March 2022 Hatch-A-Long

[Poodlemum]

I’ve read a very heavy bloom can affect hatching, so I’m trying not to take it too hard

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Nothing since possibly external wiggles on Day 20ish. They weren’t obvious like the ones that hatched and now I’m wondering if it was actually me bumping the stand

I know sometimes we can almost “will movement“ just by looking at the eggs. Wanting them to be alive so badly. If the chick has not internally pipped and blood vessels have retracted, then these are likely dead. You can carefully open from the air cell side and and see if there’s any movement that way if the chick is still alive it won’t hurt it much.
The float tests some people recommend aren’t really very accurate.

 

[kurby22]

Nothing since possibly external wiggles on Day 20ish. They weren’t obvious like the ones that hatched and now I’m wondering if it was actually me bumping the stand

That’s what my last Polish egg looked like and was dead inside :-( So sorry

 

[kurby22]

I know sometimes we can almost “will movement“ just by looking at the eggs. Wanting them to be alive so badly. If the chick has not internally pipped and blood vessels have retracted, then these are likely dead. You can carefully open from the air cell side and and see if there’s any movement that way if the chick is still alive it won’t hurt it much.
The float tests some people recommend aren’t really very accurate.

Okay question for you! I have a d’Uccles that popped yesterday evening around 7ish and has made no progress since. When do I try helping? I see it moving inside…so I made a bit bigger hole to see if that helped get it started zipping. I’ve had some quail die in the egg only getting that far and others that when assisted lived…I just can’t decide when it’s prudent to help more. More than 24 hours since pip?

 

[kurby22]

Also, baby #1 of my d’Uccles is out!

 

[Poodlemum]

I know sometimes we can almost “will movement“ just by looking at the eggs. Wanting them to be alive so badly. If the chick has not internally pipped and blood vessels have retracted, then these are likely dead. You can carefully open from the air cell side and and see if there’s any movement that way if the chick is still alive it won’t hurt it much.
The float tests some people recommend aren’t really very accurate.

Thank you for taking the time to confirm what I’ve been feeling deep down. Sometimes I thought I saw something and it was just my eyes wiggling because I was looking so intensely. It’s been so thrilling knowing I didn’t totally mess up and have these cute babies, but what did I do wrong to lose the other??? (It’s likely nothing, but man it hurts)

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Thank you for taking the time to confirm what I’ve been feeling deep down. Sometimes I thought I saw something and it was just my eyes wiggling because I was looking so intensely. It’s been so thrilling knowing I didn’t totally mess up and have these cute babies, but what did I do wrong to lose the other??? (It’s likely nothing, but man it hurts)

You didn’t do anything wrong.
The ones that make it to lockdown and then do not hatch are always the toughest.
There can be many reasons. Every hatch is a learning experience. This is why I usually set twice as many eggs as expected chicks to account for losses (blood rings, early quitters, DIS (dead in shell)). It does get easier with time.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Okay question for you! I have a d’Uccles that popped yesterday evening around 7ish and has made no progress since. When do I try helping? I see it moving inside…so I made a bit bigger hole to see if that helped get it started zipping. I’ve had some quail die in the egg only getting that far and others that when assisted lived…I just can’t decide when it’s prudent to help more. More than 24 hours since pip?

24 hours since external pip is the general rule of thumb.
If the chick appears to be struggling to get out and is chirping loudly it could be malpositioned. It can be a fine line between intervening too early and then intervening too late.
I always start an assist by just exposing the beak so I can watch it clicking. As long as it is still clicking then it is still absorbing yolk and it is too early to intervene.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[kurby22]

24 hours since external pip is the general rule of thumb.
If the chick appears to be struggling to get out and is chirping loudly it could be malpositioned. It can be a fine line between intervening too early and then intervening too late.
I always start an assist by just exposing the beak so I can watch it clicking. As long as it is still clicking then it is still absorbing yolk and it is too early to intervene.

Okay thanks! I thought so but didn’t want to be too hasty. They aren’t technically due till tomorrow but the early pip concerns me some.