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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 5, 2008 6:00:41 GMT 8
Hello everyone! Just need a bit of advice please! My very first attempt at using an incubator - i had one chick poke a hole in the shell last night about halfway down the egg with a beak poking out, but it has now been that way for about 9 hours and doesn't seem to be doing anything! Also another one that was moving a lot last night has stopped - aarrgghhhh! I know I'm probably paranoid, but is this normal? Any advice would be great! Thanks.
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Post by horses7 on Nov 5, 2008 6:06:22 GMT 8
When are they actually due to hatch
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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 5, 2008 13:17:47 GMT 8
On Thursday evening
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 5, 2008 13:27:47 GMT 8
Theyre a little bit early then arent they. Are they bantams? Bantams can hatch from 19 days, although my pekins have always taken 21 days. What's the latest on their progress? Have any now hatched? Chicks can take up to 48 hrs to hatch once they've started pipping. Its such an anxious time isnt it, when you can see things starting to happen but its going sooooooo slow. Very tempting to try to help them along but try n sit on your hands lol and let nature take its course.
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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 5, 2008 17:04:28 GMT 8
It is VERY slow! I never realised how long it takes! They're light sussex and I only set 4 in a 10 egg incubator. 1 was no good and now 2 seem to be going well, but not hatched yet and the first one, the one I'm not sure about is still inthe same spot is was at 10pm last night! It keeps moving so i know it's still alive! I know I shouldn't mess with them - but it's very hard! I wasn't this nervous having my own kids!
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Post by fluffychook on Nov 5, 2008 18:50:48 GMT 8
How is it going? Any development. It is worse than having a baby, at least you knew what you were doing then..lol I would be so tempted to take a little bit of shell off.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 5, 2008 19:58:43 GMT 8
I know its very hard not to help them and I admit to doing it more than once hehe. Im not gunna advise that you fiddle with that first egg, but I know that if I was you I wouldnt be able to help myself....
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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 5, 2008 20:04:29 GMT 8
Yep, I'm getting pretty close to having a pick at it! It seems to be getting less active so i have to do something! Any suggestions? The other 2 are pretty much the same as a couple of hours ago, I think i'm gonna be up all night! I have to open the tray to get at the egg in trouble - is that going to mess with the others?
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 5, 2008 20:14:45 GMT 8
If you really feel that you have to help then do what you think is best. They are your chickies after all! When I cant help myself and give a lil one a hand I just remove a little bit of shell around their beak area and go from there. I also find that whistling at the egg (lol I know Im weird) seems to encourage them on. I guess maybe its like hearing mumma chook clucking or siblings cheeping around them. I've opened the incubator lid more than once during hatching (naughty naughty I know ) and it hasnt messed with my other hatching eggs. But do so at your own risk
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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 5, 2008 20:20:02 GMT 8
Ok, thanks! I might hold off a bit longer, it is still alive and maybe it'll have a burst of energy and do it all by itself!?! It is a bit icky, which doesn't seem to have happened on the other two, but I'll keep you updated anyway! Thanks !
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 6, 2008 6:40:09 GMT 8
How are they going this morning? I hope they've made some progress
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 6, 2008 6:42:27 GMT 8
Hope everything went ok last night.
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Post by fluffychook on Nov 6, 2008 6:51:25 GMT 8
The way I look at it is if I do not intervene then the chick will die. If I do nothing it will definately die, if I do something it has a chance. But it is up to you and all advice given is to leave it alone, let nature take its natural course. But then if I let nature take its natural course, I would not be incubating and have temperature and humidity problems...lol, which can cause sticky chicks. If it was me and the chick was still struggling this morning, I would definately start helping.
This is what I would do, not what you should do.
Would love to know how things are going
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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 6, 2008 9:28:21 GMT 8
This morning within a couple of hours of each other two hatched! Yay! The other one is still alive but still doing the same thing. I am going to start helping it, like fluffychook says - if i don't help it'll die anyway, if i help it, it might have a chance! Now i'm not sure how the hatched ones should be behaving! they don't seem to be doing a whole lot - lots of sleeping - but i know they're only a few hours old so don't know if i should expect anything else! will put them into the brooder when they fluff up, till then hope for the best! One of the chicks hatched just as the kids were getting out of bed this morning - it popped out right on cue! brilliant! we're all very excited- thanks for all your help!
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Post by ikbokchook on Nov 6, 2008 9:28:59 GMT 8
This morning within a couple of hours of each other two hatched! Yay! The other one is still alive but still doing the same thing. I am going to start helping it, like fluffychook says - if i don't help it'll die anyway, if i help it, it might have a chance! Now i'm not sure how the hatched ones should be behaving! they don't seem to be doing a whole lot - lots of sleeping - but i know they're only a few hours old so don't know if i should expect anything else! will put them into the brooder when they fluff up, till then hope for the best! One of the chicks hatched just as the kids were getting out of bed this morning - it popped out right on cue! brilliant! we're all very excited- thanks for all your help!
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