May Hatch Thread--Fill up those bators n' broodies!

[Missyktsm]

Wohooooooooo Pip assist! I got the shell open and both are resting and breathing! Had I not opened a pip myself in the shell, I am sure they would have died. They were no where close to be able to pip the shell on their own! I lost 2 from my last batch because they pipped internally and died. Now to wait for them to absorb the yolk and blood!

Yay! Congrats! So glad you're going to get some chicks from this hatch. Hopefully you'll have more late bloomers

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

It's one hatch down for May - one to go due on 30th. Out of this hatch - I set 26 eggs. I have 16 healthy babies in the brooder (will post pics shortly) - one little chick still in the bator (will explain later) - one that pipped and started zipping but died mid zip (I pulled it out and its internal organs were on the outside) - and the remaining 8 eggs well - 2 had formed perfectly absorbed all yoke and veins but never pipped? They appeared to have drowned but not sure that is possilbe because I did dry incuabtion? 2 others were formed but looked like they quit on lock down day - still had a small yoke sac and veins but both had deformed heads and legs. 2 quitters midway through. One quit way early (looked to be around day 8/9). And finally - I had one perfectly clear egg - oops missed it!! The last two were really dark and I couldn't see through them good. Counting the one still in the bator that is a 65% hatch rate - I'll take that - not too bad.

Now about this baby still in the bator - I need some opinions - it hatched perfectly - all by itself. When I noticed it - s/he was still laying on it's back just out of the egg - and the part of it's belly where the yoke absorbs into the navel was BLACK (just under the skin) but the yoke was completely absorbed. Every other chick that I have had to hatch had a yellowish orange belly (the color of the yoke sac). I didn't think much about it and went back to check on it 30 minutes later - it seemed fine - had gotten to its feet and was running around like mad. Then an hour later - I went to move it and the remaining 3 chicks into the brooder and there was blood, black goo, and green slime everywhere. The entire contents of this poor chicks belly had seemingly errupted out of it's navel BUT it was still up on it's feet running about all over and seemed healthy (other than the gunk it was leaving behind). This was yesterday around 4PM. I had to run some errands so I decided to leave it in the bator to see what would happen. At 10PM last night - all seemed well - the goop had dried up - most had fallen off but a little was still stuck to the chick. I didn't want the other chicks picking at it so I left it in the bator overnight and was going to attempt washing the dried up stuff off this morning (giving it time to heal). I opened the bator this morning and there was more green bile oozing from the navel area which is very large compared to other chicks. However the chick still seems fine - running about like normal. Is this something that will pass - does it just need to expel this stuff or is this something that it will not pull through. Just wondering if I need to nurture it or humanely end it? As horrible as that sounds I do not believe in letting an animal suffer if death is inevitable - but I have never seen anything like this before.

 

[misschickenlittle]

Wohooooooooo Pip assist! I got the shell open and both are resting and breathing! Had I not opened a pip myself in the shell, I am sure they would have died. They were no where close to be able to pip the shell on their own! I lost 2 from my last batch because they pipped internally and died. Now to wait for them to absorb the yolk and blood!

!!! Is this one of the bunts??

 

[chickydee64]

Fell asleep and slept straight through.
Humidity dipped to 55..
2 speckled Sussex hatched during the night...
2 pips.one from late yesterday. Will check it in a bit to see if there is life.
The chicks in the brooder seem to be fine this AM with the exception of the one with the bad leg.
I'll try to set it but have not had great success in the past.

So happy about everyone's chickies.........

 

[jnjmanning]

Yay! Congrats! So glad you're going to get some chicks from this hatch. Hopefully you'll have more late bloomers

They arent completely out yet! I just opened the shell so they could breathe! They are absorbing the yolk and blood now. Might now get the rest of the way out till much later. But at least they wont pip internally and die like the others did!

 

[MadamContrary]

Thanks - shavings in the water drive me up the wall!! They soak up the water and the chicks can't drink - it seems like you never get anything done except cleaning waterers!! And the egg carton for a feeder - cheap and easy - once it gets too soiled by poo to use - just toss it and make another instead of constantly cleaning and sanitizing feed bins (I only use the paper ones and tear them up and put them in the compost/worm bin after they get too dirty - can't do that with styrofoam).

I just use the nipple waterers, they are cheap and clean, the chicks catch on just as quick, plus it gives them something to peck at that is not a hatch-mate.

 

[jnjmanning]

!!! Is this one of the bunts??

Yes 2 Bunts! They are still in the shell but I can see them breathing! These air cells went clear down the whole side of the egg to about 1/2 inch from the bottom! Still have 7 more on the late schedule and 6 that went in with these guys this morning. They have GREAT looking air cells, normal actually, and much larger chicks than these. I think the air cell mess makes for a smaller chick. I will post pics when they are out!

 

[jnjmanning]

Fell asleep and slept straight through.
Humidity dipped to 55..
2 speckled Sussex hatched during the night...
2 pips.one from late yesterday. Will check it in a bit to see if there is life.
The chicks in the brooder seem to be fine this AM with the exception of the one with the bad leg.
I'll try to set it but have not had great success in the past.

So happy about everyone's chickies.........

55 isnt bad! How are the 2 pips?

 

[LTygress]

I have set mine. Due dates are 12 Random eggs on May 25th (although maybe delayed a bit because the broody switched nests), 9 WCB Polish on May 31st, 9 Buff Polish on June 1st, and 14 white Silkies on June 1st!

The incubators are: Two broody hens and a Little Giant.

Candled all eggs in the LG incubator last night, and all except TWO had excellent blood vessel development. I'm thinking about trying to candle the eggs under the hen tonight after dark (I don't want to haul ALL of those eggs inside and back out to candle them, and light pollution here is very low).

 

[jnjmanning]

I have set mine. Due dates are 12 Random eggs on May 25th (although maybe delayed a bit because the broody switched nests), 9 WCB Polish on May 31st, 9 Buff Polish on June 1st, and 14 white Silkies on June 1st!

The incubators are: Two broody hens and a Little Giant.

Candled all eggs in the LG incubator last night, and all except TWO had excellent blood vessel development. I'm thinking about trying to candle the eggs under the hen tonight after dark (I don't want to haul ALL of those eggs inside and back out to candle them, and light pollution here is very low).

I LOVE the Polish and silkies! You can join us in the June hatch a long as soon as your 31st makes an appearance! I have Sizzles due the 31st and hatching Polish as we speak!