Eggs are gone and I have a mess.

[Rodney903]

I am so happy about the way my Buff has taken to the chicks I placed under last night. She tucked each one under her and walked the nursery while they ate and explored. It looks like I will have some additions to my group.

Now for a question. Why didn't the fertile eggs mature and hatch? I opened one of the eggs and it had a fully developed chick inside, no feathers but all the parts were there. Any idea why 12 fertile eggs did not hatch?

 

[cppeace]

It's one of those questions that's hard to answer. could have been a temp issue(she got off the nest too much or a spike in weather occurred. Possibly too much or little humidity. Or some chicks are just too weak to break thicker shells.

 

[WVduckchick]

Fully developed chicks should have feathers. They start getting feathers around day 12-14 of incubation. Was any yolk absorbed or was the yolk still whole?

 

[Rodney903]

Thank you everyone that commented and provided your guidance. I am at 4 weeks and the 6 chicks I placed under my Buff are doing great and she has been a great mother. Most of the chirping
has stopped and the chicks are wondering the yard further away from mom. I was wondering when they will start producing eggs? (I know it is still very early)

 

[WVduckchick]

That's great news!

I got my first eggs ever, from my own flock today and yesterday, from my golden comets. They are 17 weeks. I believe the average is anywhere around 16-20 weeks, depending on breed and nutrition and probably other factors. Good luck!