Why did some do great and others have unabsorbed yolk sacks?

[kennedyscochins]

Quote:
I'm no expert, I'll just pass along what I was told after my first incubation attempt last month. I did the EXACT same thing you did when two of my three eggs hatched. I was panicked about the third one, so didn't wait long enough and went in on day 21. I was told I should've waited at least until day 22 before even considering helping out. Lesson learned. There was a fully developed chick inside on day 21 but it looked like it needed more time to do his thing.

What kind of chicks were you incubating? I know, I should have waited but I panicked. I guess that is one of my main questions. Do EE's and Ameracaunas take longer in incubating?

I'm no expert on them. I usually just raise cochins, but got my first incubator, so I tried some of my parents free eggs! My EE's waited until after the others hatched, and like I said three of them died in their shell, unable to hatch. So, I don't know if they take longer or not. It seems like if you don't help them, they will die and if you do, they may die. I look forward to hearing from someone who knows more about this too.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
I'm no expert, I'll just pass along what I was told after my first incubation attempt last month. I did the EXACT same thing you did when two of my three eggs hatched. I was panicked about the third one, so didn't wait long enough and went in on day 21. I was told I should've waited at least until day 22 before even considering helping out. Lesson learned. There was a fully developed chick inside on day 21 but it looked like it needed more time to do his thing.

What kind of chicks were you incubating? I know, I should have waited but I panicked. I guess that is one of my main questions. Do EE's and Ameracaunas take longer in incubating?

Correction: I was told to wait until the END of day 23, not 22. "Birdbrain" said that the other chicks can wait in the incubator 3 days after hatching (that kind of patience isn't in my constitution, however!).
I am using a Brinsea Mini Advance. I LOVE IT! It's just plug, set and go! All of my eggs were Easter Egger/Barred Rock crosses. The shells were wicked thick, but it didn't seem to bother the first two chicks (and maybe, if I had sat on my hands for 2 more days, the third chick would've done fine too).

Here are some pics of them:

This photo cracks me up b/c Rosie was breech and couldn't figure out how to get the narrow end of the shell off her head for a while!

 

[jeslewmazer]

I am new to EEs and currently only have chicks. But I have had one breeding pair of a diff. breed and it seems that the genetics are poor seeing how every other breed that I have incubated with this other breed did great with little to no assist from me. So I wonder if maybe some chickens have bad genes. I am interested in your question and would like to know also before mine get to breeding age.

 

[Katy]

Were some shipped and some not? Or shipped from different places?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Actually yes some were shipped and others not. I had one EE hatch along with the rest of them and then a friend of mine gave me some of hers to hatch out. They died in the shell, never having pipped internally or externally. They also seemed like they were a little slooshy.
Then I had 7 Ameracaunas make it all the way to hatch and did not pip externally by day 21. All the others had hatched hours and hours before. I waited until I was ready to take everyone out and put them in the brooder before opening the eggs.
I did candle first and I did see they were alive. I worried that they were stuck in there. I don't know if they were or not.

I did dry incubate. I don't know if that allows the chicks to get too big or helps to keep them smaller. But the Marans (who are said to be hard to hatch, just popped out and they were shipped also)

I am trying to figure out if they were truly too early. If this breed needs a day or two more to hatch. And like kennedyscochins said, if you wait they die, if you help them they die too.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
What kind of chicks were you incubating? I know, I should have waited but I panicked. I guess that is one of my main questions. Do EE's and Ameracaunas take longer in incubating?

Correction: I was told to wait until the END of day 23, not 22. "Birdbrain" said that the other chicks can wait in the incubator 3 days after hatching (that kind of patience isn't in my constitution, however!).
I am using a Brinsea Mini Advance. I LOVE IT! It's just plug, set and go! All of my eggs were Easter Egger/Barred Rock crosses. The shells were wicked thick, but it didn't seem to bother the first two chicks (and maybe, if I had sat on my hands for 2 more days, the third chick would've done fine too).

Here are some pics of them:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43104_2-11-10_hatched_soupy_28.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43104_2-11-10_rosie_n_soupie_day1.jpg
This photo cracks me up b/c Rosie was breech and couldn't figure out how to get the narrow end of the shell off her head for a while!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43104_2-11-10_three_is_rosie_20.jpg

Oh gosh! That last picture is precious!!!

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Seems like it could be a problem with the stock itself.......not your incubating.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

That thought had crossed my mind. I was trying to figure out if it was "Mushy Chick Disease" Thank you all very much for helping. Two reasons more for finding out is I have 12 more eggs from the same person incubating and due in about a week and then I have those 5 Silkie Feathered Ameracaunas that are difficult to hatch.

I am trying to figure out what I should and or shouldn't do to get them to a healthy hatch.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

I'm kind of confused - not pipping by day 21 doesn't make them late, does it? I've heard it can take chicks up to 23 days to finish hatching.

I'm on my first hatch right now - forced air and 18 eggs in there (mostly ameraucanas with a few easter eggers). I had one ameraucana hatch on day 20 and also had a few more pips. On day 21 (today) five more hatched. It's almost midnight - there are about 8 more pips that I can see - one chick is zipping now. I'm confident that there will still be chicks hatching tomorrow on day 22.

Maybe your chicks would have hatched on their own if you waited another day?

I just checked and the wheaton ameraucana chick that was zipping has finished hatching. So far (midnight on day 21), only 7 out of 18 eggs have hatched. I'll update tomorrow.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
You are probably right! I was worried that they were stuck in there and over reacted.

I appreciate everyones help and next time, I just will leave the house because it drives me batty with worry when things like that happen.

Thank you, and Arizona--I am gonna need pictures of those babies!!