The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[noahsmom]

Anyone? I woke to only 50% humidity and 96 degrees. Do I open and adjust or leave closed until hatch day on Saturday?

What kind of incubator do you have? Why would you have to open it? If you are into lock down now then leave closed and humidity is OK, you can add a touch of water to bring it up. I keep mine from 55%-60% and am having a great hatch thus far, no really sticky or extremely soaked chicks. From what I am reading temp isn't AS important into lock down, Humidity is of most importance at this point since the chicks are no longer developing. I'm still keeping my temp at 99 while others are even dropping there's a degree. I would shoot for 99 slowly, don't raise the temp to quickly and same goes for humidity.

 

[noahsmom]

Then warm your house up and the bator will get warmer too. (I'm not joking, it really works)

It sure does, Earlier in this thread I was setting my house up a degree or two to sustain temp inside my incubator! It worked and only had to use on those days when it just got so cold outside.
We also have an eden pure heater and had planned to make use of that IF we had to.

 

[Maah]

Quote:

Oh! Oh my goodness! Really??? Ack! Thank you all so very much! I never dreamed I'd win. That was the first time I've posted my writings anywhere.

Congrats!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Congrats PELE! AWESOME READ!

Congrats on the new pips/chicks everyone!

Sometimes a chick hatched (unassisted) with navel issues can either be from

High heat during incubation (calibrate thermometers)

Infection (see https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mushy-chick-disease-yolk-sack-infection-omphalitis )

Here are some suggestions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

She HATCHED! But what's with her butt?

​

If there is slight bleeding at the navel use corn starch or a dab of cold water to stop the bleeding. You can also swab the umbilicus area with a 1% solution of Betadine and place the chick back in the bator to dry. If you do see this and the chick is already out of the shell dangling with this, cutting the chord blood vesels without tying them off or clamping them first is dangerous. You can let them go and dry up naturally. Or if you run into issues that the chick navel keep bleeding, You will need to ether tie them off with dental floss dipped in povidone-iodine solution or some silk thread from a sewing kit. Or you can use a blunt sterile scissors or finger nails to pinch the cord, holding for a minute to crush the ends so it wont bleed out. If it does bleed squeeze pressure on the tiny cord for a minute and it will stop.
DO NOT PULL as you can harm the chick’s navel and pull the yolk back out!

But only the cords!
DO NOT CUT IF THERE IS UNABSORBED YOLK SACK!!
Please see below for info on unabsorbed yolk.


Please see HOW TO TREAT & PREVENT yolk sack infections!!
click on in the link below​

Mushy Chick Disease aka yolk sack infection & omphalitis​

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mushy-chick-disease-yolk-sack-infection-omphalitis

Below is a photo of a "Duck in a Cup" waiting for its yolk sack to finish up!



3 Essential Chick Care Tips (pasting up and Cord info)
http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-You-Know-These-3-Essential-Chick-Care-Tips?&id=4449831



WHAT IF the yolk is not absorbed?
If the yolk sac has not completely retracted you should leave the chick in the bottom part of the shell and place it in an upright position. This sometimes works as it allows extra time for the yolk to retract. BUT ONLY IF ITS STILL ATTACHED by the umbilicus! If you have assisted too early and haven’t yet pulled the chick out of the bottom of the shell then allow the chick to curl up its head and re-cap the egg. Please refer to this site for instructions. . https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed​

 

[noahsmom]

I have a few questions pertaining to my new chicks...

When can I take them outside? At what temp is it OK to take them outside for a short outting? I'm not talking hours maybe even just 20-30minutes? I don't want to take them out to soon or in to cold of weather. It may reach 70 with in the week and wondering at around a week old if I could take them out.

Also, for those that have some feathers glued a little bit together (you can see how they look in the pics i posted a few minutes ago in the thread) can I just dampen a paper towel with warm water and help that, or is this something that will go away on its own with a day or two? Most of them are doing great and noticing those spots are fluffing up nicely, some look like I went in there with some elmers glue and slicked their head feathers back lol so leave it or help it?

One more question, One of my chicks can't open his/her eye, It doesn't appear to be anything wrong other than just looks a little glued together. Should I dampen a paper towel with warm water and wipe gently? or?

 

[JoyfulPromise]

Oh my goodness!! I am not even going to TRY to comment on everyone's posts! So many chicks pipping and hatching!!!

I am jealous. It is day 19 for me (day 20 will start this afternoon) and I have been hanging over the incubator with flashlight and light taps, hoping to see SOME sign of movement or wiggling, or SOMETHING!!! Nothing yet...

I know, I know, I really don't expect anything to hatch until tomorrow afternoon, but with all the activity on here, and so many having early pippers and hatchers... one can hope?

Made up the first batch of chick feed for this year yesterday, and started a little fermenting this morning, just in case.

This hatch is EXTRA exciting for me, because it is sort of the first domino that starts off a cascade of chickies, and more chickies, and ducklings, and turkey poults that are coming in April! When my chickies hatch, then it will TRULY be Spring!

 

[TMNfarm]

The arm that turns the rails had popped off of the motor! I wet down a paper towel with warm water and quickly threw it over the lockdown eggs. I had to take all of the eggs off of the turner to get it repositioned and fixed... I took the towel off of the eggs, but left it in the bator. Humidity is reading at 26%....

 

[Maah]

The arm that turns the rails had popped off of the motor! I wet down a paper towel with warm water and quickly threw it over the lockdown eggs. I had to take all of the eggs off of the turner to get it repositioned and fixed... I took the towel off of the eggs, but left it in the bator. Humidity is reading at 26%....

 

[Maah]

Quote:
Oh goodness... someone smack me. Apparently that WAS the recipe. LOL.

Melt the butterscotch chips down (or use chocolate, or peanut butter, or whatever flavor), coat the chow mein noodles, and pile it onto wax paper to form the nests. Add your eggs. If you don't like Reese's, you can use peanut M&M's or whatever candy. Chill in the fridge for a bit. Done.

 

[wildriverswolf90]

No pips yet, my eggs are a broody and not due til saturday or sSunday( I'm hoping Sunday ) I have easter eggers under her and would love it if they were born on easter