Rob's First Incubation Attempt - Questions and Journal

[NiftyChick]

Thanks, MissPrissy! I wrapped a damp paper towel around the egg a little bit and pulled a super small piece of shell off. Looked a little dry so I peeled the membrane away that was still covering the chick at the open pip site. The membrane i pulled away seemed damp so I decided to stop and replace the egg. I left the paper towel in since I'm sure opening the incubator didn't help the humidity. It's not tightly wrapped around the egg though. The chick cheeped when I picked it up, so it sounds okay, but we're still a little worried. I wonder if I should've broken more shell away to help the zipping process a bit more, but we'll see how she does. Here are pics of our already hatched chicks:

#1 "Ginger" Maybe silver laced polish, Black Spanish, or Blue Andalusian

#2 "Lilly" No idea what breed She's my favorite!

#3 "Sparkles" Maybe silver laced polish, Black Spanish, or Blue Andalusian

#4 "Starlight" 1/4 Maran 3/4 Ameraucana

 

[Bock_Bock]

so cute, is it just me or does lilly look like a pinguin if i had a chick hatch like that iwoulda named it Happy Feet

 

[PurpleChicken]

Awwwwwwwww

Flufferbutts!!!

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Okay, here is a closeup of the one that seems to be having problems... the one all the others were picking at:

 

[MissPrissy]

Cute chicks and I love the names. LOL

 

[the1much]

Quote:
he looks o.k. to me so far,, looks nice and moist. just keep an eye on it, and once it looks like its drying out, put a drop of 2 of warm water on it, and re-wet the "snuggy",,, he's jus a little s l o w hehe

great looking babies

 

[NiftyChick]

So now we can clearly see "Saysa"'s beak poking out of the pip hole. She's obviously breathing, but she doesn't seem to be making any effort at zipping. Things are moist, so I don't think dryness is an issue..... Any reason we'd want to help her out? Shouldn't she be starting to work on the shell a bit? It's been only 5 hours (so far as we know) since she pipped and I know it often takes around 12 hours....sometimes up to 24? What do you think?

 

[the1much]

i'd leave her,, she's just taking a break and resting

at the point of being THAT pip'd about 12 hours and if starting to dry out at that time , then i would slowly start taking the shell off,,,,, but USUALLY,, when they take that long, their a little slow absorbing the yolk.

 

[MissPrissy]

Whistle to her. Get her excited. Get her moving!

 

[NiftyChick]

I am a bit confused looking at this 5th chick. (still has not hatched - just looking at it's beak & whatever else is poking out) It seems to have only a small portion of beak exposed and flesh/feathers surrounding the rest, preventing it from opening it's beak all the way. Anyone have any ideas what's going on?

I'm thinking it's some kind of strange mutant. Doesn't look at all "normal" to me, but then I haven't hatched chicks other than the last 4....