OH, Kathy! I think you did GREAT! 1) shipped eggs; 2) end of breeding season - eggs are never quite as fertile; 3) minor bator issues. With all that, you STILL got a ton to hatch! I'm thrilled, and I love the new title of your thread! Glad you're pleased, and I can't WAIT to watch them grow up!!!
1 fatality, drown in the water dish. I'm sick about it. It was a SPPR, and I only got 3, now down to 2. Do you see in those pictures, I have marbles in the dish!
I left for 30 minutes to run to the store and came back to a dead baby. Makes me sick.
Today is day 21 for the Lavender Orpington profect eggs. I woke up this morning to 3 in the bator, and 4 pips. The one original that was zipping last night, is not making progress, but I still his her beak sticking out once in awhile, and cheeping. She will certainly be named Pokey! I think I have 16 eggs in there, so will be happy to get a few more today!
On hatch # 1. One of the Marans had me worried. The one from the darkest egg I had. Walkin' on hocks and curled toes. I made bandaid shoes to straightened the toes. This morning when I checked, YAY!, walkin' around on feet, not hocks! I will leave the bandaids on another day, then recheck the toes.
On another note ... I can't believe it ... It almost happened again. I was standing there gawking at the chicks and one leaned over (falling asleep standing) into the water dish. I grabbed it quickly! I had never had this problem before, and am now very aware of the possibility! DH says I have too many stones in the dish, but I see them still drinking. Can I have too many in there?
I raise my waterer up on two fire bricks (like go in the back of the woodstove). Is yours raised at all? If not, that may help some to keep them from falling asleep in the water. Sorry about the little one, but it happens.
I always add a TON of stones to my chicks waterer. I figure if they can get their little beaks in there to sip between the rocks then that is good enough.
Sorry about you chick.
Glad to read about the Marans chick! It sounds like it's going to get its feet all straightened out and be just fine!
Believe me .... the waterers are full of marbles now, as well as up on a block!
UPDATE: the Lavender Orpingtons are on day 21, and poppin' like popcorn.
I put them in the egg cartons ... this is the way to do it!
So far, 10 are out, and 5 are close to out. That is 15 of 16! These eggs came from scbatz33, Sarah. She got hers from someone in NC that started with stock from hinkjc. Sarah added black orps from tuffold hen, in an attempt to increase the feathering. So, that would mean these are great-grandchicks of hinkjc ! LOL
I'll tell ya what, these are some tough little guys ... I would go look, and WOW another one popped out! I call it, Pip, Zip, Pop !
Here are some pictures of the recent hatches:
These were the last to hatch from Wynette's eggs; 3 Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks and a Black Copper Marans. One of the SPPRs, ("Rip", AKA: R.I.P.)drowned in the water dish. I had little hope that "Boots," the Marans would make it, with curled toes and walking on his hocks.
This is Boots posing with his new shoes. I will leave them on for 2 days.
"These boots are made for walkin'!"
Here are the 2 remaining SPPRs:
And a close up of one:
Here we have 2 Olive Eggers:
And here are some group shots:
Here is part today's hatch; 15 of 16 Lavender Orpingtons. The others are still in the bator fluffin' a bit. Here they are sunbathing:
I am thrilled with the hatch rates. I am hoping the Delawares (due Thursday, Nov 5th), do great!