***Watch it wiggle see it jiggle.....WHEN? Lots of questions!!!

[momreda]

We go into lockdown in a couple of hours and I was curious about a few things.

1. When can I expect to see the first wiggling egg?
2. Do I wait for all to hatch before I remove the first chick or should I remove it immediately?
3. What does it mean when someone refers to thier chick as shrink wrapped?
4. Is shrink wrapped good or bad?
5. What temp should my bator be at for birthing? I have just seen a wide range of OK temps so I am not sure.
6. How long after birth should the chick get up and move about?
7. How long after birth will I know that my chick will be ok?

Thanks and sorry for so many questions. I haven't found the book "hatching for dummies yet!"

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:

 

[dovecanyon]

Quote:
1. any time from day 19 on. sometimes you don't see the eggs wiggle at all until they start to pip
2. how many eggs do you have? I have left them all in until the hatch was finished, and all was well. If you have any eggs pipped, do not open the incubator to remove a chick. they can do fine in there for a couple of days.
3. shrink wrapped is when you have opened the incubator after an egg has pipped (or your humidity is too low) and the membrane dries out and sticks to the chick making it very difficult for it to hatch. (see #2)
4. bad, very bad
5. same as for incubating. forced air 99.5-100, still air 100.5-102
6. anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. hatching is hard work and they need to rest.
7. after moving it to the brooder, if it is eating and drinking within several hours to 2 days, walking around and cheeping, it is probably ok. stuff happens. not all chicks make it their first week, but if you had a healthy hatch and the right conditions in the brooder, most will be fine.
8. Amazon.com $11.49

 

[momreda]

Spraddle leg? What do I do with the band-aid?

Thank you so much for answering my questions

 

[momreda]

Quote:
1. any time from day 19 on. sometimes you don't see the eggs wiggle at all until they start to pip
2. how many eggs do you have? I have left them all in until the hatch was finished, and all was well. If you have any eggs pipped, do not open the incubator to remove a chick. they can do fine in there for a couple of days.
3. shrink wrapped is when you have opened the incubator after an egg has pipped (or your humidity is too low) and the membrane dries out and sticks to the chick making it very difficult for it to hatch. (see #2)
4. bad, very bad
5. same as for incubating. forced air 99.5-100, still air 100.5-102
6. anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. hatching is hard work and they need to rest.
7. after moving it to the brooder, if it is eating and drinking within several hours to 2 days, walking around and cheeping, it is probably ok. stuff happens. not all chicks make it their first week, but if you had a healthy hatch and the right conditions in the brooder, most will be fine.
8. Amazon.com $11.49

We only did 5 because we are testing it out. I think 2 are ok and 3 are questionable.




8. Amazon.com $11.49

I had to laugh because I didn't know there was a book!!

 

[Cacklin" Hens]

I listen on about day 19 and i can hear little tapping like noises. I am not sure what you are SUPPOSED to do, but I take each chick out as they hatch and move them to the brooder. I have never had problems doing that. Never heard of shrink wrapped! The temp in your bator should be the same as it was from day 1-18, which should be 99.5-100.5 ( preferably right on 100.0) It will immediately start trying to walk about a minute after it hatches. You should really know for sure after about an hour or so after it hatches. hope this helps

 

[dovecanyon]

Quote:
With only 5 eggs, I would leave them in until the hatch is finished. Remember, a chick can live for up to 3 days without food or water.
Don't worry about spraddle leg until you have them in the brooder. That's a whole different post! If you have paper towels in the brooder for the first week for them to walk on you probably won't even have to know what spraddle leg is! It's a condition that happens when the surface they are walking on is too slippery... one or both legs are off to the side so the chick can't stand up properly. If it happens to one of yours, you will get advice on how to help it heal properly. But again, if you keep a surface in the brooder that is not slippery, you probably won't have a problem with it.

9. Stop worrying. Have a glass of wine and a bubble bath. Your babies will be fine...

 

[momreda]

Quote:
With only 5 eggs, I would leave them in until the hatch is finished. Remember, a chick can live for up to 3 days without food or water.
Don't worry about spraddle leg until you have them in the brooder. That's a whole different post! If you have paper towels in the brooder for the first week for them to walk on you probably won't even have to know what spraddle leg is! It's a condition that happens when the surface they are walking on is too slippery... one or both legs are off to the side so the chick can't stand up properly. If it happens to one of yours, you will get advice on how to help it heal properly. But again, if you keep a surface in the brooder that is not slippery, you probably won't have a problem with it.

9. Stop worrying. Have a glass of wine and a bubble bath. Your babies will be fine...

9. probably the best advice I'll get

I am concerned about the bator because Hubby built it in an igloo cooler and the cartons are raised off the bottom at least 6 inches. I am afraid the babies might fall and get hurt.

 

[dovecanyon]

Can you take out the cartons and lay the eggs on their sides on the bottom to hatch?
I incubate day 1-18 in cartons and take them out on day 18 and lay them on the wire to hatch. This has been the best way for me.

 

[momreda]

Quote:
Ok, I moved them down onto a rack. Thank you!