March 21 or so hatching

[Jayzandra]

My hubby is going to be here and he's going to take pictures and videos for me. I just worry they might need assistance. I got 4 pipping now!

 

[Aacre]

That will be good! Wow! They are trying to get out fast as they can, aren't they? Aw!! Now if Mine would hatch.. (It's too early yet, but a girl can dream!)

 

[CGinJCMO]

OMG, lockdown feels like neglect! I keep looking through the window to check on them. I haven't opened the incubator (except to add water to the dish). This waiting is hard. I feel like I should be doing something!

I'm so afraid not a single one is going to hatch.

I know how you feel. I have been looking in the window searching for a hole in any egg for two days now and today after school was out, I check one last time before I clock off and saw one egg with a tiny hole.

I knew to look because the humidity went up 2% and I thought somewhere, someone was starting to open up.

Hopefully, tomorrow we'll have several eggs in various stages of hatching for the kids to see.

CG

 

[BridgetBarger]

Mine went on lock down as soon as I got home from work tonight. We are now anxiously awaiting their arrival. I am so scared that none of them will end up hatching and my kids will be so disappointed and I as well.

 

[CooperDooper]

I'm late in joining this group, but I set 12 eggs under my broody hen on the afternoon of 2/27. The next morning, realizing that she couldn't handle that many eggs, I moved 4 into an incubator. I haven't candled any under my hen, only the incubator eggs. I have discarded 2 and see movement in the other 2. This morning, Day 19, I removed the automatic turner and upped the humidity to 60%. I don't hear any peeping or see any obvious movement through the window of the incubator but I keep checking!!! And of course, I'd LOVE to know what's going on under my hen. It's 25 degrees out there tonight (I'm in CT) and I keep thinking that I'm going to have a tough time putting these chicks under her out there!!!
I'm anxious to hear about everyone else's hatches!

 

[Jayzandra]

So far 8 out of the 11 that made it into lockdown have pipped. One hatched while I was at work. How do I know if a chick is getting shrink wrapped and how do I help if it is?

This little guy has 5 toes on one foot like his momma and 4 on the other like his daddy. Haha!

 

[Aacre]

I'm late in joining this group, but I set 12 eggs under my broody hen on the afternoon of 2/27. The next morning, realizing that she couldn't handle that many eggs, I moved 4 into an incubator. I haven't candled any under my hen, only the incubator eggs. I have discarded 2 and see movement in the other 2. This morning, Day 19, I removed the automatic turner and upped the humidity to 60%. I don't hear any peeping or see any obvious movement through the window of the incubator but I keep checking!!! And of course, I'd LOVE to know what's going on under my hen. It's 25 degrees out there tonight (I'm in CT) and I keep thinking that I'm going to have a tough time putting these chicks under her out there!!!
I'm anxious to hear about everyone else's hatches!

Welcome! Better late than never!

So far 8 out of the 11 that made it into lockdown have pipped. One hatched while I was at work. How do I know if a chick is getting shrink wrapped and how do I help if it is?

This little guy has 5 toes on one foot like his momma and 4 on the other like his daddy. Haha!

Awe! Your little chickies are adorable!!

I bet you are so glad that you have today off to watch the action! You will know if the chicks are shrink wrapped when the inner membrane is dry and tight around the chick. This thread has a picture of a shrink wrapped chick:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491421/shrink-wrap-vs-sticky-chick I believe it's the 4th or 5th response. What you will want to do is wrap it in a damp paper towel to help make the inner membrane easier for the chick to work with. If the chick has pipped and has it's beak and nostrils out of the membrane, then you don't have to worry TOO much. You could give it 12-24 hours to see if it makes any progress. If you want to help it out, you must be careful not to hit any veins. If the chick is indeed ready to come out, the veins should have receded or at least mostly receded. You can tear the inner membrane but if it starts to bleed a little, wrap it back up in the wet paper towel and put it back in the incubator. Believe it or not, rupturing one of those veins could be fatal or very damaging to the chick.
I have helped a shrink wrapped chick before and what I did was just tear the inner membrane open enough to give the chick an advantage so that it could get out on it's own. I did it this way because you can only see so much of the membrane and I didn't want to accidentally rupture veins because I couldn't see them. Then, I would sit them back in the incubator with a wet paper towel, and they managed to get out of it from that point.
I hope this helps you some!

 

[BridgetBarger]

So exciting to see peoples eggs hatching, Can't wait til Friday so glad that is a day I am off work and the kids are on spring break.

 

[Jayzandra]

So far all but 1 has pipped and 4 are completely out with a 5th very close. I can't believe my hatch rate is good for a first timer!

 

[CooperDooper]

So far all but 1 has pipped and 4 are completely out with a 5th very close. I can't believe my hatch rate is good for a first timer!

Congrats! This is my first hatch too - I hope we have the same success as you! Is today Day 21 for you?