September Hatch-A-Long!

[familypendragon]

I had to cull my 1 chick that hatched today. I read about something similar to pliers being used so I got a pair of mine and used those. It was a little difficult but I grew up on the farm and when we culled for meat my dad just chopped their heads  a quick squeeze and hold with the pliers worked although the poor 2 week old did have the spasms that lasted about 15 secs.. felt sorry for the little guy but after 5 days in the brooder one of his legs was twisted around the opposite direction and he couldn't stand, his other leg was giving out as well.

So sorry

 

[familypendragon]

It's hard to decided when to help. I had so many die because they were upside down, dried membrane or goo from another chick resealed the egg. But then I've had most assisted chicks die. I have figured out a middle ground and has been working much better. I only help in small increments. But I don't take a chick out of the egg. I might help it zip half way or remove dry membrane but I don't remove the chick. I swear there is something about the chick getting out on it's own that makes a difference, even when I've done most of the work. Today I saved a healthy chick. It somehow zipped the small end while its head was at the large end and it's butt couldn't fit out the small zipped end. I made the hole a little bigger but I left the chick inside and let it finish on it's own. The grey one tried to hatch butt first. Would that be a breach hatch?

Yeah, I hear ya. I make them do the work along the way but I help too. The final step is always in their own time because only they know when that yolk is absorbed. I don't know how many assists I've done so far (a lot) but the only one I've had die that actually made it to hatch (which is actually almost all of them) was the one Welsummer where the whole hatch was sickly. Here is Treasure out of her shell. She had a tiny drop of blood on her navel but she's good now.

 

[KuroKitsune]

lockdown is 2 days away(the 10th) for 22 of my serama eggs! so excited can't wait to see the fuzz butts that hatch out! the other 16 go into lockdown on the 12th.



chicken math got me today while at my local orschlens while i was getting dog food and quail crumbles...they usually never have chicks this time of year but today they had 6 of their brooders out and they all had chicks in them...so i walked out of there with dog food, quail crumbles, and 4 adorable EE pullet chicks...hopefully my cochins won mind more friend when these 4 are big enough to go outside

 

[sonderah]

Looks like my last egg may actually make it to hatch day tomorrow before hatching. Its funny I only had 6. 1 Friday,
4 Saturday, & 1 Sunday (hopefully) Silly birds!

 

[DeannaA]

I had to cull my 1 chick that hatched today. I read about something similar to pliers being used so I got a pair of mine and used those. It was a little difficult but I grew up on the farm and when we culled for meat my dad just chopped their heads a quick squeeze and hold with the pliers worked although the poor 2 week old did have the spasms that lasted about 15 secs.. felt sorry for the little guy but after 5 days in the brooder one of his legs was twisted around the opposite direction and he couldn't stand, his other leg was giving out as well.

I'm so sorry.

Yeah, I hear ya. I make them do the work along the way but I help too. The final step is always in their own time because only they know when that yolk is absorbed. I don't know how many assists I've done so far (a lot) but the only one I've had die that actually made it to hatch (which is actually almost all of them) was the one Welsummer where the whole hatch was sickly.

Here is Treasure out of her shell. She had a tiny drop of blood on her navel but she's good now.

You are much better at recognizing who to help than I am. I have improved. My odds are much better. How do you know? The hardest for me is recognizing malpositioned chicks. I can't tell unless I open the shell and the membrane but in most cases that would be too much help if the chick isn't in the wrong place.

 

[DeannaA]

I have 8 silkie eggs due today. 2 pips this morning.

 

[DeannaA]

Looks like my last egg may actually make it to hatch day tomorrow before hatching. Its funny I only had 6. 1 Friday,
4 Saturday, & 1 Sunday (hopefully) Silly birds!

That is great. I hope it hatches healthy. It is frustrating to wait. My last hatch started on day 19 and finished on day 22.

 

[sonderah]

Well #6 didn't make it! I was pretty sure it was gone when I got up this morning. But I went ahead and started like I was assisting until I was completely positive. It had made a nice size hole where it had pipped, and its beak was right at the hole. It didn't look shrink wrapped and still had good air space. But it hasn't absorbed all of its yolk. Looks like it just wasn't meant to make it.

Its sad, but Im surprised that I have 5 sweet little babies who seem to be quite healthy and have all their parts. 5 of 6 for my very 1st time seems rather good to me, although 100% of course would have been great. We shall see in the days following how these babies do.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I think I need to go to Hatching Anonymous

Can't leave my bator off as soon as I get a hatch I end up ordering more eggs even though I don't need any more chickens!

Should be loaded back up by Wednesday.
Now if I could only keep roosters I could cut out ebay....

 

[jklyles1]

Well #6 didn't make it!

I was pretty sure it was gone when I got up this morning. But I went ahead and started like I was assisting until I was completely positive. It had made a nice size hole where it had pipped, and its beak was right at the hole. It didn't look shrink wrapped and still had good air space. But it hasn't absorbed all of its yolk. Looks like it just wasn't meant to make it.

Its sad, but Im surprised that I have 5 sweet little babies who seem to be quite healthy and have all their parts. 5 of 6 for my very 1st time seems rather good to me, although 100% of course would have been great. We shall see in the days following how these babies do.

I think 5 out of 6 is AWESOME! and sorry for the loss.. I have 7 with movement but 2 weeks still to go. I hope I have as good of results as you did!