Serama Hatch-A-Long!!

[Tajann]

The two that had pipped last night are out but not fluffed at all yet. Two more to go! I'm worried because it's going to be so hot here all day today. I don't want them to dry out and get stuck. I'll probably check them a few times today to make sure they don't need help.

Here's the one from last night. So very tiny and cute!

 

[Tajann]

My broody Serama is still sitting on eggs. All of her eggs quit... or so I thought... but my other hen laid eggs in her nest and they started developing so we have about 8 eggs, three under the broody and 5 in the incubator, all at various stages of development. That wasn't my plan, it just sorta happened. I am still nervous to try to hatch them myself, I thought maybe I could let the broody hatch them and take them out as they arrive so she can continue to hatch the others out and give her the last ones to raise. I really want some in a brooder so I can get my mitts on them and love 'em up!

You might mark them with letter or numbers so you can keep them straight in the incubator. Then you can keep a log and with regular candling might get an idea of how far along each one is, at the very least in relation to each other. I've heard it's better to pull them out two days before hatch, put younger eggs under her and let the ones she was sitting on hatch in the incubator. Some hens reject new eggs once they have heard and see the babies and get really upset at the chick removal

 

[Tajann]

Glad to hear about the chicks hatching! I have one Serama egg that made it to lockdown, today is day 21 and I have a pip!

Congratulations! It seems like all of our serama eggs are not hatching early as is typical of seramas. The three of us all had them hatch at day 21! I find that a little odd since it had been rather hot in Oregon the last few weeks, if anything I would have expected them early.

 

[Tajann]

Well it looks like three chicks it will be. One was shrink wrapped and all dried out. The other was severely dried out squished into the lower half of the egg it was so dry, had pipped, was stuck and still alive. I moistened it, helped it out but it died about half an hour later. So sad to see tiny perfectly formed chicks get stuck and all dried out in their own eggs. I'm too new at this to have experience with shrink wrapped chicks. stinkin hot weather is hard on these tiny eggs. Horrible timing to have 100 degree days. I'll post pics when the other two finish drying out and fluff up.

In the future is it better to let the incubator finish the eggs on hot days like these where extra humidity can be more easily added? I have half a dozen eggs under my second recently broody serama. And around 18-20 eggs in the incubator, about half serama, 2-3 standards, and the rest bantam cochins. Maybe when they are hatching in the next 1.5-2.5 weeks it will be a little cooler.

 

[darkbluespace]

Glad to hear about the chicks hatching! I have one Serama egg that made it to lockdown, today is day 21 and I have a pip!

Yay, go little serama!!!

 

[darkbluespace]

Well it looks like three chicks it will be. One was shrink wrapped and all dried out. The other was severely dried out squished into the lower half of the egg it was so dry, had pipped, was stuck and still alive. I moistened it, helped it out but it died about half an hour later. So sad to see tiny perfectly formed chicks get stuck and all dried out in their own eggs. I'm too new at this to have experience with shrink wrapped chicks. stinkin hot weather is hard on these tiny eggs. Horrible timing to have 100 degree days. I'll post pics when the other two finish drying out and fluff up.

In the future is it better to let the incubator finish the eggs on hot days like these where extra humidity can be more easily added? I have half a dozen eggs under my second recently broody serama. And around 18-20 eggs in the incubator, about half serama, 2-3 standards, and the rest bantam cochins. Maybe when they are hatching in the next 1.5-2.5 weeks it will be a little cooler.

I am so happy you got a few chicks! Darn weather though! I am sorry you lost a couple, especially since they made it all the way to the end. That is the hardest to take. It sounds like you have a lot more on the way! I will be crossing my fingers for cooler weather and happy hatches

 

[darkbluespace]

The two that had pipped last night are out but not fluffed at all yet. Two more to go! I'm worried because it's going to be so hot here all day today. I don't want them to dry out and get stuck. I'll probably check them a few times today to make sure they don't need help.

Here's the one from last night. So very tiny and cute!

Adorable little chicky!!

 

[darkbluespace]

You might mark them with letter or numbers so you can keep them straight in the incubator. Then you can keep a log and with regular candling might get an idea of how far along each one is, at the very least in relation to each other. I've heard it's better to pull them out two days before hatch, put younger eggs under her and let the ones she was sitting on hatch in the incubator. Some hens reject new eggs once they have heard and see the babies and get really upset at the chick removal

Thanks for this advice. I had marked them all when I sorted them, but I am sure it would upset a mama to have her baby disappear. Plan B... I think I will let her hatch out the first one or two, depending on how staggered they are and put the rest in the incubator. I just need to get over my nervousness of the Serama eggs in the bator, especially since I will be getting a lot more this week!

 

[Tajann]

Here is the second chick. The third has not fluffed up and is not moving around as much as the other two. Is that of concern?

 

[darkbluespace]

Here is the second chick. The third has not fluffed up and is not moving around as much as the other two. Is that of concern?

Cute little baby! The third may just need more time but when I have had weak chicks, I give them a little vitamin water or plain yogurt mixed with vitamin water and brewers yeast to a runny consistency. Can't hurt to give it a little boost, especially since it was a hard hatch.