May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[HeidiGetsChicks]

They hatched just seconds apart.

 

[HeidiGetsChicks]

Really pulling for this one. It pipped just outside of its air cell, and there is blood visible.

But I just saw a faint bit of movement so it's still alive so far. <3

I know there's nothing I can do to help it, because it doesn't need a safety hole and I'd just make any bleeding worse. Just holding my breath and hoping.

 

[HeidiGetsChicks]

6 chicks hatched so far, and the one I was worried about is now zipping like a pro!

 

[gimmie birdies]

Very cute, I have one week to go...

 

[FeatherProfessor]

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the eggs in Incubator 1 since my eyes played tricks on me and took pictures when they went into lockdown. Muwahahaha! Proof that one is moving!

Here’s when I set them:

Here’s today:

Not quite the same angle but it has definitely wiggled a bit. Sneaky little teacup. Day 17 today.

 

[HeidiGetsChicks]

7 healthy so far, one died while zipping. I had been watching it zip for half an hour, it was mostly zipped and pushing to break free. I then took maybe 40 minutes to get my toddler ready to go, then after I saw him off I came back and the chick wasn't moving at all.

I knew it was bad when I picked it up and poked it through the membrane and it didn't move at all. I quickly opened the shell, but it was too late--it had got its head curled up inside itself. It suffocated itself.

I feel like if I had been there watching it the whole time I would have noticed it stop moving and could have helped it in time. But then again I'd also read that they take naps sometimes too so maybe not.

I tried to save it for about an hour, and still have it on heat just in the offchance.

Life is so fragile.

Three more are pipped.

 

[FeatherProfessor]

7 healthy so far, one died while zipping. I had been watching it zip for half an hour, it was mostly zipped and pushing to break free. I then took maybe 40 minutes to get my toddler ready to go, then after I saw him off I came back and the chick wasn't moving at all.

I knew it was bad when I picked it up and poked it through the membrane and it didn't move at all. I quickly opened the shell, but it was too late--it had got its head curled up inside itself. It suffocated itself.

I feel like if I had been there watching it the whole time I would have noticed it stop moving and could have helped it in time. But then again I'd also read that they take naps sometimes too so maybe not.

I tried to save it for about an hour, and still have it on heat just in the offchance.

Life is so fragile.

Three more are pipped.

So sorry. that’s devastating

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

As of right now I have 13 out of 16 shipped eggs in the incubator.
Today is day 6.
1 egg lost in shipping
1 egg was clear and to validate the fact that it needed to come out, there was dried egg yolk on the bottom of it telling me it was leaking at some point
1 egg lost in the super early stages as there was a blood ring

I am unsure of 2 of the eggs in the incubator. I am hoping tomorrow to have a better indicator either way, but guessing I'll likely wait till day 10 for sure.

♡

 

[Nomadicus]

I'm scrubbing down the hatcher bottom for a lockdown Thursday night. I think this will be my last full load hatch for a month or so. I have enough growing out now for the freezer and the Bresse will not be laying full size eggs to set for at least another 60-90 days. I may bet a few fertile Cornish eggs via a Bresse rooster to hatch in a few more weeks. If so I will set those. If the two Delaware girls are still occupying the rollout nest box I'll move them into a large dog crate tonight with nesting materials and some fake eggs to see if they move OK and if so I'll give them 7 eggs each to see what kind of mothers they make.

 

[FeatherProfessor]

Live stream is online! If anyone wants to watch the 7 on lockdown, they are at https://www.youtube.com/live/nwYwbZgBVFM?feature=share

Edited to add: they are not due til the 12th but I like to start the livestream early