Blue Ameraucana babies hatching right now!

[optycal]

I know I don't post a lot, but I lurk pretty much every day. I'm just so excited right now, I had to post. My babies are hatching right now! *happy squee* After the last disastrous hatch (all 7 died in the shell) I was completely anxious for this hatch to go well. The farm I got them from has been wonderful right from the start and these babies (3 of 5 so far) are absolutely perfect <3

I had to help one baby who was shrink-wrapped pretty badly after pipping the wrong end and hitting her own blood vessel =( Then she sat for 24 hours while I tried to give her a pep-talk, lol. It took me almost 8 hours of carefully moistening the membranes and chipping away tiny bits of shell as she she struggled to get free. She's out though and looks great <3

3 to go! No sleep for me tonight!

 

[sourland]

Good luck, and we are waiting on pictures.

 

[twink90]

Good luck I heard one of mine chirping away earlier. I didn't see a PIP but they are due Sun.

 

[optycal]

Lap chickens! There are three in the photo, and the 4th was working on hatching when I took this picture.

We lost the 5th one because I chose not to intervene. She was 48 hours late, but had been perfectly healthy all along. I candled the last egg at 5 pm and saw her moving. At 6 pm she was dead in the shell. Eggtopsy revealed an internal pip in the wrong spot--baby suffocated.

I'm kicking myself for not following my gut (and I cried inconsolably for about an hour--bless my husband's heart for cuddling with me). I'm definitely not a hands-off chicken-keeper. My maternal instincts prompted me to help 2 of the 4 chicks that DID hatch (saving both their lives--one was shrink-wrapped and the other was turned the wrong way), but I kept hearing all the advice of "Don't touch them!" so I didn't touch the last one. NEVER AGAIN. I will listen to my gut and I will intervene if I feel it's necessary.

Anyway, 4 out of the 6 shipped eggs. One thrown away due to post office scrambling, and one dead in the shell. I'd say it was a successful hatch.

My lap chickens get to snuggle in my lap three times a day. The rest of the time, they're watching me through the glass of the brooder as I work at my desk. . . <3

 

[optycal]

Good luck I heard one of mine chirping away earlier. I didn't see a PIP but they are due Sun.

Any babies yet? =D

 

[twink90]

I have 9 fuzzy butts & 1 more still working on getting out. That leaves 4 & pretty sure 2 are dead. I will candle tonight & decide what my next step is!