Woohoo - I got a pip!

[sheena]

Just been in to check on the eggs, having almost given up yesterday to find one of the eggs has a small hole and a lovely chick inside tapping away. Couldn't detect any tapping from the others, but just gonna hold out.

Don't know what it is, but i'm now hopeful that I might actually get some chicks finally.

I'm so excited!!!!

[Nicos]

Yey!!!!...come on little chicky!!!

[RichmondHens]

How's it doing?

[Nicos]

I was just wondering that very thing!!!


Oi ...Sheena?????

[sheena]

It's wobbling like a goodun' but still no bigger hole yet.
Should I be making it bigger?
As I had resigned to the fact they weren't gonna do anything I let the humidity drop to 50, but when I found it pipped this morning I put some more water in to increase it again

[vicky]

How exciting! Make sure you keep us updated and get that camera out!

[Nicos]

ooo...errrr...don't ask me about making the hole a tiny bit bigger ( cos I know I would- just a tiny bit)
Problem is, that once the hole is bigger the membrane inside starts to dry out ...and then sticks to the chick. I think it also gets harder for the chick to tear.
Unfortunately mine had it's yolk sac still attatched and ended up with a bit of a hernia. All is well now- but I've no idea what would have happened if I'd just left it be . ( a previous one in the same clutch was more than half way out and died in it's shell- and I sort of didn't want that to happen to a 2nd one.

Hmm...that's what I found when I did one of mine...then it's hard to stop helping

Your call gal

[sheena]

Ok, I give up now!!!

I went and and checked on the chick which had been happily tapping away this morning after it had pipped itself. When I returned after my driving lesson (ie last post) I thought the movement was that of the chick and it wasn't. It was me knocking the sideboard the incy was on.

Anyway, went to check little chicky and tapped on shell... this was met with silence! The poor little black feathered chicky had popped it's clogs.
On that score I thought sod it now, i've have it and pipped the remaining 12 eggs and was met with bugger all from 11 of them and a yucky green mess from one which had exploded in my face and all over my DS bedroom! Ewww

Now I can't get rid of the stench! It's making me physically sick!

[Nicos]

Oh dear

..not what any of us was expecting

Do you think you'll try again in the Spring- or maybe even now???

* holds nose and runs away

[jessmorris]

Oh boo, you ain't havin' much luck this season!

[sheena]

I really don't know Nicos, I'm in 2 minds. Out of 47 eggs I have had only 1 chick that was even close to living and I managed to screw that up!

I'm pondering on the thought of either getting a different incy (I think this one is cursed) or just not bothering at all.

Would my little brooder that I made make a good incy? I dunno... so many possibilities but nothing is ever set in stone, all I know is that I bought everything ready for babies to be born and no babies to use it on. Oh I could cry right now

[jessmorris]

Oh no, don't cry! You could buy some day old chickies for your brooder...and fill your house with the sound of cheep cheep cheepings and tiny toenails...;-)

[jessmorris]

..p'raps??....

[RichmondHens]

I would go for getting a broody hen, or a hen that is likely to go broody. It does sound like your incubator is not up to the mark. So if not a hen, then a new incubator, although hens are cheaper and ultimately better!

If you were nearer me you could buy or borrow a broody and some guaranteed fertile eggs from me!

[Scarlet]

yes, a broody is the way to go - have another go next spring