Day 23 - No peeps or pips

[bobbi-j]

Today is day 23 for my broody. There is no peeping or pipping happening. I bought some babies at the local feed store for her to raise. Going to put them under her tonight. Hopefully she'll accept them. Not sure what went wrong with the eggs she has. The only thing I can think of is, her nest was in a plastic crate with slots in the bottom. Maybe there was an air space under it (it's sitting in straw) and the eggs got too cool from underneath? Oh well, it was worth a try. This way I'll have a much more colorful flock anyway. I got 2 each: silver-laced wyandottes, americaunas, production reds and buff orpintons.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I hope all goes well.

When you put the chicks under her grab a few eggs and candle them to see if anything was in them.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks - she seemed to be fine after trying to peck my hand off when I was taking the eggs. I stuck a couple of the babies under her and she jumped up, but then started clucking and trying to get them back to her, so I put the rest under and near her, too. She got them all tucked in and then settled down, and the chicks went from frantic chirping to making their contented sound. I'm going to autopsy the eggs tomorrow. Outside, upwind.

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Before you autopsy the eggs candle them and make sure they are dead and not late bloomers. Trust me. You will really want to kick your self in the seat of the pants when you open an egg with a live chick in it.

 

[bobbi-j]

Autopsy results are in. Out of 6 eggs, 4 were not developed at all, one partially, and one looked to be fully developed but also had runny yolk in it. So I don't feel quite so bad now. I was second-guessing myself wondering if I should have waited a few days. Mama hen is doing a good job taking care of her adopted babies.