I've had an "oops" moment .....

Ok, so I got lazy and didn't collect eggs for a few days.  It's not the first time.   But,  Now I have 4 eggs that have chicks growing in them.  I have one bantam silkie roo - and he's never been able to manage to accomplish anything with the big girls before, (not even his own little group of silkie girls !) so I didn't think too much of not collecting eggs.  I've always candled prior to collecting (well, actually, I just toss them in the woods for the critters)  when it's been a few days just to be sure, though (and out of curiosity) - and never a speck of anything.

Soooooo ....    now I have a slight problem.  1 - I'm not sure how old the eggs are - I think around day 7/8 but not positive.  Saw 3 out of the 4 embryos moving around last night.  But - it's hard to see b/c they are all green eggs from my LF easter egger.  One is fairly dark and looks farther along than 8 days (closer to 10), but like I said, they're hard to see through with the dark shells.

I'm also going on vacation Friday and won't be back until the 11th ...  Think I'll be OK ?  I just don't want them to hatch while I'm gone.  I need to get some chick food - and will have to be sure they make it back into the coop at night.  Don't want any left behind outside.  My chicks in the past (before i had my roo - bought chicks/fertile eggs) have always taken a couple of weeks to learn how to get up the ramp into the coop.  (it's elevated).

Also, I'm going to take a guess that in the 9 days I'm gone, I'll likely have a few more chicks on the way.

So, I guess what I'm asking is - what is your guess on the age of the eggs ?  I think it was about 3/4 days that I hadn't collected eggs.  And last night I def. saw movement.  That has been another 3 nights.  Does day 7/8 sound about right based on seeing movement ?  (taking into account that I may have missed a few eggs the last time I collected, and that they have been incubated since day one b/c I have 4 broody hens right now - 3 silkies and 1 Buff Orp that will peck HARD when I try to collect from her - I have to hold her head w/one hand and slip under wtih my other LOL) that means I should have hatching around the 14th.  Yes?

Should be interesting to see what a BBS bantam silkie roo x LF easter egger will look like.  I hope they are hens, but my luck they'll all be roos, and I won't be able to keep them.  The one guy I have now is trained fairly well.  He's quiet in the morning until I open the coop door around 8am.

Anyway, lesson learned !  No more being lazy LOL :)

Yup - I actually have 4 broodies right now (I have 13 hens and my one little silkie roo).  I'm going to have my Mom stop by and check on them mid-end of the week I think.  I just hope they make good mommies - they're all first timers.

I already have a board across the door - to help keep the bedding in (they like to scratch around in it and a lot comes out into their pen making a mess when it gets soggy).  Hadn't thought about it serving to keep the chicks in though.  Good idea.

Hmmm.  I was hoping not quite that far along.  It is what it is I guess.    I suppose I'll have to stop on my way home from work and pick up some crumble/chick feed.  All I have is pellets (less mess) - and find a place for the waterer inside the coop.  Only problem there is they kick the bedding into it and within a day or two it's all gooped up with bedding.    That's why I keep it outside now.  It's easier to deal with chicks hatching when your home.  I guess even if they are further, they can manage a couple days anyway w/o feed.  I don't like to do that, but at least if they come toward the end of the week, they'll still be OK.

That's what happens when things are unplanned eh ? 

Anyhoo, I saw lots of veins, and darker area and some small moving shadows.  I've only hatched a few times, and can't quite remember at what point I started to see the embryo moving.  But light colored eggs sure are easier to see through to tell what's going on inside than these green eggs !  And I'm using a very bright LED light, too.

Thanks bobbiej   - I tried that tonight - didn't do too well - it's hard to hang onto to two lights and the egg !  Yikes !  I've been trying to compare, and I'm thinking teach1 may be right - they're looking closer to 10/12 days.  bummer.  That's not good - I'm worried they will hatch while I'm gone.  I'l be gone for 9 days so it's going to be close.  I've put all under the broody hen that is higher in the pecking order than the other three - hoping that will help if they hatch while I'm gone.

Well, I'll just hope for the best - wish me luck !