Last year I allowed my lavender pekin to sit on 2 batches of eggs. The first batch saw only one chick hatch and the second none. I allowed the 2nd batch to stay with her for quite a few days after the expected hatching date to see what happened but after about 4 days I found what looked at first to be 6 dead chicks but looking closer they were still in the 'foetal' position but opened out a bit. They were fluffy and looked very much full term. I am assuming that she pecked the shells off - especially as I could find no large pieces of shell , but were already dead due to not being able to break out.
I hatched the father of these in an incubator and out of 8 eggs only he and his brother hatched and I was forced to help them out as they had only just pipped and been trying to get out for a long long time - possibly over a day - I can't remember now. I know if I hadn't they would have died. The remaining eggs never hatched and didn't even pip, despite rocking and cheeping.
The question I would like to ask is this - Is it worth trying to hatch some in the incubator? She has already started to lay and the cockerel has been active all winter!
I don't want to set myself up for more distress but would love to hatch some, this time in an incubator. Is there anything I could do so the shells aren't so hard or is that how it is?
Also, I don't help chicks out of their shells unless I am absolutely sure they will die if I don't. I once broke off a piece of shell and it bled but thank goodness I stopped ( and prayed - hard! lol) and it was fine. Has anyone helped them out if they have been rocking and cheeping for a long time and you just know they aren't going to manage to pip? If so how do you know where to start and what do you use and what method?
I know this a very controversial subject - helping a chick out of it's shell - some people would never do it - some are too quick to do it and some like me, will do it only to save the chick's life. So far, touch wood , no chick that I have helped out has gone on to have health problems or short lives. Not to say this will never be of course.
I would be really grateful for you advice.
Anne