June Hatch A Long

[SunHwaKwon]

Help! WWYD, our 8 babies were hatched in coop by broody hens and are still with the flock. we moved 5 eggs to incubator on Saturday. 1 egg was BAD and removed. 1 chick hatched just a bit ago. the other 3 seem to be duds.
So 1 chick about 5 days younger then the youngest in the coop with the broodies. Should we try sneaking the newbie into the coop at night or desperately search for a local chick or 2?

It's really dependent on your broody. Some will mother anything and everything, others are very picky and will attack chicks they don't recognize as their own.

You may just need to buy more shirts with pockets and carry the chick like a baby kangaroo until it's older.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Fingers crossed that it's just taking a break I would oil the air cell side up very well so you can see the veins. As they recede then you will open up the hole more if needed on the side where his beak is. There is a chance he may do it himself too. The other scenario is that he in an effort to get that external pip has pipped through a vein we can't see and has already passed. It does happen and unfortunately with malpositions quite a bit. Fingers crossed he's okay.

She did end up passing. I kept peeking through the incubator to check on it. I think the humidity issues caused her to shrink wrap so that in addition to her position didn't help. I did do an "eggtopsy" and she also had her foot over her head. Heartbreaking in general but very sad because it was a girl picture attached is after I knew she passed from the aircell end.

But two of the remaining have externally pip'd and the third is still moving inside. I love hearing the peeps! Fingers crossed the rest goes well.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

She did end up passing. I kept peeking through the incubator to check on it. I think the humidity issues caused her to shrink wrap so that in addition to her position didn't help. I did do an "eggtopsy" and she also had her foot over her head. Heartbreaking in general but very sad because it was a girl picture attached is after I knew she passed from the aircell end.

But two of the remaining have externally pip'd and the third is still moving inside. I love hearing the peeps! Fingers crossed the rest goes well.

I'm so sorry she didn't make it! Malpositons are one of the hardest issues to help with. I hope the rest of your hatch goes smoothly!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

She did end up passing. I kept peeking through the incubator to check on it. I think the humidity issues caused her to shrink wrap so that in addition to her position didn't help. I did do an "eggtopsy" and she also had her foot over her head. Heartbreaking in general but very sad because it was a girl picture attached is after I knew she passed from the aircell end.

But two of the remaining have externally pip'd and the third is still moving inside. I love hearing the peeps! Fingers crossed the rest goes well.

I’m sorry Bookworm! So frustrating to get them so close to a fuzzy little baby and then have them die!Glad tobhear that the others are still coming along. C’mon babies, be strong and smart little hatchers!!!

 

[ChickenLady♡]

Yes, looks like we have three of us making a go of it with new Momma broodies! That’s me, CluckNDoodle, and Bookworm0124! Anyone else on this June hatchalong working with first time broodies?

Yes, me!
I ended up with 6 strong healthy babies (now 1 week old) from an original set of 10 eggs. One was infertile (undeveloped), one egg didn't pip and two died in the egg. One was almost out (fully zipped) but i think mum left the nest before it could get out and it died from exposure/cold. That might be because it is her first time. She has been an absolute champ since though - she knows exactly what to do with these babies and they are doing great!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Yes, me!
I ended up with 6 strong healthy babies (now 1 week old) from an original set of 10 eggs. One was infertile (undeveloped), one egg didn't pip and two died in the egg. One was almost out (fully zipped) but i think mum left the nest before it could get out and it died from exposure/cold. That might be because it is her first time. She has been an absolute champ since though - she knows exactly what yo fo with these babies and the are doing great!

That’s awesome that she’s a good mom! We had a black copper Marans hen incubate eggs and she turned out to be a fantastic mom too! Her chicks are five weeks old now. We had to kick her out of the broody box to make way for another new broody girl, and she was a champ at showing her chicks how to roost - so cute!

 

[jolenesdad]

It's really dependent on your broody. Some will mother anything and everything, others are very picky and will attack chicks they don't recognize as their own.

You may just need to buy more shirts with pockets and carry the chick like a baby kangaroo until it's older.

I vote this option.

She did end up passing. I kept peeking through the incubator to check on it. I think the humidity issues caused her to shrink wrap so that in addition to her position didn't help. I did do an "eggtopsy" and she also had her foot over her head. Heartbreaking in general but very sad because it was a girl picture attached is after I knew she passed from the aircell end.

But two of the remaining have externally pip'd and the third is still moving inside. I love hearing the peeps! Fingers crossed the rest goes well.

So sorry ... and fingers crossed!!!! Hopefully at least you learned something?

That’s awesome that she’s a good mom! We had a black copper Marans hen incubate eggs and she turned out to be a fantastic mom too! Her chicks are five weeks old now. We had to kick her out of the broody box to make way for another new broody girl, and she was a champ at showing her chicks how to roost - so cute!

They’re so adorable together!!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Did a quick egg-topsy of my three day 14 clears: the egg from our hen was infertile: no surprise as the egg was laid less than 24 hours after breeding. Both of the clear shipped BCM eggs had very small embryos with an amniotic cavity and vitelline membrane, so presumably damaged in shipping. I quickly candled air sacs in place tonight, day 16. Our own eggs are about the same as day 14, but shipped eggs have larger air sacs with most having abnormalities, like the air sac going from top down the side. The air sacs in the shipped eggs have changed since Saturday, so I guess I could view this as a positive sign that the embryo is still developing. Any shipped egg afficianados have thoughts on placing shipped eggs under a broody at 18 days versus hatching upright in incubator? Honestly, their air cells are so big that I think that a chick finding the air cell is the least of their worries!

 

[Bookworm0124]

Sigh. Crazy early in the morning check because I can't sleep.... No babies yet.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Sigh. Crazy early in the morning check because I can't sleep.... No babies yet.

Haha mine aren't sure for a few days. I dreamed they all hatched early. I woke up excited then remembered it was a dream.