March 2023 hatch-a-long

[bluer78]

What an amazing experience this was! Long story, so grab your

15 made into lockdown, 13 hatched yesterday!! One had a pip in the wrong, last night made 24 hours and I still saw slight movement at the membrane, so I left it be. This morning, it looked.... kinda green-ish around the membrane and a little bit moist around the pip... something told me that wasn't right. So, after fighting back and forth with myself a few times I decided to investigate... Surely enough I got to the break and touched it... no response... saw some liquid in its mouth, and a yucky green ooz inside the egg... 3 eggs from this hen went in: this 1, 1 I pulled around I believe day 12, and the last one that still hadn't even pipped yet. Since I already had the incubator open, I figured I would candle it. No internal pip.. nothing even close to looking like it.. No movement at all. Nothing. Now, I have some eggs from a farm I picked up almost 2 weeks ago on our anniversary, so I am a little eager to get them in the incubator, and so impatience got the better of me, and I thought to myself 2 of 3 didn't make it, this one is a goner too. So, I broke the top where the air cell is, started with a hole, couldn't see anything so started breaking pieces off... a tiny piece fell inside and landed on the membrane and instantly I see a tiny bit of blood... as well as seeing the membrane start moving slightly... back in the incubator it went! We shall see... I hope I didn't just send that poor baby to its doom...

But still!! 13/15 little babies from my first hatch!!! And they all have the cutest little fuzzy feet!!
I'll get some good individual pictures this weekend. They're in with my 10 day olds now and all seem to be mingling just fine!

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

Update on the little chick I helped zip late last night. Went from looking near dead to a somewhat fluff nugget.

 

[Poodlemum]

The incubator is chirping!!! Now to play mommy hen sounds for encouragement

 

[bluer78]

Edit to add, I think I might hear a faint peep in there...!
This is the one I cracked open this morning... the little red dot the bottom right is the little spot that bled when a piece of shell fell in... does this look shrink wrapped? Should I help it? 8:30 tonight will be bringing me into day 23. The membrane is, like pulsating in and out slightly... And is that the beak?
I'm pretty sure I know the answer...
BE PATIENT! WAIT!
BUT, IT'S SOOOO HARD!!!
And I can't help but think I caused it a problem...

 

[junior67]

Edit to add, I think I might hear a faint peep in there...!
This is the one I cracked open this morning... the little red dot the bottom right is the little spot that bled when a piece of shell fell in... does this look shrink wrapped? Should I help it? 8:30 tonight will be bringing me into day 23. The membrane is, like pulsating in and out slightly... And is that the beak?
I'm pretty sure I know the answer...
BE PATIENT! WAIT!
BUT, IT'S SOOOO HARD!!!
And I can't help but think I caused it a problem... View attachment 3442453

Not sure on shrink wrapped..... But if you have coconut oil moisten the membrane with that and it will help you to see if there are any veins. If not peel some of the membrane back so you can see what is going on inside.

A pip on the wrong end is pretty much an internal and external pip in one so it can take up to 48 hrs to hatch since it still needs to do all the stuff it does between internal and external pip then time from external to zip.

 

[bluer78]

Not sure on shrink wrapped..... But if you have coconut oil moisten the membrane with that and it will help you to see if there are any veins. If not peel some of the membrane back so you can see what is going on inside.

A pip on the wrong end is pretty much an internal and external pip in one so it can take up to 48 hrs to hatch since it still needs to do all the stuff it does between internal and external pip then time from external to zip.

This is all I have, it says external use only.. would this be OK since the chick might peck at it? This egg hasn't pipped at all yet. And it doesn't really look shrink wrapped to me, thankfully.. I think it looks really healthy, and I also think what I was questioning is the beak, is actually a vein.

 

[Dinoroar]

This is all I have, it says external use only.. would this be OK since the chick might peck at it? This egg hasn't pipped at all yet. And it doesn't really look shrink wrapped to me, thankfully.. I think it looks really healthy, and I also think what I was questioning is the beak, is actually a vein.

That seems like it would be ok since it’s pure coconut oil even if not rated as good grade.

 

[Dinoroar]

Update on the little chick I helped zip late last night. Went from looking near dead to a somewhat fluff nugget.

Sorry you had a tough hatch. It’s really awful when things go wrong like that. but glad you had a few make it and that this one is showing some promise.

 

[junior67]

This is all I have, it says external use only.. would this be OK since the chick might peck at it? This egg hasn't pipped at all yet. And it doesn't really look shrink wrapped to me, thankfully.. I think it looks really healthy, and I also think what I was questioning is the beak, is actually a vein.

Not sure on that. I am not an expert or even close. Hopefully someone else that has more experience can answer soon.

 

[Waterfaery]

Sorry I haven't kept up with the thread the last couple of days. So many hatched chicks! Congratulations to everyone!

I have 22 gone into lockdown this evening- all 17 of my Bresse eggs and 5 of my 7 Light Sussex (one clear, one early quitter). One of the 5 remaining Light Sussex eggs is dubious and has lost too much weight but I don't want to give up on it.

I'm struggling to be excited because I've been dealing with a distressing sudden issue with my Light Sussex cockerel. I'm terrified it might be Marek's and it couldn't be worse timing. I have a thread about it here. If anyone can help, I'd so appreciate it. This amazing guy was my first ever chick to hatch just last June. He's the most wonderful cockerel and father to 5 of these precious eggs so it's very emotional.