November/December "Hatch-a-Long"

[Heidisgran]

I get home from work at 5:30 an the power is out , Temps in the 88 and humidty is saying 90 , I run around looking for a heat source I end up with tea lights ,I watch my temps for about an hour til power comes on ! Now all is well Tomorrow is suppose to be hatch day hopefully this doesnt mess up my hatch !

oh my! I'm so sorry, I can feel your stomach from here!! I'm thinking that the 88 is fine as long as they have humidity so they didn't dry it's good! some wrap blankets around the bator!

 

[Heidisgran]

On a happy note 1 of my Russian Orloffs went broody , wasnt sure but after a few days I realized shes Broody! Shes was on 9 eggs , after candling 6 look to be growing , so I ditched the 3 marked the 6 in case she takes her break and someone tries to lay . It was funny since her breed is calm I took her out , and everytime i candled an egg she went back into the nest box, lol . She kinda let me know she was not ok with what I was doing by her noises!

I have 8 little orloffs hatched Saturday!

 

[bhaugh]

I posted 3 weeks ago on my trader joe eggs to try so I could regulate my bator before I bought those pricy eggs. This was my first hatch. Today 3 hatched. I know everyone says not to help the chicks but after the chick lost its egg tooth at some point and its head and one foot got somehow rapped around the yolk cord and mal positioned in the egg, I'm glad I helped the chick out. He/she would have died. I decided before helping that if he/she died, then I would know not to do it again. For now all seems well with the chick and not sure the cord issue would have been one of those sickly chicks. Only time will tell I suppose.

For anyone who has watched the bator for 3 weeks with no hatch, good thought for you the next time. I would have been crushed if none would have hatched. I did do the egg float test though last night as today is day 23. All the eggs danced in the water. I still have 3 eggs left to hatch and am hoping the ones out making all the noise will get the others going. If not I am just thankful I had some hatch. It was a fascinating day watching them zip those shells right off. I told my son that it doesnt take much more than $2.99 dozen eggs and a bator to make me clap and jump for joy. Wish he was that way.

Barb

 

[familypendragon]

   I get home from work at 5:30 an the power is out , Temps in the 88 and humidty is saying 90 , I run around looking for a heat source I end up with tea lights  ,I watch my temps  for about an hour til power comes on ! Now all is well Tomorrow is suppose to be hatch day hopefully this doesnt mess up my hatch !

This should make you feel better - from here http://www.brinsea.com/customerservice/poweroff.html

"Zone of hatching potential (35 - 40.5°C/104.9 - 84.5°F)

Within a range of 35 to 40.5°C (84.5 - 104.9°F) there is the possibility of eggs hatching. The
optimum (for hens) is 37.8 °C (100.4°F), above this temperature as well as a reduced hatch
there will be an increase in the number of crippled and deformed chicks. Above 40.5 °C
(104.9°F) no embryos will survive.

Continuous temperatures within this range but below optimum retard development and
increase mortalities. However it is again evident that early embryos are more susceptible to
continuous slightly low temperatures than older embryos. Indeed, from 16 days on it may be
beneficial to lower the incubation temperature by up to 2°C (3.6°F). I emphasis the word
‘continuous’ because the effects of short term reduction in temperature are different and are
discussed later.... If power loss occurs when the eggs are near hatching, incubator temperature is less
critical, but severe chilling will cause mortalities.....Remember that incubator thermometer readings will not be the same as embryo temperatures
when cooling or heating occurs. The eggs will lag behind the air temperature."

 

[Heidisgran]

I posted 3 weeks ago on my trader joe eggs to try so I could regulate my bator before I bought those pricy eggs. This was my first hatch. Today 3 hatched. I know everyone says not to help the chicks but after the chick lost its egg tooth at some point and its head and one foot got somehow rapped around the yolk cord and mal positioned in the egg, I'm glad I helped the chick out. He/she would have died. I decided before helping that if he/she died, then I would know not to do it again. For now all seems well with the chick and not sure the cord issue would have been one of those sickly chicks. Only time will tell I suppose.

For anyone who has watched the bator for 3 weeks with no hatch, good thought for you the next time. I would have been crushed if none would have hatched. I did do the egg float test though last night as today is day 23. All the eggs danced in the water. I still have 3 eggs left to hatch and am hoping the ones out making all the noise will get the others going. If not I am just thankful I had some hatch. It was a fascinating day watching them zip those shells right off. I told my son that it doesnt take much more than $2.99 dozen eggs and a bator to make me clap and jump for joy. Wish he was that way.

Barb

CONGRATS!

I do remember you posting about your eggs! very fun!
I think most of us chicken lovers help...maybe when we shouldn't but we do things artificially and then decide to let nature take it's course? no! we are responsible for a life at that point!

 

[familypendragon]

I posted 3 weeks ago on my trader joe eggs to try so I could regulate my bator before I bought those pricy eggs. This was my first hatch. Today 3 hatched. I know everyone says not to help the chicks but after the chick lost its egg tooth at some point and its head and one foot got somehow rapped around the yolk cord and mal positioned in the egg, I'm glad I helped the chick out. He/she would have died. I decided before helping that if he/she died, then I would know not to do it again. For now all seems well with the chick and not sure the cord issue would have been one of those sickly chicks. Only time will tell I suppose.

For anyone who has watched the bator for 3 weeks with no hatch, good thought for you the next time. I would have been crushed if none would have hatched. I did do the egg float test though last night as today is day 23. All the eggs danced in the water. I still have 3 eggs left to hatch and am hoping the ones out making all the noise will get the others going. If not I am just thankful I had some hatch. It was a fascinating day watching them zip those shells right off. I told my son that it doesnt take much more than $2.99 dozen eggs and a bator to make me clap and jump for joy. Wish he was that way.

Barb

I have never done the float test, but I have heard to make sure you candle first as you need to be certain there is no internal pip or you can drown the chicks inside. Don't know from experience - just throwing it out as warning to anyone thinking of trying it for the first time. Please correct me anyone if I am mistaken or that is an old wive's tale.

As for helping, I am glad you did - I do it too All life is precious to me. I don't care if all my chicks aren't super chick. I have lots of friends happy to take a free chicken if I don't use it as a breeder And so far I have rarely ever lost a chick I helped. Usually I can't tell them from the others. Most complications are just a result of malposition - which I don't believe has anything to do with the health of the chick as much as it does the fact that they are being hatched by humans using a machine. To me its like saying a human baby born breech must be sickly for life For me I tend to find which ever one hatches first tends to be the one that gives me trouble. :/ Same with this hatch. The two that could not have hatched without assistance because they had their beaks buried down into their bellies are doing great - but the first to hatch is laying around looking weak and sickly. Like maybe it hatched first because something wasn't right in there and it needed to get out or something

 

[DeannaA]

not normal at all

Is normal really so important?

Oh no!! Yum, that would have been awesome

Naughty chicken.... I think you're normal. Does that count? LOL!

Normal within a specific group is good enough for me.

As an update to the previous hatch from 2 weeks ago, if anyone remembers I had a little marans mix that seemed to be unable to poop and I was afraid it wouldn't make it. Happy to report she is still doing fine and seems to have straightened out her issues. Her belly is no longer hard and she is eating and growing now. Yay!!

What finally helped it? I like to learn these things just in case.

not normal ...but love and attention like yours doesnt come along every day . I always found it fascinating how if the boss cat died,cat number 2 would always develop much more personality, then I realised its the increase in focus.they really do thrive on attention

Clearly youre really good at noticing them!
Turkey with a straw! Got to see that! Sadness for your limoncello...I made damson gin one year, so much time but so delicious!

I have also made grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange. All very yummy. Max is fast when he drinks. Hard to get a clear picture.

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: Normal within a specific group is good enough for me.

As an update to the previous hatch from 2 weeks ago, if anyone remembers I had a little marans mix that seemed to be unable to poop and I was afraid it wouldn't make it. Happy to report she is still doing fine and seems to have straightened out her issues. Her belly is no longer hard and she is eating and growing now. Yay!!

What finally helped it? I like to learn these things just in case.

not normal ...but love and attention like yours doesnt come along every day . I always found it fascinating how if the boss cat died,cat number 2 would always develop much more personality, then I realised its the increase in focus.they really do thrive on attention

Clearly youre really good at noticing them!
Turkey with a straw! Got to see that! Sadness for your limoncello...I made damson gin one year, so much time but so delicious!

I have also made grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange. All very yummy. Max is fast when he drinks. Hard to get a clear picture.

your normal in our world! that's just right

 

[mollychick2013]

I get home from work at 5:30 an the power is out , Temps in the 88 and humidty is saying 90 , I run around looking for a heat source I end up with tea lights ,I watch my temps for about an hour til power comes on ! Now all is well Tomorrow is suppose to be hatch day hopefully this doesnt mess up my hatch !

Oh no!!!! I hope all is well with them, I am sure they will be though with being that close to hatching. Wishing lots of good luck your way!

 

[MrsJenSmith2007]

Well, day 24 is over for my first two and NO pips and no longer notice any movement. The eggs with TODAY as a hatch date also no chicks...one pip and that egg is showing movement, other than that...nothing.

I just need at least one to hatch for my sanity's sake. I candled some newer eggs today that are very light and I could see better...they were not fertile! So obviously I threw them out. Hope that this isn't the case with my darker eggs and I just couldn't tell?? But there is for sure SOMETHING in the eggs in the bator! I have seen movement. Gesh..just a little discouraged tonight. This fever of 102 probably isn't helping.