chickens802
Chirping
I have a first-time broody hen sitting on 4 eggs. She when broody around February 13th and I gave her eggs on February 23rd. The expected hatch date (21 days) was last Wednesday, March 16th. On day 23, Saturday, March 19th I candled the eggs. One egg had definite movement. Two others had no movement that I could see. They all had the air cell, then a pretty much solid dark blob throughout the rest of the egg, I could see veins on all. The last egg one I thought might be cracked had an air cell than a less solid blob with lighter spots. Is it safe to say that the last one is no good and should be thrown? I also didn't see any pipping. This is my second time candling eggs so I don't know much but I have watched a few youtube videos and read a lot here on BYC. I think that the 3 "good eggs" had larger air cells than they should've...
When should I expect hatch? Why do you think it is taking so long? Should I candle again? A thought has just now occurred to me, was it bad for me to mess with the eggs if they are close to hatch. I have read a little bit about shrinkwrapping when the humidity changes in an incubator near hatch time. Could this happen when I take the eggs out from under her? Also, will it mess them up if I turned them when they were in a hatching position?
Right now Momma is sitting in a nest box in the coop, it is a considerably high nest box but I let her sit there because none of the others care for that box. I was planning to move her the first night that all chicks are hatched. I build a brooder space in the coop under the nest boxes (pic below). It is not overly big so I think I plan only keeping her and the chicks in there for the first week or so until babies a strong but if you have advice on that too I would be grateful.
I was wondering if I could still add some chicks under her once the others hatch especially if its only one that hatches. I have some chicks that hatched in the incubator about on the 16th, almost a week ago now, but I don't know how old they will be on the actual hatch. Do you think I could still integrate the older chicks in with the younger one?
Sorry for the long post, thank you for reading! Any advice is extremely appreciated!
When should I expect hatch? Why do you think it is taking so long? Should I candle again? A thought has just now occurred to me, was it bad for me to mess with the eggs if they are close to hatch. I have read a little bit about shrinkwrapping when the humidity changes in an incubator near hatch time. Could this happen when I take the eggs out from under her? Also, will it mess them up if I turned them when they were in a hatching position?
Right now Momma is sitting in a nest box in the coop, it is a considerably high nest box but I let her sit there because none of the others care for that box. I was planning to move her the first night that all chicks are hatched. I build a brooder space in the coop under the nest boxes (pic below). It is not overly big so I think I plan only keeping her and the chicks in there for the first week or so until babies a strong but if you have advice on that too I would be grateful.
I was wondering if I could still add some chicks under her once the others hatch especially if its only one that hatches. I have some chicks that hatched in the incubator about on the 16th, almost a week ago now, but I don't know how old they will be on the actual hatch. Do you think I could still integrate the older chicks in with the younger one?
Sorry for the long post, thank you for reading! Any advice is extremely appreciated!
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