Quote:
Originally Posted by
dixie&trixie 
Well I heard one peeping and pecking inside the shell so Im hoping thats a good sign
I've been gone all day so I'm just now catching up! Peeping and pecking on the inside means it has internally pipped and now you need to leave it alone. Leave them all alone for right now. If the latest one you sat was the 9th, then today is 21 days. There could be others that will hatch over the next few days. Make sure your broody has feed and water very close to her as she won't get up and she will sit there and teach the chicks how to eat and drink. Don't mess with them....don't mess with her. Mine usually potty in the nest so I do poopy scoop to keep it clean. When everything is finished, she will get up. Even if everything hatches, she will sit tight for about another week...at least this has been my experience and this is my third time doing it so I am not an expert!!!! If you go sit very quietly next to the box and are very quiet and very, very, very patient, you will get to see little chicks popping out from under the hen. Look around her wings especially. It's so cute to see their little head peeking out. And then sometimes you will get to see the chicks come out to eat and drink. It takes time so you have to be extremely patient, gentle and quiet.
Congragulations on your pipps. Please keep us posted. Momma hens are so much fun! I love to watch them do their thing.
Also, I don't know what others do, but I have banties and I use a coffee bean grinder and grind the chick food up for them since they are so little. And make sure the chicks can reach the feed and water so make sure everything is very low.