Rob's First Incubation Attempt - Questions and Journal

[Suellyn]

Quote:
They DEFINITELY peep for attention/interaction

!! I know when people think of "imprinting" they usually think of geese or ducks, but actually most "ground nesting" birds imprint, including chicks... Our are absolute attention hounds, they peep, run to side of brooder to get to us, and routinely opt to snuggle down & take a nap in my daughter's toasty little hands or on their chests. From what I've read, they imprint not only to what/who they SEE, but also to things they HEAR, and interestingly, they can hear before they even hatch.

I have 2 daughters like you do (ages 4 & 7), both with very, ummmmmm, DISTINCT voices, the chicks were VIGOROUSLY peeping back to them since day 1, seriously think they knew the sound of them...

!!!

Maybe Ginger already knows your voice

 

[NiftyChick]

Well, after 14 hours, "Saysa" is out. At about 12 hours post pip I helped her a little w/the zipping since I figured she'd been at a disadvantage having her beak stuck through her wing for about 7 hours earlier in the day.

2 hours after the above mentioned zipping assistance (about 10 minutes ago) she finally pushed out. There is definitely a small hole in her right wing where her beak had gone through. She seems to be acting mostly like the other chicks did after hatching, but it appears she was not completely done absorbing her yolk sack. There's a bright yellow bunch of goo on her belly along w/longer stringy yellow/white gunk. Can chicks survive after an incomplete yolk absorption?

On a brighter note, the other 4 chicks are doing fantastic! We are so glad we took them out when we did - for their sake & for the new chick's. Such cute little balls of fluff.

We're still trying to figure out what breeds/crosses they are. Let us know if you have any guesses. It's believed that they were all fathered by an Ameracauna cockeral.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I've heard of many that live. Keep her separate from the others while she finishes obsorbing the yolk. I do believe leaving her in the incubator would be best for her.

 

[the1much]

yuppers,, leave her in the bator, the yolk will either be absorbed, or will dry up and fall off.
great work ya allz !

 

[hinkjc]

Congrats on the peeps!

Very pretty babies.

For the last one, I would give her time. It is a wait and see. Some recover fine and others, not so fine. Fingers crossed that she pulls it together.

 

[wingnut1]

Congrats on your successful hatch, your beautiful chicks, and thanks for sharing the pics of the event and of your beautiful family! Bet your daughters are running around filled with excitement!

 

[MissPrissy]

Congrats on your hatch!

Keep that last one in the bator and watch for the goop to fall away and the naval to heal over. It happens really quick - almost overnight. Once there is nothing there that the other chicks could pull or pick at move her to the brooder when she is fluffy and dry.

And show us more photos!

 

[L*A*G*]

nifty, what did u keep your humidity on?

 

[NiftyChick]

Still nothing new on the last 2 eggs in the incubator. Tomorrow will be day 24. Trusting the1much's advice, I'm thinking we'll leave them in for now, but take them out by Tuesday if we haven't heard or seen anything to avoid the excitement of an egg explosion.

....which doesn't happen until day 30, right?!??

In case you're interested, here are some pictures of our newest chick, "Saysa," from hatching to brooder.


Saysa in her mostly unzipped, partially pushed open egg. Just hanging out & gathering strength.

Out of the shell w/goo (kind of yucky if you're eating or squeemish) - click here for pic


Saysa in the incubator. You can barely see the wound in her right wing.

On her way to the brooder

She seems to be a very tall chick & kept bumping into the really hot metal ring on the top of our incubator. I would have probably left her in a bit longer otherwise. She seems to be doing alright, though very tired, in the brooder with the other chicks. The only thing I'm worried about with her at the moment is she seems to prefer leaving her eyes shut. Maybe she's just super tired still....

 

[NiftyChick]

*L*A*G* :

nifty, what did u keep your humidity on?

We kept our humidity around 43% during incubation and between 70 and 80 during hatch.​