Rockporters’ Emu Hatch January’20

[ShannonsChimkens]

One is better than none. Hoping for a good update on A tomorrow.

 

[Rockporters]

Well, nothing to update yet. I drilled the safety hole because it’s been anywhere between 48-72hrs since he sounded. He is still whistling and wiggling. His whistling isn’t really any louder since I drilled the hole, which is a little weird. I’m concerned that being on the low end of weight loss might cause him not to be able to hatch. Wish he would just break the shell a little anyway, so I can stop worrying so much!

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I bet that is driving you crazy! It has to be hard to knowing if you should help or not. Unlike chickens, it’s a much larger disappointment when you lose an emu chick.

Still hoping for good news today!

 

[Rockporters]

I bet that is driving you crazy! It has to be hard to knowing if you should help or not. Unlike chickens, it’s a much larger disappointment when you lose an emu chick.

Still hoping for good news today!

It is making me nuts! It is only day 56 or 57, but the fact that it’s whistling makes me feel like something should be happening. I’m only going to open the incubator for air one more time tonight, and keep my fingers crossed it all works out in the end.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

While you wait, I’m going to do a wiggle test. Day 35 and day 40. I should see something

 

[Rockporters]

While you wait, I’m going to do a wiggle test. Day 35 and day 40. I should see something

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Nothing unfortunately. I did drop the humidity to 20%. E2 didn’t lose as much weight at two day weigh in. Tape helped a lot.

Anything new with A?

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

 

[ariri30]

 

[Rockporters]

I’m sad to report that A quit this afternoon. He was moving and whistling this morning, but he did let out a couple of panicky sounding squeaks before I put him back in. I didn’t check him again until this afternoon, and he was gone. So sad.

Eggtopsy showed what I expected. He was ready to hatch. Veins had been absorbed, no visible egg sac, and all the membranes looked good. He was big, and his abdomen a bit swollen. I’d read the latter can happen when at the low end of weight loss, and that they could have trouble hatching on their own.

What I’ve learned in this process...

• Emus truly don’t need added humidity if they aren’t losing weight. Even if your humidity readings are as low as 18%, go with it. He would have been screwed a lot sooner had I followed the 35% humidity thing that’s pushed in the groups on FB. I’m glad that I didn’t add water.
• Taking them in and out of the incubator doesn’t seem to put them at risk for shrink wrap. His membranes were perfect. I had him in and out a lot. Nothing was dried out
• If they have 3 days worth of air in an air cell, and it’s been longer than that since they sounded (pipped internally), go with your gut on helping. Even if it doesn’t make it, there’s a chance it isn’t going to make it anyway. Just my opinion based on this experience, but all of FB disagrees with me lol.

I am so frustrated that I listened to others and didn’t help, I wish I’d gone with my gut. It is heartbreaking when they don’t make it after 57 days of giving love and care!!