So this is my very first hatch. Time will tell if it was dumb, or brave to try Seramas the first time around. And a staggered hatch to boot. Hey, I did refrain from also trying to put Buttons in with them.
Anyway, I got up to run to the loo in the middle of the night, and the bator cheeped at me. At first I thought the sound must really be something else. I stopped and listened. Cheep!
Of nine Serama eggs, four were clears. Two of those had very thin, weak shells. One of them had an iffy shell. The other seemed to have a normal, healthy shell.
Of the other five, two have fairly healthy looking shells. Three of them seem to have very hard, and somewhat thick shells. From what I can tell anyway, until they open up.
My instincts tell me the cheeps are coming from one of the tough shells. I'm thinking of scoring the shell with the Dremmel. Not pipping it, mind you. Just scoring, so it won't be so hard on the chickie.
My two major concerns are regarding the amount of air in the air sack, and the fact that the baby is a bit early. We are at day 17 and a half. Late today, of course, will be day 18, which is much better. I've got four thermometers going. Based on the timing of this baby, I now know whick thermometer is most acurate.
What should I do? Score the shell? If I ease the temp in the bator down just a tad, will that still be OK for the others? I'm talking just a degree here.
HALP!
Anyway, I got up to run to the loo in the middle of the night, and the bator cheeped at me. At first I thought the sound must really be something else. I stopped and listened. Cheep!
Of nine Serama eggs, four were clears. Two of those had very thin, weak shells. One of them had an iffy shell. The other seemed to have a normal, healthy shell.
Of the other five, two have fairly healthy looking shells. Three of them seem to have very hard, and somewhat thick shells. From what I can tell anyway, until they open up.
My instincts tell me the cheeps are coming from one of the tough shells. I'm thinking of scoring the shell with the Dremmel. Not pipping it, mind you. Just scoring, so it won't be so hard on the chickie.
My two major concerns are regarding the amount of air in the air sack, and the fact that the baby is a bit early. We are at day 17 and a half. Late today, of course, will be day 18, which is much better. I've got four thermometers going. Based on the timing of this baby, I now know whick thermometer is most acurate.
What should I do? Score the shell? If I ease the temp in the bator down just a tad, will that still be OK for the others? I'm talking just a degree here.
HALP!
