Too Early for Feb Hatch-A-Long Thread??

[LynnaePB]

18 chicks in the brooder! 11 Orpington bantams, 5 for sure silkies (a few have vaulted skulls), and 2 I am not sure about, but I'm guessing that one is a buff/blue silkie mix and the other is a buff silkie/spangled OEGB mix.

Two chicks have splayed legs. One is almost done with treatment but I only just started on the other. I'm addition to that, most chicks hatched a day before Hatchday so I must have set the temp a bit high. I'll know for next time!

There are five eggs left in the incubator. I think hatch day was on Tuesday so they are a few days late. Since last night I have been hearing a chick peep loudly but have seen no progress on the eggs. Please don't judge but tomorrow I might do a bit of assisted hatching. Yes, I have read several threads about the risks and people's opinions on this, but I'm willing to give it a try. I mean, what can I lose? The chick will die anyway if I don't do anything, but I might be able to save it if I try. I understand that it might be a special needs chick, and that I shouldn't breed it, but that's okay. I agree with the "only the strongest survive" rule, but we are humans and can do more than the average mother hen, so why not use our advantage? Any advice?

No judgement here either, I'm terribly hands on (I probably go a little overboard with it)!
Usually the chicks I assist grow up to be healthy with no issues. I've run into about the same amount of health issues from chicks that hatched well on their own vs assisted chicks personally.

Everyone has their different opinions and methods and experiences that led them to form those opinions. From what I've seen the lovely people participating in this hatch along are respectful of others choices and haven't given each other a hard time even when hatching methods differ.

Good luck with your little one!

 

[Mylied]

Did you open the air cell to see if he's absorbed all of the blood vessels? He may be stuck if it's been that long.

Theres a big hole by his bill. I've candled him last night and there were still veins and yolk. I was going to give it a few more hours this morning before checking. I read up to 48 hrs for ducks to go from pip to zip but I'm keeping an eye on it.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Theres a big hole by his bill. I've candled him last night and there were still veins and yolk. I was going to give it a few more hours this morning before checking. I read up to 48 hrs for ducks to go from pip to zip but I'm keeping an eye on it.

My goslings were more like 3 days from internal pip to hatching, waterfowl are sooooo slow! I'm rooting for the little one!

 

[AgnesGray]

There's an article I wrote linked in my signature if you've never done this before and want to give it a read for guidance.

Thanks for the articles! I have hatched two groups, but there is a lot I didn't know.

 

[AgnesGray]

My goslings were more like 3 days from internal pip to hatching, waterfowl are sooooo slow! I'm rooting for the little one!

I learned this with my ducks! I put them all in on the same day and they hatched one at a time over the course of 5 days. The last one needed help to get out and was small and droopy for a couple days, but quickly caught up with the others.

 

[Mylied]

He finally busted out! My incubator is yellow so it's hard to take pics.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Woke up to this little one. It's the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte. 7 other pips. 1 BLR Wyandotte, 2 Marans, 3 Isbar and 1 Cream Legbar.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

He finally busted out! My incubator is yellow so it's hard to take pics.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

You won't get judgement from me! I'm assisting a Liege Fighter right now. Foot over head malposition, poor thing. It's touch and go at the moment.

Incubating in itself is already not natural, so I've never understood the argument of not helping because it's 'not natural'.

There's an article I wrote linked in my signature if you've never done this before and want to give it a read for guidance.

This is a great article. I printed out and used it with my breach babies very succesfully.

 

[Merrymouse]

View attachment 2025519here is my inside transition brooder, currently the chicks have no heat but the room temp is in the 50's View attachment 2025577my new this year brooders. Each level has a heater and is supposed to hold up to 100 day old chicks. I bought them because ducks are such a mess to brood and I was hoping the wire floor would help?View attachment 2025579here is s shot of inside, note I put down paper towels cuz I was nervous about their little feet.View attachment 2025580the babies reaching out for food

I love your glass fronted brooder. I think I may have talked to you about that in another thread. I went out and bought some plexiglass so I could do this to my brooder, its almost identical to yours except its solid wood (no plexiglass) The only piece of plexiglass I could find was smaller, it wont be the entire side but more like a window, better than nothing. I now have to figure out how to fit it on there.