Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Morrigan]

A surprise this morning! The lone Isabella Leghorn hatched before dawn, the only one of the 14 shipped eggs that made it to lockdown. I took two days off work for chick hatching, but I need a long term solution for a companion. My boxer is offering to stand in as chick mama. I appreciate her earnest wish to help, but I don't think I'll take her up on it. View attachment 1464356 View attachment 1464355

The picture of your boxer checking out the chick is precious. I wish I could trust The Spaniel to do that.

I hope you can find a chick friend for your wee one.

 

[Rebel58]

A surprise this morning! The lone Isabella Leghorn hatched before dawn, the only one of the 14 shipped eggs that made it to lockdown. I took two days off work for chick hatching, but I need a long term solution for a companion. My boxer is offering to stand in as chick mama. I appreciate her earnest wish to help, but I don't think I'll take her up on it. View attachment 1464356 View attachment 1464355

Adorable

 

[Rebel58]

The picture of your boxer checking out the chick is precious. I wish I could trust The Spaniel to do that.

I hope you can find a chick friend for your wee one.

My yorkie loves everyone but I’m afraid he would lick and kiss every feather right off.

 

[Cerise1924]

The picture of your boxer checking out the chick is precious. I wish I could trust The Spaniel to do that.

I hope you can find a chick friend for your wee one.

Oh, spaniels! I have a quail-murdering spaniel in the house. They have a wicked instinct for going after birds. You are wise not to trust The Spaniel. The boxer loves everything. She saved a chick from the spaniel by carrying it to me in her mouth, once.

 

[Cerise1924]

My yorkie loves everyone but I’m afraid he would lick and kiss every feather right off.

Awww... Exactly! I may try them in the same room together, with the brooder box neatly sealed, until baby is big and feathered. A Leghorn should get big, fast. They might be (carefully monitored) friends one day.

 

[Cerise1924]

Chick Spam! One of the few nice things about a blisteringly hot day is that you can take a brand new chick outside. She napped in the sunshine, and met the flock. One of the 5 week old Svart Honas even let her snuggle. These Svarts are the sweetest birds.
Tomorrow will be 96 degrees - almost too hot for a baby! My hens are walking around airing their wingpits.

 

[Morrigan]

Wonderful pictures. I'm glad she found someone to snuggle with.

I integrated my 6 week old birds with the main flock a couple of days ago. It has gone as well as I could have possibly hoped for. Everyone is getting along beautifully. It's too bad all but 1, maybe 2, are roosters.

 

[Cerise1924]

Wonderful pictures. I'm glad she found someone to snuggle with.

I integrated my 6 week old birds with the main flock a couple of days ago. It has gone as well as I could have possibly hoped for. Everyone is getting along beautifully. It's too bad all but 1, maybe 2, are roosters.

That is great news that your chicks are blending so beautifully into the main flock. My chicks of that age are getting along perfectly with the big ladies, as well. I'm completely shocked to hear that you have so many roos! Are you quite sure?

 

[Morrigan]

Unless I have some truly freakishly big-combed and red wattled hens, I'm very confident that 4 are roosters -- including one of my two "safety" buff orpingtons I bought from the guaranteed hen bin at the feed store. The other "guaranteed hen" BO is my one female, and then I have the runt, who I still don't have a clue about. I'll have my pick of some exceptional candidates for my back-up roo. That's my silver-lining, I tell myself. I sorely wish I could keep them all.

I need to buy some more hens now.

 

[Zinjifrah]

Candled and culled. Day six, earlier than I would usually do it, but I decided I needed to thin the crowding some.

30 eggs set.
17 eggs showing visible veins.
5 eggs that I'm sure are no good, but for one reason or other, had enough question to leave in.
8 eggs clear, which were removed, opened, and confirmed to have never started.

Some of the eggs with visible veins, I didn't actually see any embryo... it almost looked like the veins were extending down from the air pocket, instead of from an embryo. Unless it was just up at the top in the middle!

The cracked egg is still looking good and going strong.