Serama chicks.

[Paige2213]

Any tips on hatching serama chicks? Its my first hatching this breed so any tips would be greatly appreciated. I've read alot about how sometimes they need help hatching, and that they normally hatch early. How true is that? I'm on day 19 and they haven't started hatching. Tia.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Have you candled them recently?

 

[Paige2213]

Have you candled them recently?

Yes. The 3 thats due to hatch are still moving. One looks like its starting to shrink wrapped and maybe internally pipped. When do start to help it hatch?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry

This article is the best article if you're considering assisting in a hatch. I would suggest that you read this and then read it again (I promise you that I do not mean that in a smarty pants way ).

Have you hatched chicks before? Serama's can be tricky, but that's not always the case

 

[HeatherKellyB]

You don't want to assist unless it needs assisting because assisting too early can be fatal. Have any of them internally pipped? You CAN make a safety hole (covered in the article) but you don't want to do this too early because it can cause shrink wrapping. What is your humidity at? If they haven't externally pipped, you shouldn't have to worry about shrink wrapping. You might be seeing them shadowing if they haven't pipped yet

 

[Paige2213]

Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry

This article is the best article if you're considering assisting in a hatch. I would suggest that you read this and then read it again (I promise you that I do not mean that in a smarty pants way ).

Have you hatched chicks before? Serama's can be tricky, but that's not always the case

Yeah I've hatched barnyard mixed chicks before just fine. This is my first time hatching seramas though. Does that pic look internally pipped to you?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I believe you're seeing the chicks shadowing or drawing down. Do you have a separate calibrated thermometer and hydrometer in the incubator? When did you stop turning? This close to hatching, be careful handling them because you'll want to be sure to put them back the way you picked them up. Once they are no longer being turned, the chick will begin to get into position to pip. If the egg is moved around or turned, this can disoriented them and cause issues with them pipping into the air cell.

 

[Paige2213]

You don't want to assist unless it needs assisting because assisting too early can be fatal. Have any of them internally pipped? You CAN make a safety hole (covered in the article) but you don't want to do this too early because it can cause shrink wrapping. What is your humidity at? If they haven't externally pipped, you shouldn't have to worry about shrink wrapping. You might be seeing them shadowing if they haven't pipped yet

Humidity is 55 and temp is 100

 

[Paige2213]

I believe you're seeing the chicks shadowing or drawing down. Do you have a separate calibrated thermometer and hydrometer in the incubator? When did you stop turning? This close to hatching, be careful handling them because you'll want to be sure to put them back the way you picked them up. Once they are no longer being turned, the chick will begin to get into position to pip. If the egg is moved around or turned, this can disoriented them and cause issues with them pipping into the air cell.

I can actually hear it chirping right now

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Humidity is 55 and temp is 100

Is this according to the readout on your incubator?

What incubator are you using?