg and curled toes, not so great, tried to help it but its pretty bad.. One still in the incubator, swollen purple color tummy, from what I have read its caused from not absorbing the yolk sack properly? Candled the remaining eggs, all dead, one had pipped the air cell and died, the rest I suspect drowned, never tried to pip... So sad to make it so far and see all these fully formed chicks in the shell..
Going to leave the little one with the swollen tummy in the incubator today and see how it does.

the belly sounds like mushy chick - you can possibly help it if you have the time.. clean it with iodine and then keep the area clean with antibiotic oinment daily to prevent infection..

same for the splayed leg - I highly recommend VetRap to tie the legs together. you can also make a sandle for the curled toes out of a band-aid. I have fixed toes and legs before... here is some info:
http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html
https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

I now have a Silkie out.

However, she left a perfectly formed yolk inside the shell. And she is not attached to the shell or yolk and has nothing hanging out her navel. Could it have been a second yolk in there?

Does anyone have suggestions for if the she didn't absorb the yolk?

if she didn't absorb the yolk, she didn't get all the necessary nutrients to get her through the next day or so... I would try to give her NutriDrench by beak a few times a day to make sure she keeps her strength up. Water is also important right out of the shell

 

[SilkieSensation]

 
My d'Uccle is finally out. Still waiting on the shipped eggs.

I now have a Silkie out.  

However, she left a perfectly formed yolk inside the shell. And she is not attached to the shell or yolk and has nothing hanging out her navel. Could it have been a second yolk in there?

Does anyone have suggestions for if the she didn't absorb the yolk?

My guess would be a double yolker & the 2nd baby never developed. Pix of chick & egg would help.

 

[Farmer Viola]

when it's time to remove the electrical tape OR band-aid, you can use baby oil on a q-tip to gently unstick it (so you don't rip it away from the chick's leg/foot). clean off the baby oil with hand sanitizer so the new band-aid will stick to it.
VetRap is nice because it sticks to itself and doesn't have this problem
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Vetrap-Bandaging-Tape-Purple/dp/B000F9ZVN2