Need some hatching buddies - Hatching May 24-28

[Stevenson]

Well, I had to make an emergency entrance into my incubator, so I went ahead and moved 10 chicks to the brooder.

The last of my speckled sussex chicks had started zipping this morning at 4:00 when I woke up. When I got home from work at 4:30 it hadn't made any more progress and was still in the same place it was when I left this morning. It seemed like it was weak, so I made the decision to help out. I am glad I did, because it was COMPLETELY stuck. I think it had shrink wrapped and stuck to the back of its head, so it couldn't move anymore. I initially took the rest of the top off the egg expecting its head to flip out, but it didn't move it...so I went ahead and took it the rest of the way out of the egg. I know that we're told not to help...but I am glad I did in this case...there is no way this little chick would have made it. Now, I am just holding out hope that it will survive.

12 chicks out, one zipping as we speak....5 remaining due tomorrow and 1 more due today.

 

[BrandiP]

That's awesome!

It can be such a difficult decision to intervene or not to intervene. I'm glad it worked out for you! Fingers crossed the little one makes it!

We woke up to a pip this morning! Today is day 20, so one day ahead of schedule. This afternoon we noticed another pip, and then just now three more! Our first pip has started zipping, hopefully not too much longer!

 

[Stevenson]

Up to 13 hatched now, and my barnevelder egg just pipped!

 

[Stevenson]

Several of the chicks in the brooder box.

I think this little chick is telling me it would like to be taken to shows...just look at that pose!

 

[WriterofWords]

I help if I think they need it and today I had to help my little Banty or it would have died in the egg. It pipped yesterday morning and made no progress all yesterday, when I left yesterday I creased the egg around the pip to see if it might help. This morning it knocked off a few pieces but then nothing and looked like it was getting very weak. After school I checked it out more and the bottom of the egg was fine but he had a piece of the membrane stuck around his beak. I took that off and lifted the top the egg a bit and 5 minutes later he hatched the rest of the way on his own.

In class the 'bator gets opened and closed a lot to show candling and movement, and all that good stuff that goes with the lesson the hatch. When I close it up again I spritz them and the humidity comes up real quick again. I know a lot are cringing at that thought but the way I see it is that the hens do not strap their butts to the nest and never leave it, they do. The get up go poop, eat, drink, stretch, and then go back. Even in the last days they move around a lot. Since Tuesday we opened and closed it MANY times to move chicks to the cage with the heat lamp, to show the students the actual hatching, and we still got 28 out of 30 to hatch. One that's left is the really porous egg, the other is the one with the crack internally, so we'll see what happens with those two. Over all we are thrilled!

 

[fifelakelooper]

Latest posting here is that the pip at the wrong end...has not progressed all day. Still alive...peeeps sometimes. Since then 4 more have pipped today...normals at the large end thank goodness. It has been 13 hours or so for the first pip. Problem is...if I go to help it...the others "pipping" could have issues. I'm very hesitant to go after it...probably will not and just be prepared to perhaps lose it. Writer of Words you have done numerous hatches and are more experienced than me...I really don't think I'm ready to try to extracate the chick. I'm hoping mother nature will just help the chickie manuever it's way out. I've read online how to assist...but I'm going to wait til early morning at least. Don't think I will sleep tonight! Memo to myself....always set the eggs in the morning!

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
Really cute babies!!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
Go little Barnie!!

I know you are excited for your others, but I told you, love the Barnevelders..I think you will too.

How is your little one doing that you helped out? I have helped a few out..they are weak at first for sure. When you are home, go and touch it and lift it to it's feet every half hr. if you can. Or, if you have other chicks around it, that aren't stepping all over it, they will help it come along...good luck. The ones we help seem to be extra special.

 

[Stevenson]

Quote:
Go little Barnie!!

I know you are excited for your others, but I told you, love the Barnevelders..I think you will too.

How is your little one doing that you helped out? I have helped a few out..they are weak at first for sure. When you are home, go and touch it and lift it to it's feet every half hr. if you can. Or, if you have other chicks around it, that aren't stepping all over it, they will help it come along...good luck. The ones we help seem to be extra special.

I think it's going to be just fine. It was really having trouble moving around at first, but it is getting much better. Time will tell, but I made the right choice...there is NO WAY it would have survived had I not stepped in. If it doesn't make it, I am satisfied that I did the right thing.

 

[hennypenny99]

Glad you all were able to help them out.

Guess what? 3 more pips and these are on the barnyard mix chicks.

Okay you have to check this out. You know silkies have 5 toes right? Well one of my guys has 6 toes! That's right, count them SIX! I tried to get a picture. I guess he still has 5 toes but the one next to the end is split into two halfway up the toe and he even has two toenails and there are 6 on each foot! How strange? The other big toe is hidden under the fuzz. I will have to come up with a special name for this one. The picture is not the greatest. I will try to get a better one later.

Oh and the one I was worried about is doing great now and it's not black, it's partridge I think because it has a brown head.