DECEMBER Hatch-A-Long!😊

[seeingreen]

Now one of my Brahmas has gone broody I haven’t run into this before. I lived in the city limits, had only hens and none of the breeds had a tendency to go broody. I wonder if I can let her sit them and then bring them in when they hatch? Though that seems kinda mean. I’m also wondering if it’s a bad idea to let her be broody this time of year?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Now one of my Brahmas has gone broody I haven’t run into this before. I lived in the city limits, had only hens and none of the breeds had a tendency to go broody. I wonder if I can let her sit them and then bring them in when they hatch? Though that seems kinda mean. I’m also wondering if it’s a bad idea to let her be broody this time of year?

I have no experience with having a broody hatch eggs, so not much help I can offer!
I guess it depends on how cold it is where you live? I do know that people take chicks away from broodies for various reasons, so I am sure she would get over it, if you had to remove the chicks!☺

 

[AusHen]

I hatched Marans this past Spring and found that you can actually put a light source on both ends of the egg and this really helps see anything. Does require an extra pair of hands and of course being super careful not to drop the egg! I used an iPhone flashlight on one end and a Magicfly candler on the other. I was able to see development, if I recall, at 4 or 5 days! Some people also just use the weighing method with dark eggs instead of candling them, expecting 13% to 14% weight loss over the incubation period.

Ooh good to know, I'll have to ask my eldest if she is willing to give me a hand or better yet two

 

[seeingreen]

Day four, checked a few of the eggs. Out of the ones I looked at only two seemed like there was no change. I know 4 days is a tiny milestone but it’s a bit exciting to see veins developing can you tell this is my first hatch? My husband seems to be just as excited

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Day four, checked a few of the eggs. Out of the ones I looked at only two seemed like there was no change. I know 4 days is a tiny milestone but it’s a bit exciting to see veins developing can you tell this is my first hatch? My husband seems to be just as excited

Congratulations! It IS so exciting! So nice your husband is excited with you! My husband just thinks I’m nuts at this point

 

[seeingreen]

Thank you LadiesAndJane, Yeah we will probably get there

 

[igorsMistress]

Well guys, I’ll follow along and enjoy all your hatches but I’m out as far as my own hatching goes. It’s getting to be too late in the year and I can’t brood inside. It’s ok though, I’ll have my hands full with babies from the end of this month.

 

[RoseHawke]

Congratulations! It IS so exciting! So nice your husband is excited with you! My husband just thinks I’m nuts at this point

Mine has asked me a couple of times if I'm going to hatch again, despite the fact he knows we can't keep any of the results. So I'll probably be in next spring.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Day 4 candling photo! Looks like only Raven’s, my Olive Egger who is a mature hen, eggs are developing. The other two are pullets that have only been laying for a few weeks, I knew that they may not develop. I’ll wait to Day seven to be sure, but so far I see nothing in them. 4 of 6 of Raven’s eggs are developing. I took two more of her eggs out of the fridge, one was laid today and one was laid yesterday, and will add them to the incubator once they get to room temperature. Interesting if they hatch. This will give me a staggered hatch, which I have not tried before but hey a new challenge is always fun!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

So if Raven’s eggs hatch they will all likely be black chicks with feathered legs, beards, muffs most likely and crests. I’m sure they’re all going to be stinking cute and I already have buyers for them lined up.