What to do when everything goes wrong

[Melontine]

Last night, I had to move my latest clutch of bantams to a cooler area. Even with an air conditioner on, the barn upstairs was far too hot for them, reaching around 104 - 105 f. Not sure how long they were like that, but I still hoped I’d get a few survivors.

I left them on a folding table downstairs, still warm, but not cooking. The incubator could get back down to 99.5 where I wanted. I put them on lockdown a few hours early.

Fast forward to today. It is now day #18 for these eggs and I’m in the room working on something else. Every so often I think I hear a faint chirp coming from the incubator.
Suddenly; the folding table gives out and the incubator comes crashing to the ground. I’m screaming.
I gathered the eggs and set the incubator upright again. So many cracks and it’s a mess.
I see blood, and movement in some of the eggs. But we’re still day 18 of 21. This is lock down and already some may be shrink wrapped, not even considering the trauma of a sudden 3 foot drop.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Oh wow that is bad.

If you have coconut oil (I think), apply that very often. You can use wax, but I’ll tag some people who might know how to better help these eggs. @MysteryChicken @aart @MGG

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Oh wow that is bad.

If you have coconut oil (I think), apply that very often. You can use wax, but I’ll tag some people who might know how to better help these eggs. @MysteryChicken @aart @MGG

Whats your humidity at?

 

[Birdie2019]

Last night, I had to move my latest clutch of bantams to a cooler area. Even with an air conditioner on, the barn upstairs was far too hot for them, reaching around 104 - 105 f. Not sure how long they were like that, but I still hoped I’d get a few survivors.

I left them on a folding table downstairs, still warm, but not cooking. The incubator could get back down to 99.5 where I wanted. I put them on lockdown a few hours early.

Fast forward to today. It is now day #18 for these eggs and I’m in the room working on something else. Every so often I think I hear a faint chirp coming from the incubator.
Suddenly; the folding table gives out and the incubator comes crashing to the ground. I’m screaming.
I gathered the eggs and set the incubator upright again. So many cracks and it’s a mess.
I see blood, and movement in some of the eggs. But we’re still day 18 of 21. This is lock down and already some may be shrink wrapped, not even considering the trauma of a sudden 3 foot drop.

View attachment 2709501View attachment 2709505

At least temp was still under 110 degrees. Anything above could
Really do bad. I think there’s still a chance. Humidity should (I think) be in between 65 and 75%, so i don’t see how they’d be shrink wrapped. The eggs that aren’t completely smashed, perhaps you
Could seal them (use wax). I’ve helped eggs that were smashed on hatch day or shrink wrapped, Never before that. Hope some experts can help, as I’m inexperienced. Just saying, there still may be hope.

 

[Kiki]

Last night, I had to move my latest clutch of bantams to a cooler area. Even with an air conditioner on, the barn upstairs was far too hot for them, reaching around 104 - 105 f. Not sure how long they were like that, but I still hoped I’d get a few survivors.

I left them on a folding table downstairs, still warm, but not cooking. The incubator could get back down to 99.5 where I wanted. I put them on lockdown a few hours early.

Fast forward to today. It is now day #18 for these eggs and I’m in the room working on something else. Every so often I think I hear a faint chirp coming from the incubator.
Suddenly; the folding table gives out and the incubator comes crashing to the ground. I’m screaming.
I gathered the eggs and set the incubator upright again. So many cracks and it’s a mess.
I see blood, and movement in some of the eggs. But we’re still day 18 of 21. This is lock down and already some may be shrink wrapped, not even considering the trauma of a sudden 3 foot drop.

View attachment 2709501View attachment 2709505

I'm afraid there isn't much to do but wait.
Just wait for now.
It's too early for them to come out.

Also...next time please try to keep your incubator indoors...inside your house where the air is more stable than outside.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

At this point, you can either continue on with some more tlc and take what you can get, or you can leave them out where an animal can take them and try again.

Coconut oil would work best since there is so much exposed, and just be aware a y with blood may or may not make it. Any that hatch may have some damage done. My mother dropped an egg about 2 feet when hand turning. Just a tiny crack, but the chick was developed enough that when he hatched, his beak was noticeably damaged a bit

 

[Melontine]

Thank you all
The humidity is currently at 85%, higher than I usually have it for lock down but I’m thinking higher is better right now.
Will try to get some coconut oil, just the two up front who are smashed in more look the worst, though they are still alive somehow.

 

[Melontine]

I have been putting coconut oil on the eggs. A couple don't seem to have any cracks, and I candled a few that night and saw some movement. Fingers crossed some of them make it alright.
I discovered my incubator is in fact broken. Not too bad, but still won't be using it again after this. The water tray must be cracked as when I try to fill it, everything just leaks out under. The humidity today is still around 75% so not too bad for right now, I've been trying to put wet sponges to try and help for the time being, but will definitely need to get a new incubator when this is all over.

It's day 20 now, and I actually have some good news. One of the five bantam cochin eggs is hatching, I hear the baby chirping and see her working her way through the shell. She's hatching at an odd place but seems to be working with the cracks that were put in her shell a few days ago. Hopefully, she makes it. Hopefully, she has a few friends join her too.

Once she hatches though, I do wonder about how it'll affect the other eggs. Given their already fragile condition, should I think about removing her from the incubator a little earlier so she doesn't knock into them too much? Or should I leave her be since there's no guarantee any will make it anyway?

(17 eggs total btw, 5 are cochin eggs I ordered, 12 are silkie eggs from my own flock)

 

[eggsandhens]

I have been putting coconut oil on the eggs. A couple don't seem to have any cracks, and I candled a few that night and saw some movement. Fingers crossed some of them make it alright.
I discovered my incubator is in fact broken. Not too bad, but still won't be using it again after this. The water tray must be cracked as when I try to fill it, everything just leaks out under. The humidity today is still around 75% so not too bad for right now, I've been trying to put wet sponges to try and help for the time being, but will definitely need to get a new incubator when this is all over.

It's day 20 now, and I actually have some good news. One of the five bantam cochin eggs is hatching, I hear the baby chirping and see her working her way through the shell. She's hatching at an odd place but seems to be working with the cracks that were put in her shell a few days ago. Hopefully, she makes it. Hopefully, she has a few friends join her too.

Once she hatches though, I do wonder about how it'll affect the other eggs. Given their already fragile condition, should I think about removing her from the incubator a little earlier so she doesn't knock into them too much? Or should I leave her be since there's no guarantee any will make it anyway?

(17 eggs total btw, 5 are cochin eggs I ordered, 12 are silkie eggs from my own flock)

Chirping is good. Please keep us updated!

 

[LaFleche]

Please consider that in case the humidity is too high, there will hardly be any oxygen exchange possible, leading to chicks suffocating and/or unable to get their muscles to work properly for pipping and zipping.