Why Not Help? Please Answer

[The Wolf Queen]

The title says it all. How come when a chick hatches your not supposed to help them? Does it hurt them or...?

 

[corancher]

Generally, if they can't hatch on their own they are weak and don't live even after helping them.

 

[Cara]

Helping chicks that can't hatch by themselves will result in a weaker flock in time, ie genetically these birds are weaker than those that are capable of hatching by themselves. Also, if you open the incubator you will let out all the humidity, and therefore will probably have to help all of the others as the membrane in the shell will dry out quickly and become very tough.

 

[Southernbelle]

Or even worse, you start to help and realize that they weren't ready yet and now you've just killed them.

It's best to just let them do it on their own.

 

[M@M@2four]

Well...here's what I have learned...I have hatched several hundred eggs, so lots of practice. I do step in and help IF need be. I have had chicks physically dry out and get stuck. Does that make them weaker??? Absolutely not. This often happens with the late hatchers. The incubators been open quickly to remove the other chicks that have hatched and dried out, reducing the humidity for the existing chicks hatching--this is by no means their fault. When helping, I only step in if a chick has pipped and not hatched in 24 hours. I then assist. I peel away a little at a time. If you see bright red blood, stop. I try again about an hour later. I have had more success cases than not and my chicks come out fine and grow up strong and healthy. Just my 2 cents...

 

[crtrlovr]

M@M@2four :

Well...here's what I have learned...I have hatched several hundred eggs, so lots of practice. I do step in and help IF need be. I have had chicks physically dry out and get stuck. Does that make them weaker??? Absolutely not. This often happens with the late hatchers. The incubators been open quickly to remove the other chicks that have hatched and dried out, reducing the humidity for the existing chicks hatching--this is by no means their fault. When helping, I only step in if a chick has pipped and not hatched in 24 hours. I then assist. I peel away a little at a time. If you see bright red blood, stop. I try again about an hour later. I have had more success cases than not and my chicks come out fine and grow up strong and healthy. Just my 2 cents...

EXACTLY what I did... out of 19 eggs, I had 10 hatch (one I did help b/c the membrane had gotten VERY dry; probably from my having opened the bator to take the others out after they were dry), 2 totally clear, 3 with early signs of life but then quit, 2 just funky rotten, and 3 perfect little beauties that died

b/c I didn't know that it wasn't ok to take out the little ones once they dried. I took them out b/c my incubator is a Lyon Turn-X (round in shape) and there is NOT much room in there, especially after the babies hatch and start trying to move around. They're walking all over each other, the broken shells, walking on pipped & rocking eggs, etc. I left the unhatched ones in the 'bator for 5 more days. One of the unhatched ones that died was rocking. I looked at the humidity and it was pretty low (approx. 31%) so I raised the cover and misted them with warm water but the egg stopped rocking and there was no more movement. Did I finish it off???​

 

[R@ndy]

And they absorb their yokes just before coming out of the shell so wouldn't want to help to early

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Thanks and just to let everyone know my eggs are being sat on by 3 broody hens

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Crtrlover-Fraid so. If you leave the bator alone, you will find that your hatch rate will go up! Sometimes they quit because of deformities as well.