Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[julskinka]

They can handle a little bit of blood loss, but it will make them extra tired. Shriveled yellow goo sounds like the yolk sac. If you do anything to try and get the membrane off, be very careful as you risk pulling out the insides of the chick out through its belly button which is where the yolk sac is.

If it's dragging the shell around by a membrane connection and seems like it's going to eviscerate itself, I use a sharp pair of sterilized scissors to snip the connection as close to the shell as possible.

 

[julskinka]

Oh thank goodness, the other external pip is zipping by itself.

 

[Phillyndilly]

Did you get it out? Fingers crossed it makes it!

Every situation is different, it is so hard to tell exactly what is going on remotely. I think the general rule is to go very slowly with assists - they can take hours or even longer. If during an assist you are concerned you are moving too quickly, I would give the chick a chance to rest up, and that also gives it a chance to finish hatching on its own. You may not necessarily need to see the belly to know if it is still absorbing yolk - can you see its beak? If it is making chewing motions it is still absorbing.

I feel like a big part of assisting is experience - the more times you do it, the more you will be able to trust your gut and make the right choices. Not saying everyone should go out and assist every hatch, just that the more you /have/ to do it, the easier it will be in the future.

I agree with you I think a huge part will be experience. My other chick I still feel I assisted too late and although it may have been deformed I just can’t help but thinking maybe I could’ve saved it.
I did get it out. It seems ok just very very tired it is breathing I keep checking so hopefully it’s just tired and not dying. It wasn’t chewing but it was peeping very very loudly. That made me think it was ready but I have no experience.

They can handle a little bit of blood loss, but it will make them extra tired. Shriveled yellow goo sounds like the yolk sac. If you do anything to try and get the membrane off, be very careful as you risk pulling out the insides of the chick out through its belly button which is where the yolk sac is.

Yes it is the shriveled yellow goo but half of mine came out with that goo and I didn’t assist them so I’m hoping it’s ok. Yes I didn’t want to yank it or anything I think it’s just drying up now. It looks very very tired which can look like it’s dying to someone like me with very little experience so I’m hoping it’s in fact just resting. It’s def breathing.

Yes - I did a minor assist once the membrane was quite clear on top, and put it back in the incubator to rest; but because it was in an odd position, it ended up exiting the egg maybe a half hour earlier than it ought to have, and some vessels on the underside looked like they got ruptured or snagged by a toe before they'd finished draining. I've had something similar happen before, and it was fine. They're just a little sleepier at the outset. Nowhere near as bad as nicking a blood vessel in a botched assist.

She's perking up already!

Thanks great. I def would love to wait as long as possible moving forward. I think it exited a little earlier but the yolk sack was for sure fully absorbed. I’m hoping she’s ok and I don’t have to do this anymore. I was just so nervous after my other one. I probably should’ve waited until tonight. Next time I will for sure it’s just the loud peeping really made me worried.

 

[Phillyndilly]

If it's dragging the shell around by a membrane connection and seems like it's going to eviscerate itself, I use a sharp pair of sterilized scissors to snip the connection as close to the shell as possible.

Well she’s just in one spot now resting so I just left it connected. I may do that I just wanted to make sure it was ok to cut it. Thank you I will go very close to the shell.

 

[julskinka]

I did get it out. It seems ok just very very tired it is breathing I keep checking so hopefully it’s just tired and not dying. It wasn’t chewing but it was peeping very very loudly. That made me think it was ready but I have no experience.

Yes it is the shriveled yellow goo but half of mine came out with that goo and I didn’t assist them so I’m hoping it’s ok. Yes I didn’t want to yank it or anything I think it’s just drying up now. It looks very very tired which can look like it’s dying to someone like me with very little experience so I’m hoping it’s in fact just resting. It’s def breathing.

Hatching is hard work! They are exhausted and will lay there for an hour sometimes afterwards. Some get up and chirp right away, and some just rest, but it's not always because of blood loss.

 

[Phillyndilly]

Hatching is hard work! They are exhausted and will lay there for an hour sometimes afterwards. Some get up and chirp right away, and some just rest, but it's not always because of blood loss.

Thank you I just checked the little one and clipped the membrane which she scared me and started to cheep loudly just as I was about to cut lol! As if my nerves weren’t bad already lol. So she was chirping just resting. I think she just needs a good sleep .This is day 23 I hope the other ones are still coming

 

[julskinka]

Yaaaaaay rhodebar is out. Looks like another female, but can't be totally sure til it's dry. Just a BBS marans and a rhodebar to go.

 

[ASteelman]

Happy national poultry day! I came back from a little vacation to baby chicks in the incubator! Highly recommend setting lockdown and then leaving town. 5/5 ameraucanas that were developing hatched.

They're all hiding under the brooder heater for now so I'll probably get pictures tomorrow. One of the five seems a bit weak unfortunately. He's always rolled over on his back when I check under the heater. But stands right up when I flip him? IDK.

 

[smfarman]

The D20 ones should definitely be fine. The D12 ones will probably depend on how long it was like that. But I think up to a couple hours probably fine -- it takes a little while for the internal temp of the egg to shift.

Hope so I'll keep my fingers crossed, thank you

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have been trying to keep busy today, since I have a few more days till chicks hatch. I played with nest boxes, (I have a SS hen who is setting for the first time, she put a piece of straw on her back.) I built and out door brooder, I tore down winter pens, and I made banana bread, rhubarb pie, and blackberry pie. The rhubarb and black berry were from last year.

And potatoes.