October Hatch-A-Long 2017

[Firstturkey]

Set 44 eggs, Day 1 begins!!!

Hap

4 more eggs were ruined by the dog. So down to 12. what a surprise.. and of course these 4 eggs were good breeds, as well. I just have to remember that I really don't/didn't think that I will hatch any of these at the end anyway.

I would keep the dog out of the incubator room.

 

[Peep_Show]

That's good news, Crooked Chicken, that you're going to get some chicks! Yay! Hopefully more will hatch so your little one has a pal.
What breed(s) are they, do you know?

 

[Peep_Show]

Firstturkey, I'll be joining you with eggs that hatch next month. My third wave of eggs is set to hatch on November 4th. Don't know how many, though, as the majority of them are Marans eggs and it's hard to see anything through the shells.

First set of eggs headed to lockdown tonight. 7 Welsummer, 2 Welsummer x EE, 3 Welsummer x Delaware or Australorp. All looked good and solid at candling last night and had nice air cells. The hatching bator is up and running at a steady 65% humidity.


The second set of eggs headed to lockdown on Tuesday night. 11 Cuckoo Bluebars and 1 Welsummer. The Bluebars are shipped eggs and, amazingly, only one of the 12 didn't develop...so eggcellent results on an order of 10 eggs with extras.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

That's good news, Crooked Chicken, that you're going to get some chicks! Yay! Hopefully more will hatch so your little one has a pal.
What breed(s) are they, do you know?

Barred Plymouth Rock pullet x RIR or Easter Egger cockerel.

The chick is doing really well and seems strong and active.

I did a float test this morning and only 2 moved slightly, but one of those was a weak bobble. That egg I decided to pip a hole in the air cell. Once I did that I could see the white membrane a good 1/2 inch further down so I broke out about a quarter size hole i the shell. I barely pricked the membrane and it had a tiny spot of blood. Decided not to go further. I gently swabbed the entire exposed area of membrane with antibiotic ointment. The ointment moistened it and makes it look dark and I can see the chick moving.

I am leaving the other alone and will closely monitor the one I opened.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Forgot to mention, the one I opened. It's beak is maybe a qyater inch from where I pierced the membrane I tried to gently maneuver beak/hole to align, but I think it should be okay??

edited to add:
It looks like the egg in photos 7 & 8 on this thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Stuckinlove]

Day 19 and I have an internal pip!! I was checking on things and adding water and I heard some chirping so I had to check and sure enough, one is through! Woohoo!! And so it begins!

 

[Peep_Show]

Crooked Chicken -- The blood in the membrane is absorbed into the chick about the same time the yolk is, so the fact that you see some means the chick isn't ready to pip yet... Which makes sense considering they were incubated at a lower temperature and therefore not as far along as a chick would be at 100 degrees throughout incubation. Picture it as bread cooked in a slow oven vs. a warm oven... It just takes longer.

Patience, patience.

 

[Peep_Show]

When the chick is ready to hatch, it'll twist it's head and break the membrane with its egg tooth.

Remember, chicks sometimes rest a full 24 hours from first external pip to zip. It's during this resting phase that yolk and membrane blood are absorbed if they haven't been already. A lot of folks try to "help" the chick and peel the shell with sad results of the chick bleeding out.

Patience, patience again.

 

[Peep_Show]

Try not to open the incubator too much once they've started hatching to avoid shrinkwrapping those still in the egg.

 

[Peep_Show]

Here's my lockdown setup for the first wave of eggs. They're in! I've segregated the two EE eggs into the blue basket and the Wellie crosses are in the yellow ones. I have another thermometer/humidity unit just out of range of the picture. The two water wells I need to fill to keep the humidity in the 64% range don't have shelf liner over them for easier access through the vent hole (using a straw and squeeze bottle)
Now the fun of waiting begins!