Serious Hatch Issues?? - **Sad Ending**

[Katy]

Yes, it could have messed the humidity up. I know it's hard to leave them in, but they can stay in a couple days and be fine. It doesn't take much to mess the humidity up for them.

 

[hinkjc]

What happens is when you open the incubator - the entire environment changes and allows a sudden swoosh of cool air into the incubator. For eggs that are pipped or working on hatching, this causes the membrane to shrink wrap around the unhatched chicks and make it impossible for them to continue turning in the shell to complete hatch.

Jody

 

[Jimagination]

Oh, I am sorry to hijack as well, but I am doing my first hatch and added eggs days after the first ones I put in. what do I do about the ones that are hatching and the ones that will be pipping at that time since I am not supposed to open the bator?

 

[Katy]

That's why you need two incubators...one to use as a hatcher. If you added them only a day or so after the first ones you can probably get by with it. When they're days apart you mess both sets up since you can't have the right conditions for them.

 

[Jimagination]

Well they were one and two days apart. I guess I screwed them up then

 

[Katy]

I'd stop turning the last group a day early and the first ones on time if they're only a day behind.

 

[mangled]

Very little progress this morning.

I helped 2 chicks out, the bator is maintaining about 76%. The two chicks were just plastered into their membranes.

I have six pips, four have been pipped for over 48 hours.

Em

 

[coopist]

How are the ones you helped out?

48 hours is usually about the limit of normal hatch time. You may have to carefully intervene with the others. You'll have to determine if they can make it out without help.

 

[ChickenWendy]

i have the same issue right now. i have 2 silkies still majorly pipped but stalled. They have both been pipped - i would say only about 12 - 24 hours. Today is their 21st day. i dont want to help because i believe mother nature will take it's course. also a mother hen wouldnt help would she? but it is killing me. one is about half out and the membranes are a bit white and even yellow but it doesnt seem like she should have much pushing to do to get out, she's just not doing it. The other has a pip hole about the size of a quarter. i am also scared that if i help they might not live anyway. that would be heartbreaking too - so i would have to live with the what if i just left it alone issue. i dont have any answers, just empathy.
i have 5 polish that hatched and 6 other silkies that have hatched. these are the last 2. and the other little guys are running rampant over these 2 eggs.
it's very distressing as this is my first hatch.

 

[mangled]

The two I have helped out seem fine, the one has curled toes.

I'm so disappointed.

I am at the end of day 21, and there are 17 eggs with absolutely no progress.

I know not to give up yet but, what the heck?
Em