Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[MrsMoonCat]

Mahonri's pal MN called me at 3 am so I HAD to do an incubator check. I was excited because two of the shipped Ameraucana babies were out, sitting on top of their eggs. I found a few more pips and then happily went back to sleep. Hubby came busting in the bedroom about 6 practically yelling "Hurry, get up! You have 11 chicks hatched!" I was cracking up because he really is a closet chicken addict. We are at 11 out of 27 that went into lockdown (out of 42 set).

I am bummed though as I had to pull the chicks out early because one of the Ameraucanas had the yolk sac/cord wrapped around a foot. It was cutting off the blood flow and the foot was turning purple. The cord was super tight and pulling on the belly. Poor chick was trying to kick free and I was afraid it was going to pull its guts out AND lose the foot. So I took the sterilized x-acto knife and cut the cord free. I am hoping I wasnt too late as the little guy is pretty weak now. I really didnt know what else to do. I have him wrapped up under the lamp in the brooder with the other little poopers. Keep your fingers crossed for him.

Now I am worried about the unhatched chicks because of opening the bator. I do hear some chirps so there is hope I think. I put a hot moist paper towel in when I opened it.

 

[cowchick11]

I am so behind for only half the week, people must be hatching!!! No time to catch up on almost 1000 posts cause I have to go back to work, again, but here is my update. I set between 9 PM and Midnight on March 17th and this morning April 7th I have two pips!!!! So, maybe chicks by midnight!

 

[countrygirl911]

here is some pics of the ones hatched so far there is one little one that hatched about 30 min ago and it looks like it is having a hard time getting up it lays on its side in a ball









this is the one i was talking about that seem to be weak



they also seem stickey is there something i can do so the others are not so stickey

 

[nightowl223]

none of my eggs have pipped or anything I'm really disappointed. I don't know what I did wrong. Congrats on all the chicks

/\ X 2

Congrats to everyone with varying degrees of chicks! For those who still don't have chicks, be patient.

24 to 48 hrs after they're supposed to hatch you can reach in, grab an egg and put it next to your ear. As you listen, tap with your fingernail on the shell. It should peep back if it's alive.

Sold about half my for sale pullets at the swap today, but it was too cold and windy to stay any longer, I thought I was going to freeze to death. I made out good money wise and then turned around and spent it all on supplies for a hoop house grow out pen for the boys.

21 chicks out here so far.

Oh and I got 2 silkie eggs at the swap to put in with the turkeys...

/\ Easier said than done!

And, thanks for the tip!

Still no pips. I couldn't have killed them all..... by NOT candling them, right?

My hatch date is tomorrow, and I have often had late hatches anyway. I know the temperature in the "office/Nursery/Incubation/Guest" room isn't stable, and we did have some pretty cold snaps. Plus I go in and out my new door onto the deck fairly often. Whatever.

/\ You've at least got the excuse that you set them a day late... some of us can't use that one.

I need a "throwing a tantrum" smiley to put here!

 

[kathyinmo]

My internet server keeps going down because it is raining here.
I have 50 hatched. I had to pull some of them out.



A few in the "recovery room," to dry and fluff......

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I am bummed though as I had to pull the chicks out early because one of the Ameraucanas had the yolk sac/cord wrapped around a foot. It was cutting off the blood flow and the foot was turning purple. The cord was super tight and pulling on the belly. Poor chick was trying to kick free and I was afraid it was going to pull its guts out AND lose the foot. So I took the sterilized x-acto knife and cut the cord free. I am hoping I wasnt too late as the little guy is pretty weak now. I really didnt know what else to do. I have him wrapped up under the lamp in the brooder with the other little poopers. Keep your fingers crossed for him.
Now I am worried about the unhatched chicks because of opening the bator. I do hear some chirps so there is hope I think. I put a hot moist paper towel in when I opened it.

I had one last hatch like that... we clipped it off where it was wrapped around the leg and then put triple antibiotic ointment on the belly stump part twice a day for a week. I have no idea which chick it is now, it was fine.

 

[Mom 2em All]

The one in the last picture is a micro-chick. It is sssssooooooooooooooooooooooo tiny compared to the others.

 

[happyhensny]

An entry for cutest chick/duckling pic....

Ancona ducklings

Thanks!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

First one (Silkie) almost out .... looks like a Splash, no vault



Second one working away ....

 

[MrsMoonCat]

 
I had one last hatch like that... we clipped it off where it was wrapped around the leg and then put triple antibiotic ointment on the belly stump part twice a day for a week. I have no idea which chick it is now, it was fine.

 

Oh, that makes me feel better. It was looking pretty nasty.

I had to do a triple-take on this photo. The little grumpy face behind the chick cracks me up. There is a "I would like to eat Mommy's little pet" vibe.