The 8th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!!!!

[Glaseria]

I had to help a chick the other day. I gently chipped the shell without rupturing the membrane. I thought it would be able to bust out after I did that, but after sitting in there most of the day, I then soaked a paper towel & very gently began to peel. It took about 20 mins. Eventually I freed it. It was still covered in gel-like goop, which I left alone, but then egg shells kept sticking to it, so I decided to clean the egg shells out & put the chick in a paper towel & held him while I dumped the shells. The goop came off on the paper towel, and then the little guy was able to be more mobile.

Did he survive?

We helped the last two get free of there shells. My hubby has informed me that one of them has passed away but most likely the more vigorous one survived. I think. The other one was just in there too long. When we freed him is was super skinny and weak. Poor thing.

Question:How long do you wait before you help them out of the shell?

 

[kimmahoney]

Did he survive?

We helped the last two get free of there shells. My hubby has informed me that one of them has passed away but most likely the more vigorous one survived. I think. The other one was just in there too long. When we freed him is was super skinny and weak. Poor thing.

Question:How long do you wait before you help them out of the shell?

I was actually in the process of tossing unhatched eggs & heard him chirp. He had pipped 2 days before, but never hatched, so I thought he was dead. I put him bacl in the incubator & waited a few hours...nothing but an occasional chirp. So that is when I helped the shell. Waited like 5 hours...again, nothing, but he also wasn't dying, so I felt I had to keep trying. That is when I did the damp paper towel.

Here is a collage of Rocky's fight to live! He has major splayed legs, but I finally braced him well enough that he is learning to walk. Tonight, I will supervise a visit to the brooder to see if he gets picked on.

 

[RanchRodeo]

It's time to help them out. Looks like they started zipping and got stuck. At this point everything should be absorbed. Start breaking the shell off. Where the membrane is very stuck to them, use warm water on a q-tip to loosen it. Rubbing back and forth gently with the q-tip will usually get the membrane off.

 

[RanchRodeo]

Help them out

 

[casportpony]

Did he survive?

We helped the last two get free of there shells. My hubby has informed me that one of them has passed away but most likely the more vigorous one survived. I think. The other one was just in there too long. When we freed him is was super skinny and weak. Poor thing.

Question:How long do you wait before you help them out of the shell?

I was actually in the process of tossing unhatched eggs & heard him chirp. He had pipped 2 days before, but never hatched, so I thought he was dead. I put him bacl in the incubator & waited a few hours...nothing but an occasional chirp. So that is when I helped the shell. Waited like 5 hours...again, nothing, but he also wasn't dying, so I felt I had to keep trying. That is when I did the damp paper towel.

Here is a collage of Rocky's fight to live! He has major splayed legs, but I finally braced him well enough that he is learning to walk. Tonight, I will supervise a visit to the brooder to see if he gets picked on.

Congrats on getting him out. Warning - chicks with hobbled legs can drown very easily in the standard quart sized waterer, so you might want to put some marbles is the base just to be safe.

 

[Cynthia12]

I'm wanting to do button quail what's different from chickens as to humidity temp and time to lockdown if any?

I did everything the same way I do chicks. Temps and humidity. Lockdown..all the same.

 

[Cynthia12]

Hatch totals updated to here.

 

[kimmahoney]

Congrats on getting him out. Warning - chicks with hobbled legs can drown very easily in the standard quart sized waterer, so you might want to put some marbles is the base just to be safe.

Good to know. Right now, I have cut the bottom of a small "Dixie" cup, but the brooder has the typical watering device, so I will put marbles in it.

 

[lilwildrabbit]

enjoying a sunny day

 

[ChickAsThieves]

So... uh... who's starting the next HAL?