Um.....had some broody issues and had to bring a couple of clutches in and put them in the incubator. Problem is that the eggs are all different ages and I have candled and culled the not developing ones.
They have started hatching. Two right away. One the next day. One the next. There were five in the brooder. Last night another one pipped and came out very early this morning.....finally.....was up all night with the egg and finally a chick. Very shrink wrapped. Could tell I needed to help when I saw around her head the dried like concrete 'stuff'. Got her out but still has some dried like concrete 'stuff' in spots. Under one wing and on the right side of her head and neck. Not a lot on the head and neck.
My question (finally) is what can I put on the dried eggshell/inside the egg 'stuff'??? Oil? Olive oil? What would soften it? She is strong now and ready to go in with the five but I have put her in a couple of times and they peck, naturally, at the 'stuff'.
Second question (you knew there would be one) is how can I prevent this happening again. I have another egg that has pipped and is starting to zip but I increased the humidity some to keep the membranes from drying out (which is what I think happened in one of my lapses into sleep last night with the other egg). How do you handle it when eggs are different ages?
I know. Should not have done it this way.....but it is what it is. Am thinking about calling my neighbor and borrowing their incubator and setting it up to transfer a pipped egg into.....have the temps right as well as humidity for the hatching ones.
Help.....
They have started hatching. Two right away. One the next day. One the next. There were five in the brooder. Last night another one pipped and came out very early this morning.....finally.....was up all night with the egg and finally a chick. Very shrink wrapped. Could tell I needed to help when I saw around her head the dried like concrete 'stuff'. Got her out but still has some dried like concrete 'stuff' in spots. Under one wing and on the right side of her head and neck. Not a lot on the head and neck.
My question (finally) is what can I put on the dried eggshell/inside the egg 'stuff'??? Oil? Olive oil? What would soften it? She is strong now and ready to go in with the five but I have put her in a couple of times and they peck, naturally, at the 'stuff'.
Second question (you knew there would be one) is how can I prevent this happening again. I have another egg that has pipped and is starting to zip but I increased the humidity some to keep the membranes from drying out (which is what I think happened in one of my lapses into sleep last night with the other egg). How do you handle it when eggs are different ages?
I know. Should not have done it this way.....but it is what it is. Am thinking about calling my neighbor and borrowing their incubator and setting it up to transfer a pipped egg into.....have the temps right as well as humidity for the hatching ones.
Help.....