June Hatch-A-Long

[gander007]

Quote:
I understand all that and a great Father and Son job it is ....

I took the egg's out that did not hatch with the others and some of the other hens were giving her extra egg's along the way so right now I have two hatched in the incubator and one peeping and three wiggling like crazy so it looks like I am going to have to get my boys to help me build another grow out coop for this momma here as all the other coops are taken or I need to sell some chicks ..........






Enjoy your weekend .....

 

[pcosmom]

 

[emorems0]

QUICK HELP NEEDED! I'm not sure if I should help a hatchling or not... it's been pretty much unzipped for the past two hours and was trying to push out and chirping a lot, but couldn't get the shell more than an half inch or so apart. It seemed to have lost its vigor over the last hour and a half and isn't making much noise or effort to push out of its shell at all anymore. At what point do I pull it out and try to help it? Is it normal for them to take such a long break when they are soooo close?

 

[mrchicks]

I'd help by picking away more of the shell, creating a zip for it. And possibly removing the top of the egg. Once it's head is out, it should wiggle free. I'd be afraid to pull it completely out in case it is not finished absorbing yet.

 

[emorems0]

So... we helped it, DH just cracked the shell a little so the two halves could completely come apart, then he gently pulled the top half off. Started peeping and stretching out right away, then just laid there for a while. We mixed up some of that Sav-A-Chick electrolyte stuff for her (and #3 since she was not nearly as vigorous as the first two chicks, doing great now), and gave a few drops with an eye-dropper then put her back in the incubator. She was still attached to the bottom half of the shell (via the umbilical cord?), so we were really gentle and moved her and the shell together. After she was in the incubator a while longer she started peeping and chirping more and trying to stand up. She eventually came unattached from her shell as she was dragging it around the incubator trying to walk. She seems to be doing much better now, I'm glad we intervened because she really seemed like she was giving up for a while there.

In other news, when I reached in to help with #4, I noticed another egg that had some fluid that leaked out from the pointy end... like maybe it tried to pip at the wrong end? The fluid had mostly dried by the time I saw it (was pointed towards the wall of the incubator). Is it a goner?

Haven't had any pips that I can see/hear from the other 7 eggs There's still time right? Today was day 21, but it's possible that some will pip and hatch late, right?

 

[mrchicks]

I'm glad that worked out well. Sometimes they do need a little help.

Not sure on the leaky one, hopefully someone else will be able to help with that.

There's still time for the others, they don't always arrive on day 21.

 

[Cynthia12]

So... we helped it, DH just cracked the shell a little so the two halves could completely come apart, then he gently pulled the top half off. Started peeping and stretching out right away, then just laid there for a while. We mixed up some of that Sav-A-Chick electrolyte stuff for her (and #3 since she was not nearly as vigorous as the first two chicks, doing great now), and gave a few drops with an eye-dropper then put her back in the incubator. She was still attached to the bottom half of the shell (via the umbilical cord?), so we were really gentle and moved her and the shell together. After she was in the incubator a while longer she started peeping and chirping more and trying to stand up. She eventually came unattached from her shell as she was dragging it around the incubator trying to walk. She seems to be doing much better now, I'm glad we intervened because she really seemed like she was giving up for a while there.

In other news, when I reached in to help with #4, I noticed another egg that had some fluid that leaked out from the pointy end... like maybe it tried to pip at the wrong end? The fluid had mostly dried by the time I saw it (was pointed towards the wall of the incubator). Is it a goner?

Haven't had any pips that I can see/hear from the other 7 eggs There's still time right? Today was day 21, but it's possible that some will pip and hatch late, right?

Fluid coming from a pipped area? Wrong end? You may want to get that one out. To keep things clean in there for the others to hatch. Yes, you still have time for another or more to hatch. Like I said, you may want to take that one out. Good job on saving a baby!

 

[mrchicks]

I'd candle it before I tossed it. Just to be sure that it's no good.

 

[Cynthia12]

Yes, if it isn't dripping anything, do candle!

 

[emorems0]

Just candled the 'leaking' egg... it was one with a question mark on it (wasn't sure at lockdown candling). I tossed it, it was only 'full' looking on ~1/2 of the egg (lengthwise, not top to bottom), the other side of the egg was clear. Definitely not filled with a mature chick. Thanks for the advice!

I'm a little worried that I've opened the incubator so many times today. It's only been tilting the lid up for a quick few seconds at a time, but I'm worried that I'm making it harder for the other eggs to eventually hatch. I think part of the reason #4 had such a hard time getting out was that the membrane got too dry/rubbery. I did put a warm, wet dish cloth in there this last time to help with the humidity. Anything else I can/should do for the other eggs?