Chloe's First 2021 Hatch-A-Long!

[Kholts]

Meant to update last night while the hatch was in full swing, but we had a cat-related disaster
By which I mean, my cat decided he wanted chicken dinner and knocked the incubator on the floor while I was running errands, during which two chicks got tossed onto the cold wood floor, two eggs were totally smashed (early quitters thankfully), and four of my about-to-hatch eggs died from blood loss and blunt force trauma from hitting the ground.
Luckily! We managed to do an emergency aided hatch and save three unhatched chicks, plus the two near-dead babies that were laying on the floor when I returned home.
We also got a surprise light-colored chick, and I'm not sure i understand where she came from, considering these are BR X EE/BR and BR X EE/BSL cross eggs. Strange coloring aside, shes a little beauty and had a wonderfully strong hatch.

Will update with more pics later!
View attachment 2506052

Oh man! How unfourtunate! At least you were able to save some!

Could the yellow chick just been a completely recessive coincidence is that possible? Or did a different daddy sneak in lol

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

Meant to update last night while the hatch was in full swing, but we had a cat-related disaster
By which I mean, my cat decided he wanted chicken dinner and knocked the incubator on the floor while I was running errands, during which two chicks got tossed onto the cold wood floor, two eggs were totally smashed (early quitters thankfully), and four of my about-to-hatch eggs died from blood loss and blunt force trauma from hitting the ground.
Luckily! We managed to do an emergency aided hatch and save three unhatched chicks, plus the two near-dead babies that were laying on the floor when I returned home.
We also got a surprise light-colored chick, and I'm not sure i understand where she came from, considering these are BR X EE/BR and BR X EE/BSL cross eggs. Strange coloring aside, shes a little beauty and had a wonderfully strong hatch.

Will update with more pics later!
View attachment 2506052

That's so sad. I'm glad you got what you did!

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

CHICKS HATCH TOMORROW!

 

[Josh L.]

We got 7!
Better than anticipated, honestly.. I'm not sure if she's recessive or not but I'm keeping her at least to see! Fingers crossed for a pullet!!

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

The chicks are chirping and wobbling! They haven't hatched yet but it should be today!

 

[ToniaM]

The chicks are chirping and wobbling! They haven't hatched yet but it should be today!

Waiting for the update and pics!!

 

[Josh L.]

We got 7!
Better than anticipated, honestly.. I'm not sure if she's recessive or not but I'm keeping her at least to see! Fingers crossed for a pullet!!
View attachment 2507008

Update on this: the gold chick is a cochin cross! I didn't realize my cochin pullet was laying, but this one is a cochin/dominique cross! Saw little feathers on the feet beginning to grow this morning!
Looks like my young roo is doing his job, too, just like the older roo and his little harem! Glad that both roos are doing what they should be! Surprised, but glad!

 

[ToniaM]

Update on this: the gold chick is a cochin cross! I didn't realize my cochin pullet was laying, but this one is a cochin/dominique cross! Saw little feathers on the feet beginning to grow this morning!
Looks like my young roo is doing his job, too, just like the older roo and his little harem! Glad that both roos are doing what they should be! Surprised, but glad!

That’s awesome Josh...She is a cutie too !!

If you don’t mind me picking your brain a bit, I have read that hens should be 2yrs old before you attempt to hatch their eggs. Apparently that’s not 100% correct if you hatched from a pullet.

I’m asking about it because I have inherited my sons grown hens and also have pullets of my own that have started laying about a month ago. So, I’m guessing I can try a few pullet eggs also. Just curious if you’ve hatched eggs from pullets before and if that seemed to make a difference with the success rate?

 

[Josh L.]

That’s awesome Josh...She is a cutie too !!

If you don’t mind me picking your brain a bit, I have read that hens should be 2yrs old before you attempt to hatch their eggs. Apparently that’s not 100% correct if you hatched from a pullet.

I’m asking about it because I have inherited my sons grown hens and also have pullets of my own that have started laying about a month ago. So, I’m guessing I can try a few pullet eggs also. Just curious if you’ve hatched eggs from pullets before and if that seemed to make a difference with the success rate?

From what I've seen and done, success rate depends more on weather than age. My older hens are just under a year, and my two young pullets and roo are about 25 weeks currently. Ive never heard about the hatching rate difference of hens under 2 years, and haven't seen it personally. This fertility rate was great, 12 of 15 got to hatch, some ended up DIS due to the cat-related disaster previously mentioned, so I ended up with 7 where I would have had 12, and two of the 7 were emergency aided hatches due to the cat-related disaster.
I tend not to try to hatch pullet eggs unless they're around 6months or older due to the fertility rate issue, but I guess it depends on if the hen is allowing the roo to breed her, and if her reproductive system is working properly. Ive never had an issue hatching 6month+ eggs.

 

[Crazychickenlady998]

I've got chicks pipping three so far so excited will update tomorrow pictures of the hatching