March Hatch-A-Long

[Merrymouse]

Thank you! I moved the food and water out of the heat circle, and she is sleeping under the lamp now. Before you replied we gave her a few drops of water with a syringe, but won't do that again.
Last time we had chicks they had a mom so we didn't worry about any of this!
I am very much reassured that they can hang in the incubator for a while because they are all "due" tomorrow, the early bird came today, two more have been pipping and have made small holes in their shells, so they'll definitely be here tomorrow,and we are both getting home lateish from work. Thanks again!

I usually put marbles or rocks or something in my water in case they fall asleep or whatever near the water. You dont want deep water because they can drown. Your baby chickie is probably just exhausted and too tired to eat yet. I usually sprinkle the crumbles all over the paper towels that they are on so they can see them easily.
Also, can I ask why you have both a heat plate and a heat lamp? Also chicks do better if they are not alone so maybe once you get a couple more it will perk up. They get very very tired from hatching and they will just plop down to sleep. Many times i thought they were dead but they were just sleeping.

 

[Merrymouse]

A few months ago I assisted a chick, and she wouldn't stop kicking her face, she wouldnt stand, and her toes were curled. I taped a small bit of flat cardboard to her so she couldn't kick, and held her on my palm like she was standing. It took probably 6 hours, and I gave her drops of electrolyte infused water, she was fully able to stand after 12 hours. However she was a very weak hen. Her colors were never vibrant, and she was forever clumsy, losing her balance randomly. So, I cant say that helping her hatch was a good idea, but it did give her a good life. I sold her at four months old, definitely would never use her for breeding. Good luck to the little one

I had a baby chick once that I diligently nursed back to health....most said she'll be dead in a couple days but I was a first time chickie mamma and i was going to do everything in my power to help this chick..good news is she did pull through...bad news she lived until about 7 months (?? cant remember exactly) and then just wasted away until I had no choice but to dispatch her to end her suffering...so moral of the story is sometimes if I chick isn't strong and thriving sometimes its better to let nature take its course. It was more heartbreaking for me to have to dispatch a chick i fought so hard for after all that time you get very attached. Just my opinion and you have to do what is right for you...and your situation.

 

[Merrymouse]

So after candling last night I came home tonight and took the Swedish flower egg out. it had no air cell and looked mostly empty. I recandled and i could see a dark blob but it was very small. So I did an eggtopcy and it turned out to be a quitter. Kind of gross and sad to see but cool and educational at the same time. The chick was formed but very small, you could see a bloom of bloodvessels beside it. But obviously it died. i did take pictures but didnt want to freak anyone out by posting them. Any idea why this chick quit? So now Im down to 6 eggs...

 

[Nekopan]

Congratulations on the chicks, but I would be worried about the one with the curled toes. It could be a genetic disorder that could affect any birds related. You may be able to help it with taping the legs, but no guarantee. However, if it doesn't have the strength or energy to live, it's not going to live.

I can't really say if vitamins or supplements will help, but someone else might. Either way, at least you have one healthy chick and that's something to be thankful about.

I’m thinking that the leg issues are due to the prolonged hatch rather than anything genetic, since the other chick is the picture of health. Good news is that she is still fighting, did NOT enjoy it when I was holding her on her back and tried to bite me. Fingers crossed she will make it through, because the other guy will be super lonely by himself.

 

[Merrymouse]

I’m thinking that the leg issues are due to the prolonged hatch rather than anything genetic, since the other chick is the picture of health. Good news is that she is still fighting, did NOT enjoy it when I was holding her on her back and tried to bite me. Fingers crossed she will make it through, because the other guy will be super lonely by himself.

 

[Tatuana]

Eggs coming along! I only have two non viable one's out of 12.


What kinds of things should I look for with saddle cell eggs? Risks? They're over a week along now, looking strong.

 

[Raptorchick]

View attachment 1698705

Eggs coming along! I only have two non viable one's out of 12.


What kinds of things should I look for with saddle cell eggs? Risks? They're over a week along now, looking strong.

10/12 is awesome ! My shipped eggs last year were mostly saddle cells, and some pipped away from the air cell. For the most part they hatched on their own, but I kept a close eye.

So, I've got this one trouble maker... pipped at midnight yesterday, now we are at 21 hours. There was no improvement to the pip, humidity is at 70%. LOTS of peeping.
1 hour ago (at hour 20) I wrapped her in a warm damp paper towel and took her into a steamy bathroom, and opened the pip hole a little more, so her beak shows. Wrapped her back in warm paper towel, put back in the bator, it dropped to 60%. A few minutes later it went back to 70%.
She is peeping up a storm, and wiggling like crazy. But the egg isnt cracking, and she isnt zipping. She hasnt moved. Very very very alive, but I'm worried....... should I help her bust out, maybe at hour 24(midnight?) I'm thinking about taking her back into the bathroom and helping if nothing has changed by then....
Heres the most recent

 

[two j farm]

10/12 is awesome ! My shipped eggs last year were mostly saddle cells, and some pipped away from the air cell. For the most part they hatched on their own, but I kept a close eye.

So, I've got this one trouble maker... pipped at midnight yesterday, now we are at 21 hours. There was no improvement to the pip, humidity is at 70%. LOTS of peeping.
1 hour ago (at hour 20) I wrapped her in a warm damp paper towel and took her into a steamy bathroom, and opened the pip hole a little more, so her beak shows. Wrapped her back in warm paper towel, put back in the bator, it dropped to 60%. A few minutes later it went back to 70%.
She is peeping up a storm, and wiggling like crazy. But the egg isnt cracking, and she isnt zipping. She hasnt moved. Very very very alive, but I'm worried....... should I help her bust out, maybe at hour 24(midnight?) I'm thinking about taking her back into the bathroom and helping if nothing has changed by then....
Heres the most recent
View attachment 1698910

At 24hr mark I would help. If you see any blood stop and wrap in warm paper towel and set the egg back im incubator. Good luck.

 

[BlueBaby]

Starting my lockdown now.

 

[HeritageHenNut]

I'm a little late to the party, but hi guys! I'm running a small test hatch before really getting going. I set 6 BCMs & made up the dz with some Olive eggers, and BCM/Brahma crosses.

Today was day 15, and I think I finally have the knack of candling those dark eggs. I saw awesome movement in 11/12 eggs. 1 clear BCM.