November Hatch-A-Long (2014)

[Antiquity]

oh well. I put a safety pip into two eggs that appeared to be struggling after pipping internally after last night. Their membranes were really dry so it looks like I'll be going in after my other eggs. The plus side is some of those samples we've got laying around from DHs work do wonders at protecting membranes while the chick matures so, yay.

I told my husband that the next time I want to incubate eggs I'm just going to stick them in a box in the garage and forget about them. Whatever happens, happens.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

oh well. I put a safety pip into two eggs that appeared to be struggling after pipping internally after last night. Their membranes were really dry so it looks like I'll be going in after my other eggs. The plus side is some of those samples we've got laying around from DHs work do wonders at protecting membranes while the chick matures so, yay.

I told my husband that the next time I want to incubate eggs I'm just going to stick them in a box in the garage and forget about them. Whatever happens, happens.

Stick them in the garage and forget about them!!!

That is never going to happen!! You'd be setting a bed up in the garage!!!! lol On a serious note: I hope they all make it ok. One of the three of mine that didn't hatch had internally pipped but was shrink wrapped so it died in the shell. All I could think was 'If you had just been able to pip through the shell, I could have done something.' Incubating is one of the most awesome, frustrating, emotionally trying thing I've done (willingly) to myself...lol

 

[Antiquity]

@AmyLynn2374 I think I could handle it. I figure I'll leave them be for the first 18, set up a fogger and then check in on day 22. It beats this.

 

[Iko127]

oh well. I put a safety pip into two eggs that appeared to be struggling after pipping internally after last night. Their membranes were really dry so it looks like I'll be going in after my other eggs. The plus side is some of those samples we've got laying around from DHs work do wonders at protecting membranes while the chick matures so, yay.

I told my husband that the next time I want to incubate eggs I'm just going to stick them in a box in the garage and forget about them. Whatever happens, happens.

I'm with you on the safety pips but I keep telling myself that you want strong healthy chicks and those are the ones that hatch without help unless there problem in hatching was from human interference to start with. I hate losing chicks just because it didn't pip and I could have done that. The problem that I see is the cycle that if I make the pip then more than likely I will have to hatch it and without fail the ones I want to help are after I already have a pip or 2 and I know I'm going to mess up the good chicks just to possibly save one that might have a problem. Its all very hard and drives me crazy!!! I think more power to you for doing it and it working. I would love to pip my other 2 eggs but I just can't take the risk with the 2 that are pipped!! AND yes I have 2 pips!!!! So happy I hope all your babies are doing great!!

 

[Antiquity]

I'm with you on the safety pips but I keep telling myself that you want strong healthy chicks and those are the ones that hatch without help unless there problem in hatching was from human interference to start with. I hate losing chicks just because it didn't pip and I could have done that. The problem that I see is the cycle that if I make the pip then more than likely I will have to hatch it and without fail the ones I want to help are after I already have a pip or 2 and I know I'm going to mess up the good chicks just to possibly save one that might have a problem. Its all very hard and drives me crazy!!! I think more power to you for doing it and it working. I would love to pip my other 2 eggs but I just can't take the risk with the 2 that are pipped!! AND yes I have 2 pips!!!! So happy I hope all your babies are doing great!!

Grats on your pips! Oh I am so excited for you.

The problem is, how do you know it's caused by human imperfection rather than the chick without making an opening? You don't. In this particular case I went ahead and opened my eggs. I know I'm an imperfect incubator, and I've admitted my propensity to meddle many, many times, and that's part of why I'm so unwilling to just let them die in the shell.

I understand not wanting to propagate the genes of chicks that need help hatching, I'm just not convinced that my low hatch rate is the chicks fault. When you get 33 dead chicks in a row, you've got to start thinking maybe the problem is you, you know? Besides, the chicks have to be living in order to be strong and healthy.

Anyway, I opened my eggs and here were the results. I opened seven eggs out of eight. One was already pipped on it's own, I just widened it and lubed the membrane. Three of them were pipped internally already so I only located the beaks and lubed them up. One of them had not yet pipped but the membranes were very dry and tough with few veins so I pipped it myself and lubed it up. That makes five cheeping eggs with visible beaks.

From the other three I had one that had a very visible yolk and beak when I opened it, still fully inside the membranes so I lubed it and placed it in the back. One of them has not yet pipped internally but has a really big vein right dead in front and a small air cell, plus I could not locate his beak so I left his intact and lubed him. The last one was obviously dead and appears to have pipped right on a large vein as he had blood clots in his shell.

So I have seven living eggs for now, and at least five of them seem to be doing great.

You see @AmyLynn2374 THIS is why I just want to stick the next ones in the garage. I did everything I could and kept my darn hands off the first time I tried a hatch, and wound up with 24 dead chicks. This time I fuss with it constantly, do everything you're not supposed to, and wind up having to go in after eleven chicks, but at least I finally get living ones. I think I'd rather not care as much next time.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Grats on your pips! Oh I am so excited for you.

The problem is, how do you know it's caused by human imperfection rather than the chick without making an opening? You don't. In this particular case I went ahead and opened my eggs. I know I'm an imperfect incubator, and I've admitted my propensity to meddle many, many times, and that's part of why I'm so unwilling to just let them die in the shell.

I understand not wanting to propagate the genes of chicks that need help hatching, I'm just not convinced that my low hatch rate is the chicks fault. When you get 33 dead chicks in a row, you've got to start thinking maybe the problem is you, you know? Besides, the chicks have to be living in order to be strong and healthy.

Anyway, I opened my eggs and here were the results. I opened seven eggs out of eight. One was already pipped on it's own, I just widened it and lubed the membrane. Three of them were pipped internally already so I only located the beaks and lubed them up. One of them had not yet pipped but the membranes were very dry and tough with few veins so I pipped it myself and lubed it up. That makes five cheeping eggs with visible beaks.

From the other three I had one that had a very visible yolk and beak when I opened it, still fully inside the membranes so I lubed it and placed it in the back. One of them has not yet pipped internally but has a really big vein right dead in front and a small air cell, plus I could not locate his beak so I left his intact and lubed him. The last one was obviously dead and appears to have pipped right on a large vein as he had blood clots in his shell.

So I have seven living eggs for now, and at least five of them seem to be doing great.

You see @AmyLynn2374 THIS is why I just want to stick the next ones in the garage. I did everything I could and kept my darn hands off the first time I tried a hatch, and wound up with 24 dead chicks. This time I fuss with it constantly, do everything you're not supposed to, and wind up having to go in after eleven chicks, but at least I finally get living ones. I think I'd rather not care as much next time.

I'm in agreement with the whole natural selection thing. I do not believe in 'if they don't make it out on their own it's better.' I believe that every living thing (well, maybe with the exception of certain insects and arachnids) deserve a chance, even if they need a helping hand. If there is really something wrong with them they are going to expire anyway, at least I know I did everything I can. Now, I'm not as quick to intervene as you, but I am certainly not going to sit by and let a chick die if I think it's in a dire situation. I won't "cull" (death cull) a chick/chicken, because it's not perfect or won't breed the perfect offspring. I'm not running a billion dollar business where I'm depending on the best of the best and I don't believe the majority of "backyard breeders" are. Then again, I could never eat one of my own chickens either. (Of course I haven't experienced a miserable roo yet so I might change my mind about that later... lol)

I know what you mean about having a miserable hatch. My first hatch attempt I had 17 at lockdown and ended up with one. (Of course it was due to a faulty thermometer.) Thought I did everything right. I was grateful this time I got the 13 out of 16 I did and only felt the need to intervene 2x's. I'm convinced both times I would have lost them if I hadn't. I'm still a little worried about the second one, but I know that if something happens, though I will be very saddened, that I did everything I could. We are burdened with having to make those decisions when we decide to incubate/hatch. What one person does may not be what the other does, but in the end it's what works for them and the chicks that is important.

 

[ochochicas]

Fifteen chicks so far from 20 eggs. I have four more pips and one egg that has not done anything. Twelve of them are in the brooder while the other three are in the incubator with the remaining eggs. The australorp chicks are already super aggressive and keep pecking at the eyes of the other chicks. Sigh...why can't everyone just get along!?!?! They are super sweet when they are all sleeping.

 

[Dcat]

Fifteen chicks so far from 20 eggs.  I have four more pips and one egg that has not done anything.  Twelve of them are in the brooder while the other three are in the incubator with the remaining eggs.  The australorp chicks are already super aggressive and keep pecking at the eyes of the other chicks.  Sigh...why can't everyone just get along!?!?!  They are super sweet when they are all sleeping.

that is wonderful!

 

[Iko127]

Grats on your pips! Oh I am so excited for you.

The problem is, how do you know it's caused by human imperfection rather than the chick without making an opening? You don't. In this particular case I went ahead and opened my eggs. I know I'm an imperfect incubator, and I've admitted my propensity to meddle many, many times, and that's part of why I'm so unwilling to just let them die in the shell.

I understand not wanting to propagate the genes of chicks that need help hatching, I'm just not convinced that my low hatch rate is the chicks fault. When you get 33 dead chicks in a row, you've got to start thinking maybe the problem is you, you know? Besides, the chicks have to be living in order to be strong and healthy.

Anyway, I opened my eggs and here were the results. I opened seven eggs out of eight. One was already pipped on it's own, I just widened it and lubed the membrane. Three of them were pipped internally already so I only located the beaks and lubed them up. One of them had not yet pipped but the membranes were very dry and tough with few veins so I pipped it myself and lubed it up. That makes five cheeping eggs with visible beaks.

From the other three I had one that had a very visible yolk and beak when I opened it, still fully inside the membranes so I lubed it and placed it in the back. One of them has not yet pipped internally but has a really big vein right dead in front and a small air cell, plus I could not locate his beak so I left his intact and lubed him. The last one was obviously dead and appears to have pipped right on a large vein as he had blood clots in his shell.

So I have seven living eggs for now, and at least five of them seem to be doing great.

You see @AmyLynn2374 THIS is why I just want to stick the next ones in the garage. I did everything I could and kept my darn hands off the first time I tried a hatch, and wound up with 24 dead chicks. This time I fuss with it constantly, do everything you're not supposed to, and wind up having to go in after eleven chicks, but at least I finally get living ones. I think I'd rather not care as much next time.

Hoping you didn't take what I said the wrong way, I many times don't get out what I mean. I'm glad you are saving the chicks and getting good results. Me personally meant it is what I want to do but I just am not sure I could hatch all my eggs. Shoot I don't even have breeding chickens right now and not sure it really matters, just what people say. I want to put pips in my other 2 eggs but I just can't unless I need to assist the 2 that are pipped. I always think if they can just have a pip to breathe then your pass half the battle. I hate for anything not to live just because I didn't help. I think you did great with your hatch and your much better then me with seeing with the candleing. With my cheap incubator the humidity leaves very quickly of course unless I wan it to...lol I will update soon!

 

[Dcat]

All 5 of my new babies!