Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Cerise1924]

Day 20, and Chandra (Silver Sebright) is pipping and peeping! Time to warm up the brooder.

 

[Morrigan]

what is the earliest you can hear baby chick inside the egg?

The only "first peep" I recall clearly was at the beginning of Day 21, and I only heard it after I saw the very first beginnings of an external pip. Now, my brooder is in the basement, so I'm not around it 24/7, but I start checking (obsessing?) pretty regularly after the 19 day mark.

Day 20, and Chandra (Silver Sebright) is pipping and peeping! Time to warm up the brooder.

 

[Colly1470]

Have you tried giving it a drop of Nutri-Drench? I hear that can really help a weak chick.

I did. Poor dear is pretty much just lying on its side occassionally kicking and moving its head. This long after hatching, the other two were able to hold up their heads and were trying to stand. I'm giving it a shot, hoping it's just more tired out than they were....but I dunno.

 

[Morrigan]

I did. Poor dear is pretty much just lying on its side occassionally kicking and moving its head. This long after hatching, the other two were able to hold up their heads and were trying to stand. I'm giving it a shot, hoping it's just more tired out than they were....but I dunno.

Hopefully it's just taking this one a bit longer. Sending positive thoughts your way.

 

[TotallyShellyTurtle]

This is driving me crazy. The urge to candle them is unnerving.

 

[Morrigan]

This is driving me crazy. The urge to candle them is unnerving.

How far are you into day 21? In my first incubation heard and saw nothing until 21 full days and 2 hours (yes, I was counting the hours!) had elapsed. Some eggs did not begin pipping until day 22.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I'm cautious of hatchery chicks after my first experience with them. I found a breeder who I can get bantam Sumatra eggs from, but he keeps a mixed color pen - so there's no knowing what color I'd get. Black, dun, blue, khaki... I didn't even know they came in so many colors! I plan on getting some eggs from him, but I want to wait a bit.

There are bantam Ameraucana! There's a seller on eBay that sells white, black, and BBS eggs. What I like best is the Lavender - though Chocolates are lovely! They're even harder to find, though. I've found two sources for Lavender eggs, and plan on getting some, maybe in the next month or so.

Pouf is a surprisingly smart Silkie. When they were first out in the run getting used to the outdoors, a hawk took a low fly-by to have a look. Pouf stuck her scraggly Silkie-chick neck straight up to look, screeched a warning cry and dove under a clump of brush to hide. The Sebrights all ran out from under the shelter I'd put over their run water bucket, craning their necks to look around and see what the fuss was... and never even noticed the hawk.

The screech is ear splitting, isn't it. I think I jumped the first time Angela let out a screech, but sure enough there was a hawk above us!!

 

[TotallyShellyTurtle]

I set them around 3pm on the 9th.

 

[Morrigan]

Also @TotallyShellyTurtle , if I recall, your incubator was unplugged for a couple of hours. I don't think it would have harmed the chicks at all, but the cool down might delay the hatch a bit.

 

[TotallyShellyTurtle]

Also @TotallyShellyTurtle , if I recall, your incubator was unplugged for a couple of hours. I don't think it would have harmed the chicks at all, but the cool down might delay the hatch a bit.

Yes. It cooled down the day I did lockdown.