Day 18 - lockdown!

[Erba]

Ok, I hope all the eggs are ok, because I didn't want to candle/disturb them more than needed and maybe jinx it. I have left the hygrometer in there so I can check it through the window, now that the
turner is gone, there is enough room to leave it in. I have the eggs touching each other, because I read something cool here, they communicate with each other.



The suspense is killing me....

 

[Erba]

I've just finished a hatch. Ended up with 3 healthy chicks out of 9 eggs. The no touching is difficult and I had gaps between hatchings. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions. I'll follow your journey.

Congratulations to you on those three healthy chicks. There are so many variables in hatching, it boggles the mind. For your very first time, you did a great job!

 

[Erba]

Yes, I keep repeating to myself, hands off that incubator! Look but no messing! LOL

 

[Nicaragua]

I was just EXACTLY the same!
"No touching - no touching - no touching... "

I'm leaving it to the mama hens now, much less stressful...

Keep us posted!

 

[Erba]

The two mama hens here wouldn't go broody. I waited and waited but I desperately need more chickens and they weren't playing ball.

 

[Morgank]

Ok, I hope all the eggs are ok, because I didn't want to candle/disturb them more than needed and maybe jinx it. I have left the hygrometer in there so I can check it through the window, now that the
turner is gone, there is enough room to leave it in. I have the eggs touching each other, because I read something cool here, they communicate with each other.

View attachment 1852667 View attachment 1852669

The suspense is killing me....

Good luck! Little advice, make sure that the other eggs remain in the same position after first eggs hatch. Chicks start rallying in there. I always put a small fence in between. An egg with a window I remove on the other side of incubator.

 

[ScottyGill]

I've just finished a hatch. Ended up with 3 healthy chicks out of 9 eggs. The no touching is difficult and I had gaps between hatchings. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions. I'll follow your journey.

 

[Nicaragua]

@Erba Aw, that's tough. I've got the opposite problem : first bantam cochin girl lays about 10 eggs over 2 weeks and goes into unbreakable broody mode.
So we let her sit after trying to convince her otherwise for a couple of weeks.
And when her chicks turned 2 weeks old and started wandering in with the flock, my other bantam cochin AND my easter egger must have thought that the fluffballs were way too cute, and that they wanted some of their own.
They have unsuccessfully sat for 3 weeks in broody-jail, had meds to lower their temp, had their butts soaked in water but guess what...I had to slip them 3 eggs each this weekend.
You win this one, chickens.

So if you're looking for broodies, needless to say I highly recommend bantam cochins.

 

[ScottyGill]

I was just EXACTLY the same!
"No touching - no touching - no touching... "

I'm leaving it to the mama hens now, much less stressful...

Keep us posted!

Me too. My nervous system is shot

Good to know, the turners have slot ins, and are a perfect fence for football hooligans...lol

oh my word why did I Not think of that, I tried to take them out as quick as possible but they played football. Already after swearing never again planning next time too add to these two girls. I will add this to list of things I've learnt this time!

 

[ScottyGill]

Congratulations to you on those three healthy chicks. There are so many variables in hatching, it boggles the mind. For your very first time, you did a great job!

I really need to hear that right now. I know of friends who got nothing so I must remember that. I know this doesn't sound what you want to hear but we found a very humane and peaceful way to cull the two that were malformed after late hatching. I feel more prepared for the harsh realities and more confident in my box and the process