Little Giant Incubation Experiment - Day 21 - Hatch Day!

[fiset94]

Okay so two of my BCM eggs have pipped. One is cheeping the other has not really done much all morning. How long does it normally take for them to start zipping? My shakers are still shaking and not doing much. Temp holding steady at 102.4 and the humidity level is at 70%. I am stressed!

How Exciting!!!! When they hatch out please post pics!!

 

[scflock]

Yup. You hear so many horror stories about chicks pipping and not hatching that it makes us too quick to jump in and help. Even I (knowing that it takes lots of time) am guilty of that from time to time. We don't give nature the credit it deserves sometimes and we like to "play God"- with good intentions of course. (At least mine are.) It takes a long time for them to do what they need to do to be ready and we rush that too much.

Says the woman with her hands constantly in the incubator

.
You are right, though. My first couple of batches, it looked like something was going wrong and I just needed to do something to help. They are stronger when left alone

 

[rossfam06]

Thanks guys for all words of encouragement. Since my first pip was about 8 this morning I will just keep an eye out this evening. I can hear cheeping also, so that makes me even more excited. But I will take pics and post them as they hatch!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Says the woman with her hands constantly in the incubator

.
You are right, though. My first couple of batches, it looked like something was going wrong and I just needed to do something to help. They are stronger when left alone

That's what I am saying. I'll be the first to admit, I don't have to meddle AS MUCH as I do. It's a compulsion....lol I should say, I don't have to open the bator as much as I do. I don't have to turn the pipped eggs back over so I can see what is going on...lol. I do feel taking the chicks out is a NEED at this point after having two in this hatch alone get hurt on that

fan. I prefer my chicks in the brooder after hatch, nothing will change that. But I admit, some of my opening the bator is not out of neccessity, it's out of impatience. Though, I don't assist unless I feel it is warranted, I need to make that clear, because I know as a community I see that all too often and I do not recommend that. The thing is, if I was having awful hatch rates, I'd reign myself in, I don't meddle in a bad, compromising way, it's little piddly stuff such as turning the eggs back over. AND I keep my humidity high!!!! lol

 

[lazy gardener]

25 eggs just went into the bator. This time, they're laying on the flat, with hdw cloth raised up for water tray underneath. Turning will be a beast this way, but... I'm hoping that changing my style will give a better hatch. At lock down, I'll screw a couple of sponges to the side of the bator, and hydrate everything with straws and aquarium tubing so I don't have to open the bator. I caused myself a lot of grief last time.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

25 eggs just went into the bator. This time, they're laying on the flat, with hdw cloth raised up for water tray underneath. Turning will be a beast this way, but... I'm hoping that changing my style will give a better hatch. At lock down, I'll screw a couple of sponges to the side of the bator, and hydrate everything with straws and aquarium tubing so I don't have to open the bator. I caused myself a lot of grief last time.

Good luck!!!! I manually turned this last hatch for the first time and it was a chore with 40 eggs...lol

 

[scflock]

Good luck!!!! I manually turned this last hatch for the first time and it was a chore with 40 eggs...lol

 

[AmyLynn2374]

LOL

I am glad I did. I really learned hands on, and got to see the reason we turn the eggs and it made more sense to me seeing it than just knowing it. It gave me a better understanding.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

I have one chick! I had to help him/her out, but it's the only one from this attempted hatch of 7.

 

[fiset94]

I have one chick! I had to help him/her out, but it's the only one from this attempted hatch of 7.

How did you know that the chick needed help? How long did you wait before helping out? What day was she on?.... Just curious...