May Hatch-a-Long!

[Wishapup]

Just got new batteries in flashlight. Day 14. I candled 6 of the Silkies and 1 of the Ameraucanas - all developing very nicely! They are local eggs.

....I candled all 13 of the shipped Marans. None of them look good. I don't know whether some of them are clears or I just can't see through the shell well. The eggs are dark enough that it's hard to find a mass (sometimes I think I see a dark spot). Four of them have large saddle air cells. One of the 4 has a rolling cell (I assume the egg MUST be no good if it rolls?) Some of them I can't find an air cell at all. Only 1 out of the 13 has a nice, normal air cell, and I don't even know if it's developing. They all look like clears to me, unfortunately.

 

[Kelsykin]

Quote: I am shocked we got what we did to hatch...

I have 1 more turkey we are watching hard and then 5 ducks. These 6 are still in the shells but they are looking good. I left one turkey and duck in longer than normal and I found them pecking the shells off eggs.......

 

[Farmer Viola]

(I copy/pasted this from a thread that I started. Hopefully I'll get help on here..)

Hey there! I need some advice! My Welsh Harlequin and Welsh/Buff x ducks are on day 31 of incubation. 3 of them hatched early this morning, about 5 have pipped, 2 zipping, and 8 that still haven't pipped!

I'm really worried, is there something I should do to help?? I have poked "safety holes" in the eggs that haven't pipped yet, but It looks like some haven't even internally pipped!

3 of them died yesterday due to being backwards in the egg.. could that be the problem with the ones who haven't internally pipped yet? I still saw movement last night, so I know their alive... When should I intervene?? Thanks in advance for any advice!

P.S. I already know how to preform an assisted hatch successfully, I've had to do quite a few (unfortunately).

it is hard... they really need to internally pip on their own. making the internal pip is very risky, it can be done. you must make sure not to cut a vein, and have blood stopper ready in case. you also want to know where the beak is if you do this, so you can make sure the nostrils get uncovered. if they are malpositioned/upside down, it is pretty much impossible to find the beak and make an internal pip. have you candled them at all? are they moving in there?

edit: IF you choose to try and make an internal pip. make sure the membrane is moistened with neosporin or water so you can see the veins very well, and you need a bright light and hot room.

 

[Farmer Viola]

this link in my signature has good advice for this situation, scroll down til you see this part:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed

Graphics showing the appearence on candling of the unabsorbed yolk and blood vessels (left) and absorbed yolk and vessels as a 'hollow' void appears (right)

The aim here is a little progress at a time then after about 5-10minutes stop and replace the chick back into the brooder for another 30-60 minutes. This allows the chick to rest and warm through. It also allows the membrane to dry and shrivels any blood vessels a little further. Gradually the entire membrane is eased back and using the Q-tip the beak can be eased forward and over the right wing. At this stage the chick may start pushing with renewed vigour or you can ease the head up and out which will provide you with your first direct view down into the eggshell. Using your candler assesses and check the blood vessels have receded and the yolk sac is absorbed. If you have assisted too early then allow the chick to curl up its head and re-cap the egg. Infertile eggs are excellent for this purpose. They are broken in two and the top half cleaned of its membranes. The top has a safety hole put in it and the egg shell soaked in boiled water. This action causes the shell to be pliable and it can be trimmed just below the widest point so it provides a snug fit. After soaking again in hot water remove the cap, allow to cool and simply place over the chick in the shell. If necessary use surgical tape to hold it in place. You are now committed to a fully assisted hatch.

Graphic showing the concept of 'Capping' in the event of premature assistance.

 

[BirdyGirl7198]

it is hard... they really need to internally pip on their own. making the internal pip is very risky, it can be done. you must make sure not to cut a vein, and have blood stopper ready in case. you also want to know where the beak is if you do this, so you can make sure the nostrils get uncovered. if they are malpositioned/upside down, it is pretty much impossible to find the beak and make an internal pip. have you candled them at all? are they moving in there?

edit: IF you choose to try and make an internal pip. make sure the membrane is moistened with neosporin or water so you can see the veins very well, and you need a bright light and hot room.

Yes, I've candled them. I candled them last night and that's when I saw the movement. When I get home from school I'm going to candle them again. Hopefully I'll see some pips, or at least internal pips, on all of them.
I've unfortunately had lots of practice when it comes to assisting so I have all of the know-how. I just don't know the "know-when"... I'm more anxious than usual after losing those three ducklings...

 

[Farmer Viola]

Yes, I've candled them. I candled them last night and that's when I saw the movement. When I get home from school I'm going to candle them again. Hopefully I'll see some pips, or at least internal pips, on all of them.
I've unfortunately had lots of practice when it comes to assisting so I have all of the know-how. I just don't know the "know-when"... I'm more anxious than usual after losing those three ducklings...

argh... sorry... that is the hard part, knowing when is the perfect time!

honestly only you know your eggs... only you can see if they have liquid in there, or if they're overdue and completely black/ready to hatch, or if you can see a hollow. it will have to be a judgement call on your part, and you will have to consider the ones that already died and what might have went wrong. if malposition, nothing you can do would have saved them, they just have to make that pip on their own and then you can help fruther..

 

[foxygoober]

Lockdown tomorrow! I think I have two wobblers already! I kept thinking it was me moving the bator, but I decided at least one was a chick....humidity driving me nuts! Has not been stable since Monday.

 

[Cynthia12]

One of my babies is a Show Girl!

This makes me very happy.

 

[Cynthia12]

Thank you! It's been a solid 24 hours and the two that are out are nice and fluffy now. I'll probably pull them here in a few. I do have one that's been trying to get out now for 24 hours. It has about a third of the egg broken. Will pulling these two out hurt that one? I should mention it's raining cats and dogs here, so the humidity is super high.

Should be fine..did you take them out? And, is the other one hatched?

 

[ShadyHillFarm]

Should be fine..did you take them out? And, is the other one hatched?

Took them out and put a hot, wet washcloth in the incubator, though I still have plenty of water. It still hasn't hatched completely. I figure it's probably going to die.