Baby Chick Pictures!!!!! POST!

[Lozuufy]

I love it!

 

[luvmypets]

I love it!

Thank you

It's kind of a "tradition" to take pictures of the newly hatched babes in egg cartons. All the babies in these pictures are grown up now

 

[allosaurusrock]

April is taking forever! I want my Black Star!

 

[Lobzi]

Im awaiting some eggs to hatch and I have a question for you all.

Background is here in SF bay area of California we had some very cold (for us) days and nights. I have a hen who was broody on eggs that I marked Dec 16 so due to hatch last Wednesday, Jan 6. Over a week ago I found my hen sitting on a different nest with different eggs under her. The ones she had been brood were ice cold and I do mean just like little ice cubes. I was certain they were gonners but I didnt want her starting with a new batch of eggs and as a matter of fact I decided it would be better for her not having to deal with babies in these weather condition as I just lost 5 babies to a mama who was not able to keep them warm so I found them dead. Anyway, I just put her on the cold eggs so she could do her thing and Im thinking they will never hatch but she will be able to continue to brood. Then Monday, as a lark, I candled the eggs and low and behold I saw movement in all but one of the eggs. So looking forward to a hatch Wednesday I waited and watched and checked. Well it is Saturday and no hatch. Candling show movement but I hear nothing. I tap and no taps back. So my question is, has anyone had such an occurrence with their eggs? Does going through the possible hours of cold produce such an extreme set-back in development that hatching would be delayed so many days? This seems so unlikely. I was expecting maybe one or two days behind but here is it three days and no signs of hatching as of yet.

 

[luvmypets]

Im awaiting some eggs to hatch and I have a question for you all.

Background is here in SF bay area of California we had some very cold (for us) days and nights. I have a hen who was broody on eggs that I marked Dec 16 so due to hatch last Wednesday, Jan 6. Over a week ago I found my hen sitting on a different nest with different eggs under her. The ones she had been brood were ice cold and I do mean just like little ice cubes. I was certain they were gonners but I didnt want her starting with a new batch of eggs and as a matter of fact I decided it would be better for her not having to deal with babies in these weather condition as I just lost 5 babies to a mama who was not able to keep them warm so I found them dead. Anyway, I just put her on the cold eggs so she could do her thing and Im thinking they will never hatch but she will be able to continue to brood. Then Monday, as a lark, I candled the eggs and low and behold I saw movement in all but one of the eggs. So looking forward to a hatch Wednesday I waited and watched and checked. Well it is Saturday and no hatch. Candling show movement but I hear nothing. I tap and no taps back. So my question is, has anyone had such an occurrence with their eggs? Does going through the possible hours of cold produce such an extreme set-back in development that hatching would be delayed so many days? This seems so unlikely. I was expecting maybe one or two days behind but here is it three days and no signs of hatching as of yet.

From my experience, the embryos die left in the cold from that amount of time. Last winter I had a hen who disappeared, and a few days I found her on 18 eggs! Unfortunately around day 16 she abandoned the nest overnight and she lost all the chicks. Maybe you seeing movement is your eyes playing tricks on you? .. Sorry maybe someone with a little more experience can answer this more thoroughly

 

[Lobzi]

I know, I think that myself so I keep candling them over and over and see the movement. I think I will put them in water and see it they wiggle. I have this very strong light that lets me see into even the darkest of eggs. It is amazing but I will try the water test.

 

[luvmypets]

I know, I think that myself so I keep candling them over and over and see the movement. I think I will put them in water and see it they wiggle. I have this very strong light that lets me see into even the darkest of eggs. It is amazing but I will try the water test.

Good luck!

 

[Lobzi]

Yep...they wiggled and wiggled...

They are alive but just very behind in hatching.

 

[generaldsherman]

Yep...they wiggled and wiggled...

They are alive but just very behind in hatching.

must've been the cold. Good luck! I actually resorted to putting my brood in my office in an old lizard cage cause I didn't want her getting too cold. If in doubt, you could stick yours in a rubber made tote and put a blanket over the top until she settles down again

 

[Lobzi]

Good idea but Ive tried moving broodies before to find them reject the eggs and then give up totally. I wont try that again! It is a lot warmer now here so Im not worried about the cold. Yesterday my broodie got off her nest and went to eat etc. While she was gone I noticed the eggs stayed plenty warm. I do have three of the eggs in an in-house incubator so I know when to expect hatching to begin. Ive had hens leave the babies after the last one was hatched, then I was forced to take over mothering duties.