Need Help

[starchick]

My school science teacher is trying to hatch for the first time. We had an incubator with auto turner and followed the directions for 21 days. Today...nothing happened. We were told that they wouldn't if they hadn't hatched by now. She took the eggs out for a few hours and purchased new eggs. She put them in today. We opened an egg after school to see why they hadn't hatched and found a baby chick still breathing and in the sac. We didn't know what to do so we put him back in his shell and layed him back in the incubator. We do not know if he will live. What should we have done? We also put the eggs back in and hoped they might hatch during the night or tomorrow. IF they were not kept warm for a few hours...will they die? Did we make a huge mistake? What can anyone tell us. We are desperate for help.

 

[lutz123]

I'm new to the chicken thing so I can't offer much but an "I'm sorry". Though there are others with knowledge that may be able to help, I can't help but wondering if there's still a chance for the others - as long as the temperature and humidity were brought back up to what's necessary for hatching. I'm hoping for the best. But yes, you made a mistake. It can definitely take longer than 21 days from what I've learned.

 

[1muttsfan]

Oh starchick that is too bad! Don't let your teacher feel too bad, hatching is a learning experience for us all, even after years of experience. Due to variables like temperature, humidity, and even the breed of chicken, eggs can hatch earlier or later than 21 days. You may still get some chicks that hatch out.

There are some really good guides to hatching here on BYC, and often you can join a hatch-along thread that will help answer questions just about 24 hours a day.

Good luck!

 

[starchick]

Thanks for all your words of encouragment. The baby chick died during the night and we were shocked to see that two of the eggs we had taken out yesterday were moving! We actually have two that have started to hatch today. Maybe all isn't lost. My teacher is feeling better today and is going to take the incubator home over the weekend just in case they hatch out or stuggle to get out of their shells. She is not getting excited and telling the kids until we see what actually happens. They have made a little hole in each egg and move every now and then. We borrowed another incubator that does not turn them and will leave them in there until we see. She is spraying them twice a day to keep the moisture up. The temp is correct and the humidity is good. Wish us luck!! She also has 16 more eggs that were started yesterday when we thought all was lost. We have learned a lot and have now been told that 90% loss is expected. Those odds are not good. Will keep you all posted.

 

[1muttsfan]

Let us know how you make out -pictures are always great

 

[MetalSmitten]

did your teacher count the day she put the eggs in the incubator as day 1? that's actually day 0! they haven't been actually IN the incubator for 24 hours yet, so the day you set them doesn't count. the easiest way to know for sure is that your eggs should hatch on the same day of the week as they were first set, so if she put them in on a monday, they should hatch on a monday. maybe they were actually only on day 20. otherwise, late hatching can sometimes happen if the temperature was a bit too low. give them a couple more days (give them a little extra time since you took them out of the incubator and they cooled down) and see what happens.

there may still be hope!

 

[iyecats]

Hi I'm new here. I have a question and not sure where to post my question. I had a flock of chickens before. Well a flock of 3. The authorities came by once and told me I needed to get rid of my ladies. I went on line to see if it was a city code. Couldn't find anything and I know other people in my city have chickens. I follow the request and found good homes for my ladies after having them for 6 years. I am thinking of starting over. We just hatched some new chicks at school. I'm a second grade teacher. I live in La Mirada California. I was wondering how I find out if it is legal to have backyard chickens in my city. I still have my coop. A bunny is living in it right now. But I am thinking of taking 4 of the chicks my class hatched home. I want to make sure that it will be ok and I won't have any problems. How or where do I find out if I can have hens in my backyard? Thanks for the advice. I hope you can email me the answer since I am not sure how to get back to this specific forum. Thanks. Hope this it is ok. [email protected]

Sincerely,

Stacey

 

[1muttsfan]

Here is the link to the local laws index

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=37

Good luck!

 

[starchick2]

Hi everyone! I am the science teacher starchick is talking about, thanks for all of your help and encouraging words!

We have two chicks and three more are starting to hatch! I am so excited that not all was lost! The students had a great time today coming into the science lab and checking out the baby chicks.

I do have one question... One of the chicks foot/leg does not seem to have developed correctly and it is having trouble walking. The chick is trying to walk on it but is unable and it looks red and swollen. Any suggestions on what I should do to help it? I am going to post some pictures so you can see our baby chicks and the foot/leg I am talking about.

Thanks again for all of you help!


Here are our little guys! I am refering to the chick on the right, closest foot in the picture.


Ouch!


A closer look...

 

[MetalSmitten]

I'm not sure about the foot, sorry, but I will suggest to make a new thread in the "Emergenies/Disease/Injuries" section - it's for just such questions, and more people with better knowledge will see you ask

Here's the link, just cut n paste what you already said but post there as a new topic: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=10

So glad that some of them made it! Good luck

ETA: Just realized that you already posted there! I hope someone has an answer for you!