MARCH 2021 HATCH-A-LONG 🌷🌸🌼

[jasonvanorder]

I almost expect my chicks to be malpositioned when they come from shipped eggs at this point.
You never know! Just keep a close eye, looks good right now anyway.

Ok school this first timer. How can you tell a chick is malpositioned and what can be done about it? Now I feel like this is another thing to worry about

 

[Blue Legs]

Expecting my first hatch early next week! Started a batch of around 30 American White Bresse on 2/15, 18 days later I'm down to 21 and I can see little feet's in some eggs and others are nearly solid dark

 

[Jaslynn]

I almost expect my chicks to be malpositioned when they come from shipped eggs at this point.
You never know! Just keep a close eye, looks good right now anyway.

My eggs weren’t shipped (they did have a half hour car ride on a bumpy road) but I’ve had several in this batch that pipped at the wrong end. All but one hatched on it’s own within 24 hours. I assisted one, she survived and seems strong.
I hope yours is good and healthy

 

[Jaslynn]

2 chicks from earlier hatch with 10 chicks from this hatch. I had to get very quick photos because they are becoming adventurous and keep trying to escape when I open the pen

 

[Jaslynn]

Ok school this first timer. How can you tell a chick is malpositioned and what can be done about it? Now I feel like this is another thing to worry about

I’m still a newbie as well so someone may correct me but a malpositioned chick is one whose head is at the wrong end of the egg so it won’t pip into the air cell. It can take them longer to hatch after you see the pip because they still have to absorb their yolk. Whereas chicks that pip at the right end (the rounded end) will have pipped internally into the air cell first and won’t externally pip until they’re much closer to being ready to actually hatch. One of the problems you can have with a malpositioned one is that it won’t have enough room to turn properly for unzipping and can get stuck. This thread/article is great for advice about what can go wrong with hatching https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Ok school this first timer. How can you tell a chick is malpositioned and what can be done about it? Now I feel like this is another thing to worry about

Great advice from @Jaslynn above. Sorry, didn't mean to worry you. I just had so many malpostioned chicks this last go round. Chances are just more likely with shipped eggs, as they get so shook up under transport. You will not know if they are malpositioned until they externally pip, pipping on the wrong end is the most common kind as described above. They can also pip on the side. They often need help, but just as often do just fine on their own. Reading the article mentioned above to be ready just in case is a good idea. Another article I like is https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/
Other reasons for malpositioned chicks can be genetic or sometimes in the eggs of new layers.
Photo attached of one of mine that pipped on the wrong end. Ended up being a full assist, but is just fine.

 

[jeapa]

I just couldn’t wait so I went ahead and candled all of my eggs last night. The 16 pita pintas are in an NR 360 set up in my study. They were set last Monday evening after resting for about 8 hours from shipping. They were in the post for 5 days and arrived with a damaged box. Several had saddled air cells so I did not turn them for the first 2 days.

Despite their handling I think I have 12 out of 16 developing!!! There were 2 possible blood rings and 2 I just couldn’t see well enough.

I have several that have great air cells, except they seem a little big for day 4. I also have at least 2 that are saddled. I am excited to see that many have survived shipping and are developing. Should I be concerned about them having larger air cells? This the average temps and humidity for the past 4 days. The low on Monday was when I set them.

 

[jeapa]

I also candled the 16 eggs I set from my own flock in a NR 360 in my kitchen. These are all pullet eggs, but from my girls who had been laying at least a month. I ended up with about 10 eggs showing good development. These eggs are day 7 this morning. I had 2 blood rings, 2 clear non-fertile, and 2 that I just couldn’t see well enough inside.

I swear I thought I could see movement !! So far the air cells look perfect on these.

 

[gimmie birdies]

in the above the second one looks great.

 

[Knighstar679]

I get to do my candling of batch three of my Welsh Harlequin eggs.

so far batch one has nine, and batch two has 6. When I did a very early candle on day 3/4 it looked like I had maybe 9 of 13 of batch three I will know for sure come tomorrow night.