Chick hatching today 5/26/12

[petchickenlover]

I've had 2 broody hens sitting for awhile, and finally their work is paying off!

Unfortunately they were only sitting on 2 eggs between them, and one died so there is only one
I thought the egg was due to hatch yesterday, so today i went out to check on it and candle it if s/he had not already hatched. I pulled at out from under mom. Immediately I saw a little hole in the egg and could hear the little guy pecking away... of course, I quickly put him back under mom

My guess s/he'll be out by the end of the day - pics to come when s/he's here!

 

[sumi]

Congratulations!

 

[petchickenlover]

Little guy still isn't out yet.. Made it through the membrane, but mom got up and accidentally went back to the wrong nest so now I'm a tad worried he may be shrink wrapped.

 

[sumi]

It's unlikely, but keep an eye on him. If he's not making progress over the next few hours, open she shell a bit more and put him back under mom. If the membrane gets stuck to him you can wet it a little bit. Just be careful when you do that, don't put water on the chick's face, you can drown it. Good luck.

 

[petchickenlover]

Unfortunately the little guy didn't make it. He was alive this morning but the two hens swapped nests and in the process crushed the egg. Little guy was a pretty black color, too.