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I had been showing Flopsey the water container but it did not seem to get the idea. Today I showed it again and it realised what to do and started pecking the waterer and drinking on its own. Funny thing is that this was the very first chick to hatch and it hatched really early. Then it had to sit there while the others hatched. It is the smallest chick but it is not weak, just doesn't stand. It has been eating from the start and I just have to dip its beak in the waterer afew times a day. I noticed it seems to be doing much better today.
I just have no experience. I guess I expected them all to be perfect and strong from the minute they dried.
I am sorry I did such a rotten job with my first try at incubating but I did my best first time out. I have learned about the humidity now. And I have learned not to cut the egg cartons to hatch them upright so far back. I would have had another BCM chick if those eggs had not rolled out of the egg cartons. It drowned because it rolled. I just didn't realise the egg crates needed to be stronger because the ones already hatched would flop all around on them.
I had one clear that did not develop BCM egg. I intend to open up all the other eggs when I finially give up on them to see inside. But I feel it was that excessive humidity and temp issues both that did them in.
Do you all think I should give up on the rest of the eggs already? I really don't think anything else is going to hatch now but left them just in case. Nothings happening on them.
Rita, don't apologize! These things happen! First of all, shipped eggs are a crapshoot...sometimes hatches are awesome, sometimes not. We do what we can! I think the thing to always remember is to just make sure and take something away from it, every time you hatch. I have hatched thousands of chicks, and every time I do so, I learn something! So - maybe the thing is to just feel good about what DID hatch, enjoy those little chickies!!
Also, it could just as easily been the post office & rough handling!!
If Saturday was day 21, I would go ahead & call it quits. You can pip a tiny hole in the top of each egg & slowly crack away the pieces...you will see if the hatchling is alive easily doing it this way. If you see a moving beak in the air cell, probably should put it back in.
