24 Orpington Eggs in the bator -6 week update

[MissPrissy]

What do you think of the colors, TOH? As soon as the other 4 get dry I'll post some photos. 1 is already looking really light.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I'll wait to judge with new pics...the real light might be the Light Brahma hen/Blue Orp Rooster, even tho there isn't any feathering on the legs....My Splashes from Julie are really light and hardly have any splashes to their feathers and haven't gone thru their first good molt yet...you have some blues and looks like a black or two...not sure yet from the pics...blacks growing out have a green sheen to their feathers...my blue orp rooster is blue on the bottom and black on the top....And you know the red/blue is the buff/blue mix.......

 

[CHICKENHEAD]

"These eggs were hand delivered and brought over the blue ridge mountains. I plan for nothing less than 24 out of 24!?"

Are you from around Wythville? I got sent up there for 2 weeks to train in that Gatorade plant. They call it blue ridge, its is sooooooo pretty up there. Congrats on your great hatch, im still waiting on my marans, today is day 21, nothing yet.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

MissPrissy CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

They are just adorable! Great job! This was a very exciting thread to read from beginning to end.
I love how you documented the hatch. I just love all those shades of blue. Nice babies, Tuffoldhen!

 

[suenrob]

Awesome hatch MP!!!!!! Congrats!!! Sorry about little #9

I can't wait to witness my own little miracles!!!!! (Bator is still a no show!)

 

[ZuniBee]

Wow, 12 out of 14! Congratulations MissPrissy!

 

[Yogiman]

AAAAAAW, MissPrissy, you done good! You must be real proud of yourself. You and TOH have put together a wonderful post with this. Very enjoyable! You have got to be the envy of the "chicken channel" right now. Congratulations to both of you.

 

[skeeter9]

Those are just beautiful babies, Priss!!! I think we're all green with envy! Congrats!!

Lori

 

[chickenranchwife]

Congratulations on your hatch MP, and the pics are great!

 

[MissPrissy]

Thank you everyone!

This hatch has been the most exciting for me. It is the very first hatch of eggs since I have been in Va. I was beginning to think I had forgotten how. My internet access has been off and on all weekend so I am behind in posting the rest of my hatch.

Hatchlings 10 and 11 came out easily and like clockwork following the first 9. One minute nothing going on but some chirping and rocking and the next thing you know there is 2 new chicks in the bator.

Eggs 12 and 13 had been chirping loud and rocking since the beginning of the hatch. These were two of the largest eggs. 2 of the first to show pips. I know deep down if I had followed my gut instinct #9 would not have died. The shell was thick is just could not break out and died trying. Watching these two eggs struggle left me torn. Don't open the bator! Sit on your hands! Like I tell all new hatchers. My gut instinct was there was a problem and they would die if I didn't help. I followed my gut!

I chipped away some shell and the membrane was as tough as leather. I damped it with warm water and boosted the humidity to 80%.

This one when I tried to chip away a bit of shell the shell came in away and 2 big chunks. The membrane was so tough I couldn't easily tear it. I wet this one with warm water and slipped it back in the bator.

Within 30 minutes both chicks had pushed their way out.

One shell had a little bit of veining in it but the yolk and nothing was attached. Their belly buttons were clean.

There is one egg left in the bator this morning. It is not pipped. I candled it last night and the air cell is good and I believe I saw movement in the eggs. I am waiting. Impatiently. We'll see what develops over the next 2 days.

My hatch rate so far is 85.7%. Not too shabby.