ABOUT TO SET 24 MARANS EGGS! ANYONE ELSE SETTING EGGS? DEC. 14-16, Hatch Jan. 3-5th.

[CALI CHICK]

Sounds like you are doing pretty well. I have one pipped so far. I could also hear chirping. My hatch day is tomorrow. I will post some pics this weekend when I get them to the brooder.

That's a very good sign when they pip! 2 of mine pipped a day early but actually hatched on hatch day.

Remember I had 1 more that I was worried about? Well, it JUST finished zipping and kicking its way out of the shell. I am beyond thrilled that they all hatched by themselves! All 4 of them look like their daddy, a splash silkie. Momma is a blue so I was expecting 50% blue and 50% splash. They are super cute but still wet so pictures will be added when I put them into the brooder.

Here is a picture of Momma and Daddy though:

 

[bwalden]

Awe

That's a very good sign when they pip! 2 of mine pipped a day early but actually hatched on hatch day. Remember I had 1 more that I was worried about? Well, it JUST finished zipping and kicking its way out of the shell. I am beyond thrilled that they all hatched by themselves! All 4 of them look like their daddy, a splash silkie. Momma is a blue so I was expecting 50% blue and 50% splash. They are super cute but still wet so pictures will be added when I put them into the brooder. Here is a picture of Momma and Daddy though:

Awesome! Glad the last one made it out for you.

 

[newbiechix]

My hatch day was supposed to be tomorrow, but last night after I put my eggs on lockdown I noticed a little pip in 1. By about 7 a.m. this morning, i 2 had pips. By about 5pm, all 6 had pips. The first chick kicked its way into the world around 730pm, and the second was just minutes later. I have 3 out now chirping and kicking the other eggs around. The other 3 haven't started to zip yet, but I hope they will soon. Should I reach into the incubator to flip the 3 unhatched ones so the pip is back facing up like it was before the hatched chicks started thrashing around? This is my first hatch, so I'm probably being too nervous, but I want to make sure they all get a fair chance.

 

[newbiechix]

This was my first baby hatching tonight.

The two that hatched mere minutes apart



My third chick of the night!!!

 

[CALI CHICK]

My hatch day was supposed to be tomorrow, but last night after I put my eggs on lockdown I noticed a little pip in 1. By about 7 a.m. this morning, i 2 had pips. By about 5pm, all 6 had pips. The first chick kicked its way into the world around 730pm, and the second was just minutes later. I have 3 out now chirping and kicking the other eggs around. The other 3 haven't started to zip yet, but I hope they will soon. Should I reach into the incubator to flip the 3 unhatched ones so the pip is back facing up like it was before the hatched chicks started thrashing around? This is my first hatch, so I'm probably being too nervous, but I want to make sure they all get a fair chance.

Congratulations on your babies.....or should I say "early birdies"!

No, you don't want to open the incubator -especially if you have pips. That is how they get shrink wrapped when colder air/less humidity gets on the membrane. Chances are the hatched ones would just bump into them again.

Hopefully you can get some sleep and find everyone hatched and fluffed up in the morning.

 

[kacklinkelly]

How exciting! What type of incubator did you use?
I am interested in incubating but can only house a
few more-don't need anything large. Thanks and
happy zipping!

 

[bwalden]

The one that pipped last night is zipping nicely now. Looks like a couple more pipped too this morning.
Kacklinkelly, I have a Little Giant styrofoam chest type incubator w/auto egg turner. Only thing I can say I'm not pleased with about it are the temp swings. It might be 98 degree one minute and 101 the next. I bought a new digital thermometer this hatch. So that may be the reason I noticed so much. I had two traditional thermometers before and really never noticed temp swings. I guess it's possible they've always been there I just never knew it. I've had this incubator prob 15 years and had decent results with it I guess. I'm looking into building a cabinet type bator now I think to hatch off 50-75 at a time to sell the chicks. I want to build my own. I can't spend the kind of money the want for those.

 

[newbiechix]

How exciting!  What type of incubator did you use?  
I am interested in incubating but can only house a 
few more-don't need anything large.  Thanks and 
happy zipping!

I have the brinsea mini advance incubator. holds only 7 standard size eggs, but worked like a charm for this newbie. all 6 hatched successfully within about 7 hours. sadly, I lost one of the little guys this morning due to a careless move on my part that accidentally caught him between the top and the water reservoir. I feel awful. I would have been better served getting all 6 out at once and moving them to the incubator instead of trying to go one by one. poor chick. that really is the only flaw, if you can call it that, that I've found with this incubator. the autoturning is excellent, the humidity levels were easy to control, and that temp stayed right at what I set it with virtually no fluctuations even during candling and when I was removing the egg shells last night. it required almost no interaction on my part. really. great incubator!

 

[kacklinkelly]

Great - thanks for the info. Sorry to hear about the little one. It seems there is always a loss along the way from what I've been reading.
I'll check out the incubator you have and give some hints for maybe mother's day. If I ask too soon, I will be too tempted to start now.

 

[CALI CHICK]

Here are my 4 chicks that successfully hatched...



They look so much alike that I haven't named them yet. Here is a group shot of the cuties!