Please Help with Hatching Problems

[adrian]

Hello everyone,

Recently I have been noticing a trend in my incubation practices.
I lose a lot of babies during hatching. Not a lot, but a significant number, enough to be troubling. I lose these babies all in the same way: they are never able to internally pip, and if they do, they die soon after. After doing an "eggtopsy" and opening them up, I have found that, to varying degrees, the babies are positioned improperly, in such a way that their ability to pip the air cell is impeded. Their heads are usually tucked downwards, so that the yolk sac is restricting their movements. When they try to breathe, they cannot; they are suffocated by the yolk sac itself. I lost two, going on three babies just in this hatch, due to this. One is still moving in his egg, but I do not know how to help him without killing him because of bleeding. First of all, what might be causing this?

And is there a way to help the baby who is still alive?

I thought I might add that I cease turning perhaps even before the date that is recommended, particularly if I can see the babies pressing against the air cell.
One detail is that I keep the humidity quite low. Sometimes, too low. It is difficult in my climate. Could humidity be the perpetrator?

Edit again: I also thought the fact that their membranes seem to smother the majority of them (so that you cannot see their beaks at all, and there is no area for them to press their beaks out and pip) might be relevant.

I don't want to lose anymore to this.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

What humidity are you hatching at. Incubating at? And yes you can help them but very, very slowly and carefully. If they start to bleed, put the egg back in the incubator for awhile and proceed in an hour or two. Keep a warm spray bottle on hand to mist them with and tweezers. Don't go too fast or you might make them bleed too much. It take a chick an average of 12 hours to hatch out by themselves.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Oh yes, first I candle them to see where the air cell is. I open that first and then try to find the beak if possible. That is where I start so that they can breathe. Just a little hole to start

 

[adrian]

Quote:
I have broken a hole in the air cell, but the beak is not visible. I can see movement, but the baby has not even internally pipped, from what I can tell. If I poke even the tiniest hole, there is considerable bleeding. But like the others, I know the baby will die if I don't do something. It's sad, because the dead ones are adorable little blue swedish babies, too.

 

[adrian]

Also, I incubate at low humidity. 30%, sometimes lower, higher when I try. Sometimes 50%. But it's so hard to keep it stable. I also try to keep it lower because it seems like the air cells aren't growing enough, but in the end it seems they get big very quickly.

I hatch at humidity at about 70-85%. It's a bit high right now, though. Oddly, because of the fact that I put a wet towel down for hatching, my humidity is stable. But always too high. So I have problems in both areas, although opposite problems.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Is it hatch day? Yes they will bleed. That is why you go sloooowly.
Stop if it is too much (and a little can be too much) Wait awhile.\\
That is one reason I have my warm water spray bottle. I spray the membrane to see where the veins are. Work around them as much as possible. This can take hours.

 

[adrian]

Quote:
Alright. Well it's worth a try.
I also have corn starch on hand.
What I have noticed, however, is that their heads are usually so low towards the bottom, that I can never find them...

Also: Tomorrow is technically hatch day. But I'm worried about how behind this baby is from the others. From my experience, the ones that are in this position usually die.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

You forgot to say if it was hatch day? Or are you early

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Sometimes the membranes are so thick and rubbery they just can't get out by themself. I had a goose who I swear was super glued in.
This is what I do. I get a dinner plate. Several washcloths or dishtowels. Tweezers. My glasses (if you need them, use them)
Spray bottle with warm water.
Wash your hands so no bad bacteria gets on the chick (get them off to as good a start as possible)
Candle the egg and find the air cell. Poke a little hole and work from there. Use your spray bottle as needed, but don't drown the chick. Mist lightly and only if needed.
Continue to work off as much of the shell (shell only) as possible until you have at least 1/3 to 1/2 off.
I have found that the head is tucked under the wing, so that makes the beak about half way down the egg. Not quite though.
Find a spot with no vein and try to find it by the beak. Maybe you can't see the beak, but try. I have noticed that is where there is the most movement in the membrane because the chick is trying to break out.
If you see blood (even a drop) I lightly mist it and put it back in the incubator with it's head up (if you can figure out where the head might be) Wait 1/2 hour or so. and try a little more.
Go slowly. I have helped about 8 different chicks. 1 died from loss of blood, 2 had mushy navels and the other 5 are fine and healthy. So, if it is worth the risk, go ahead. But there is risk.

 

[adrian]

The baby was not even breathing as I went in, and when I was finally able to get his head up (which took a lot of time), he took this feeble little gasp and died...

His head was stuck, very stuck in a bunch of goo. Just like the others. He probably aspirated some of it. I have no idea what is causing this.