October-hatch-along 2019

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I've been told an adamant NO by experienced hatchers. One of them claims that having the chick knock into the eggs encourages the eggs to hatch (!). Most discourage opening the bator for any reason due to loss of humidity and risk of shrink wrap.

Yup, it does actually encourage the others to hatch, that and them getting kicked all around.
Shrink wrap? :oops: hopefully I didn't cause that when I opened the bator.

As much as i wish i could say you didnt, you just might have, my advice, keep a very very close eye on them, and dont open the bator again until all of them are hatched.
 
Shrink wrap? :oops: hopefully I didn't cause that when I opened the bator.

It's doubtful. Some people say don't do it but honestly, having it open for a short time won't hurt. Don't dawdle, but it'll be fine.

I've taken chicks out that were done hatching and dried off while others were pipped. I had 100% hatch and no one was shrink wrapped.

In my opinion, some eggs are more porous than others and dry out more during incubation which is what causes the shrink wrapping.
 
Yup, it does actually encourage the others to hatch, that and them getting kicked all around.


As much as i wish i could say you didnt, you just might have, my advice, keep a very very close eye on them, and dont open the bator again until all of them are hatched.
I added water for humidity . Gulps but Any idea of how to avoid this next time stop tern ing them a couple day a head ? Oof I'm so stressed I love these birds... I check every 20 minute now that I'm home. But what am i looking for? Wife wanted to remove the chick but I'm glad I waited .
 
I added water for humidity . Gulps but Any idea of how to avoid this next time stop tern ing them a couple day a head ? Oof I'm so stressed I love these birds... I check every 20 minute now that I'm home. But what am i looking for? Wife wanted to remove the chick but I'm glad I waited .
Once the membrane starts to really dry out, and if they are not out in 24 hrs after theyve pipped, then you should probably intervene.
 
Sally Sunshine has a great article on here about assisted hatching, https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/ . We used it for guidance last year and successfully assisted two chicks out that wouldn't have made it otherwise, one of which was an Olandsk Dwarf that turned out to be the only hen from that hatch. I had had to go out of town during the hatch window and my teen and spouse were, well, not as attentive to detail as was needed, which is what led to the shrink wrapping. I got home in time to save those two.
 

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