The Hatch That BYC Built (aka Frieda vs. the Brinsea!) (Warning--pic heavy)

[Ravynscroft]

Chick #1 is now all the way out of the shell! I think I scared it into getting out when I slid the tray open to add water to my sponges, since the humidity dropped to about 60%. In the escape from the scariness, the chick got between the inside end of the drawer and the side of the 'bator. Since I had to take the drawer out to rescue the chick (otherwise, closing the 'bator would crush the chick, I pulled the shell out and checked the others for pips. No pips yet.

I think that's poo in the shell...

Not poo... think of it like vernix caseosa, the stuff on a newborn infant when it first comes out...

 

[mymilliefleur]

Congrats on the chick! Has Frieda started hatching yet?

 

[AmyPaperlady]

I didn't think there'd be poo, but it certainly looks like it! I'll definitely bow to your experience, though.

I haven't heard anything under Frieda yet, but we're less than 2 hours into Day 20, so I'm not worried about it.

 

[Ravynscroft]

And not like you're gonna stick your hand anywhere close enough to check, huh?

 

[AmyPaperlady]

Oh, and movie night has been postponed due to illness, so I'll have to find some other distraction. Don't know if I can find one better than The Princess Bride at someone else's house...

 

[AmyPaperlady]

And not like you're gonna stick your hand anywhere close enough to check, huh?

You got that right!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Not poo... think of it like vernix caseosa, the stuff on a newborn infant when it first comes out...

It has an official name?? I just always call it egg goo! lol

And not like you're gonna stick your hand anywhere close enough to check, huh?

I was wondering the same thing. I'd probably be a bloody mess by now!

 

[lazy gardener]

I think that's poo in the shell...

I agree with above. Just like with human birth, the first poo can happen at any time, even before birth, which is a possible medical emergency due to the infant drawing the meconium into the lungs. It can happen during or many hours after the after birth. The intestines have a build up of dead cells and crud removed from circulation which will be eliminated as the first BM before actual ingestion of food.

 

[ronott1]

I can't really see what that is in the picture--but it looks normal.

This picture shows the bit that comes off after the yolk is absorbed. It might be part of the chalaza:



inside the egg in the front, you can see a greenish glob of stuff.

Congratulations on your hatch!

 

[BantyChooks]

@lazy gardener (or anybody!) what would be a good incubator you could make or buy (read: cheap) that would hold around 6-10 eggs? I have never done anything with brooding chicks exept i had a broody once and i just let her set and she hatched 3. I did take the babies and brooder raise them as she was pecking at them.