***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[greenbeetle]

Question, I hatched chicks yesterday (day 21), there are still 4 egga left, how many days to you wait before counting your losses on them. Thanks

 

[Kyzmette]

Quote:
The 25th day is generally considered the longest you should allow them to wait. I've heard of eggs left longer still hatching, though. If you're not too concerned about shrinkwrapping them, you could candle them. I suggest using a warm, damp cloth to hold them if you're going to remove them from the bator, to keep the membranes inside from drying out. For me it would be a moot point, because even if I didn't see movement, I would still leave the egg in the bator, in case I was candling at a point when the chick was resting up for a burst of energy.

 

[greenbeetle]

Quote: Ok, thanks, I will at least give the others until day 25 to see if they hatch

 

[Apple Bill]

Okie Style!!!

Be careful there are a plethora of enablers on this site.. Hey do you need a chicken??? hehehe!

Thanks! Well, yeah, eventually. Still have to build the coop first. Before that is finishing up a few house projects.

Still trying to figure what to get. My wife doesn't care as long as she gets some "Easter egg looking ones". We're in a city, quantity isn't limited by ordinance, just by space.

 

[jaudon77]

Just so everyone knows I am going to order chicks from Murry McMurray hatchery this week. No later than Friday. I live just north of Nowata. If you would like to combine an order let me know. I'm already ordering the minimum so no worries there.

 

[Kassaundra]

The incubator has been cleaned, disinfected, and restocked and is humming again.

 

[artsyrobin]

Question, I hatched chicks yesterday (day 21), there are still 4 egga left, how many days to you wait before counting your losses on them. Thanks

i usually wait at least 5 days after the due date... you just never know, have you candled them?

@Kyzmette i know what you mean, and so appreciate Coral for doing it for me!!

 

[greenbeetle]

i usually wait at least 5 days after the due date... you just never know, have you candled them?

@Kyzmette i know what you mean, and so appreciate Coral for doing it for me!!

I did this morning and they still look good, so I am going to give them a few more days.

 

[Kyzmette]

@greenbeetle did you notice if any of them had internally pipped yet? That's what you have to watch out for. You can tell when a chick internally pips, because it breaks into the open space normally reserved for the air cell. A chick does this when it's learning how to breath, so it can adjust to taking oxygen into its lungs. This is when you start hearing peeps from the egg. If the chick internally pips but fails to pip through the shell, you may want to consider assisting the hatch, if you're so inclined, because frequently the reason for this is the shrinkwrapping you'll keep hearing about. Kassaundra would probably be able to give you more advice on how to make the decision on when to assist a hatch, and there's some great information in the hatching forum if you want to check it out at this link.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...hing-eggs-important-topic-index-please-review

 

[Kassaundra]

@greenbeetle did you notice if any of them had internally pipped yet? That's what you have to watch out for. You can tell when a chick internally pips, because it breaks into the open space normally reserved for the air cell. A chick does this when it's learning how to breath, so it can adjust to taking oxygen into its lungs. This is when you start hearing peeps from the egg. If the chick internally pips but fails to pip through the shell, you may want to consider assisting the hatch, if you're so inclined, because frequently the reason for this is the shrinkwrapping you'll keep hearing about. Kassaundra would probably be able to give you more advice on how to make the decision on when to assist a hatch, and there's some great information in the hatching forum if you want to check it out at this link.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...hing-eggs-important-topic-index-please-review

Shrink wrapping is 100% fatal if left unassisted. And can be near 100% successful w/ a healthy active chick if caught in time. The danger is letting it go so long the chick either suffocates, is hypoxic, or weakened to the point they are unable to rally when released from the tight film.


If they have internally pipped and all other chicks have hatched I err on the side that they are ready to hatch too, since they were in the same environment and same age. Seeing internal pipping can be tricky, sometimes it is way obvious, but usually if the chick is shrink wrapped already you will not see the internal pipping w/ candling, you will still hear the peeping unless they are really weak. If it were me I would choose an egg and open from the big air sac end and see, if one is wrapped they all are wrapped, I would assist them all in that case.