12th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

[LadiesAndJane]

I have an internal debate occurring- help!

I had my silkie hen go broody for her first time ever. She's sitting on two infertile eggs (not 100% sure, will candle tonight and see) but pretty sure as all my boys are young and not showing signs of mounting any hens yet. She's been there for about 2 weeks...I was hoping she would give up and realize eating and exploring is way more fun but she has prevailed.

So the debate is...do I give her an egg from this hatch along from my incubator? I have enough id be ok giving her one, it is kind of on the right timeline as to when her infertile eggs would hatch she has been sitting on. I really didn't expect her to be a good broody momma the first time...but she is like a statue on that nest. I review the cameras every day and I haven't seen her out of that nest, to my knowledge. I would most likely fence her off from the rest of the silkies closer to hatch then maybe let her raise all the babies in her own little brooder if she is a good momma to the one.

Ive never had a broody hen but she's a lovey dove and would make a great mom Im sure!

As silkies are almost impossible to break, I would go ahead and give her an egg or two.

 

[BullChick]

Power's out...a tree fell across the road in front of our neighbor's house and took out the lines and split the top of a pole. Hopefully the township responds quickly. There's also another half a tree in the front yard now.

I love my property. I love my property. I love my property...

 

[ronott1]

I know that I don't qualify because I'm a bit late to the game, but, now that I'm here, I just wanted to say that my shipped eggs arrived today and I'm SO EXCITED!!! I'll let them settle in the basement (where it's cooler) and put them in the incubator Saturday morning. Is that too long? They would've had a day and a half to settle. I want to set them on a weekend day so that they (ideally) hatch on a weekend day too, when we'll be free to watch them and not pretend to be working but really be up there glued to the 'bator

Welcome!

Thanks for hatching with us even if it is late for Easter.
Setting them tomorrow is perfect.

 

[ronott1]

5 Polkies hatched overnight and 5 more pips! This was a staggered hatch so the rest should start pipping sometime today or tomorrow! I'm not sure who's bright idea it was to do a staggered hatch and draw this out...oh wait, it was mine. Who needs sleep anyway? Lol

A week between hatches lets you rest more

 

[ronott1]

I can confirm 3 eggs are developing as I saw embryos dancing around in them last night, including the patchy egg that had part of the color washed off of it!! I believe all three of those eggs belong to Nadine (I wasn't 100% sure on two of them when I set them, but comparing them to the egg I know for sure is Nadine's now makes me think they are). This has me a tiny bit concerned that only her eggs were fertilized, as she's had chicks with Murphy before while the other two haven't, and I'm not seeing any veining or anything in the others even though only one actually looks like a dud to me. I'm doing the 'official' candling for the week tonight, day 6 for two of the eggs and day 8 for the rest, so I'll take a closer look then.

I hope they keep going!

 

[ronott1]

I have an internal debate occurring- help!

I had my silkie hen go broody for her first time ever. She's sitting on two infertile eggs (not 100% sure, will candle tonight and see) but pretty sure as all my boys are young and not showing signs of mounting any hens yet. She's been there for about 2 weeks...I was hoping she would give up and realize eating and exploring is way more fun but she has prevailed.

So the debate is...do I give her an egg from this hatch along from my incubator? I have enough id be ok giving her one, it is kind of on the right timeline as to when her infertile eggs would hatch she has been sitting on. I really didn't expect her to be a good broody momma the first time...but she is like a statue on that nest. I review the cameras every day and I haven't seen her out of that nest, to my knowledge. I would most likely fence her off from the rest of the silkies closer to hatch then maybe let her raise all the babies in her own little brooder if she is a good momma to the one.

Ive never had a broody hen but she's a lovey dove and would make a great mom Im sure!

You can wait until the chicks hatch and giver her a couple of them.

 

[ronott1]

Power's out...a tree fell across the road in front of our neighbor's house and took out the lines and split the top of a pole. Hopefully the township responds quickly. There's also another half a tree in the front yard now.

I hope it is back on soon!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Thanks everyone We have the generator going now so the brooders and incubators are all good and toasty. Here's the culprit:

This one's in our front yard

Lovely windy days

 

[ronott1]

Thanks everyone We have the generator going now so the brooders and incubators are all good and toasty. Here's the culprit:

View attachment 2586465View attachment 2586474View attachment 2586476

This one's in our front yard

View attachment 2586478

Lovely windy days

Luckily our power wires are under ground here!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

5 Polkies hatched overnight and 5 more pips! This was a staggered hatch so the rest should start pipping sometime today or tomorrow! I'm not sure who's bright idea it was to do a staggered hatch and draw this out...oh wait, it was mine. Who needs sleep anyway? Lol

Got to love those staggered hatches. Somehow I always end up doing that!
I would love to see photos of your Polkies! I assume these are polish/silkie mixes? I have one that was an "accident" as I mistakenly added one of the polish eggs to a silkie hatch. This little chick is now one month old, super sweet and much friendlier than the pure silkies.