May Hatch-a-Long!

[mollybuck]

I have 20 motionless and unpipped eggs in the incubator on morning of Day 21. What if they have a problem? Should I try candling them?

Nope. I wouldnt do anything. did you candle before you put them in lockdown? I would give them a little more time before i tried to do anything, If your temp was a little low for incubation, they might just be a little late.. even if the thermometer said it was right on.. the actual temps could vary. I use mine just to make sure it isnt fluctuating. I have one that reads 99.5 constantly and one that reads 98.

what if they do have a problem? what would you/could you do? I know its hard to wait! we all want those fuzz butts out now!

 

[JenBoughtHens]

Oh wishapup .. advice always seems to lean toward no intervention. Are you going to wait a little longer? 29 baby chicks is great. Wow so many!

I have two chicks out now (1 silkie 1 easter egger) and another ee zipping. And lots more pips but now im at work til 7pm and will have to rely on DH 's updates!
This little silkie dried and fluffed and now looks gray. I am in love - So Sweet! Is this color blue?

 

[Wishapup]

Nope. I wouldnt do anything. did you candle before you put them in lockdown? I would give them a little more time before i tried to do anything, If your temp was a little low for incubation, they might just be a little late.. even if the thermometer said it was right on.. the actual temps could vary. I use mine just to make sure it isnt fluctuating. I have one that reads 99.5 constantly and one that reads 98.

what if they do have a problem? what would you/could you do? I know its hard to wait! we all want those fuzz butts out now!

My temp is actually running a little high (and always has) because 24 of the chicks hatched on Days 19 & 20. I candled on Day 17, but I couldn't see through most of my Marans/Ameraucanas and I didn't do all the bantam eggs.

I haven't done anything to this point, but I just had to help a severely malpositioned chick. My humidity is low right now for some reason and its membrane got very dry--it couldn't get its head out from underneath its (leg? wing?). I peeled away enough dry membrane and shell that it could get out the rest of the way and it looks healthy.

Another chick is trying to zip but its not making much progress and its drying as well. Humidity needs to go up. There's lots of shell and bits of down in the bottom of the incubator wells, possibly making less surface area for water.

Oh wishapup .. advice always seems to lean toward no intervention. Are you going to wait a little longer? 29 baby chicks is great. Wow so many!

I have two chicks out now (1 silkie 1 easter egger) and another ee zipping. And lots more pips but now im at work til 7pm and will have to rely on DH 's updates!
This little silkie dried and fluffed and now looks gray. I am in love - So Sweet! Is this color blue?

Yes, I'm going to wait on the unpipped eggs. Intervention may be required for the 1 pipped egg - it looks dry.

 

[lacychick]

Your all so brave I'm stressed as anything , Wishapup how did you help the malpositioned one ? I have one that's pipped at the wrong end since yesterday and made no progress so I started to assist two hours ago and I can't see the veins in the inner membrane because the chick is so dark, it's still chirping and breathing, I have posted a thread for help but I understand people don't always like to intervene

 

[mollybuck]

Your all so brave I'm stressed as anything , Wishapup how did you help the malpositioned one ? I have one that's pipped at the wrong end since yesterday and made no progress so I started to assist two hours ago and I can't see the veins in the inner membrane because the chick is so dark, it's still chirping and breathing, I have posted a thread for help but I understand people don't always like to intervene

did you just peel away some of the shell by the pip? I had one to help last time.. when I removed some of the shell.. i wet the membrane with really warm water...if it is still alive and breathing, give it a little more time, maybe another 12 hours...if nothing still remove a little more of the shell.. like you were making a zip for it... and put it back in.. pushing itself out is important for these guys!

 

[mollybuck]

My temp is actually running a little high (and always has) because 24 of the chicks hatched on Days 19 & 20. I candled on Day 17, but I couldn't see through most of my Marans/Ameraucanas and I didn't do all the bantam eggs.

I haven't done anything to this point, but I just had to help a severely malpositioned chick. My humidity is low right now for some reason and its membrane got very dry--it couldn't get its head out from underneath its (leg? wing?). I peeled away enough dry membrane and shell that it could get out the rest of the way and it looks healthy.

Another chick is trying to zip but its not making much progress and its drying as well. Humidity needs to go up. There's lots of shell and bits of down in the bottom of the incubator wells, possibly making less surface area for water.



Yes, I'm going to wait on the unpipped eggs. Intervention may be required for the 1 pipped egg - it looks dry.

oh.. i guess I need to go back a read!! I didnt realize you already had some hatch! its still possible for them to hatch on their own, and for some reason.. all my marans were the last ones out. I dont know if the shells were thicker or something.

 

[lacychick]

did you just peel away some of the shell by the pip? I had one to help last time.. when I removed some of the shell.. i wet the membrane with really warm water...if it is still alive and breathing, give it a little more time, maybe another 12 hours...if nothing still remove a little more of the shell.. like you were making a zip for it... and put it back in.. pushing itself out is important for these guys!

Yes I removed some shell and a small amount of outer membrane and put it back in the incubator, it's outer membrane is drying out

 

[mollybuck]

i am wondering if anyone ever tried to put a little vasoline or veggie oil on an exposed membrane? do you think it would hurt? it would help keep it from drying out...you could wrap that one in a wet paper towel, that might help with the moisture...

 

[Wishapup]

Your all so brave I'm stressed as anything , Wishapup how did you help the malpositioned one ? I have one that's pipped at the wrong end since yesterday and made no progress so I started to assist two hours ago and I can't see the veins in the inner membrane because the chick is so dark, it's still chirping and breathing, I have posted a thread for help but I understand people don't always like to intervene

I've had several pip at the wrong end this time, and most have hatched. I hope your chick is okay. The malpositioned chick I helped was definitely ready - no blood/veins or anything, membrane was quite dry. I used my fingernails to peel off little pieces of shell, and then pulled the membrane away around its head. It was able to scramble out of the remaining shell by itself and had obviously been physically ready to get out for quite some time. I tried moistening the membrane as well but it didn't seem to work. I'm no expert at this - this is the first chick I've actually helped.

did you just peel away some of the shell by the pip? I had one to help last time.. when I removed some of the shell.. i wet the membrane with really warm water...if it is still alive and breathing, give it a little more time, maybe another 12 hours...if nothing still remove a little more of the shell.. like you were making a zip for it... and put it back in.. pushing itself out is important for these guys!

You are right - it's especially important for the chick to burst out of the membrane itself at the end, or what is remaining of the shell, by itself!

 

[Wishapup]

i am wondering if anyone ever tried to put a little vasoline or veggie oil on an exposed membrane? do you think it would hurt? it would help keep it from drying out...you could wrap that one in a wet paper towel, that might help with the moisture...

I think I read on here that someone applied ointment. I think people do do that for drying membranes...good suggestion.