First Egg Countdown

[Happy Chooks]

You are freaking yourself out. The egg song can come a week or so before they start laying. Squatting can happen several weeks before laying. A little more patience and you'll be rewarded soon with eggs.

 

[gwenirish11]

You are freaking yourself out. The egg song can come a week or so before they start laying. Squatting can happen several weeks before laying. A little more patience and you'll be rewarded soon with eggs.

Thank you sooooo much!! I needed that reassurance! I'm like one of those Internet hypochondriacs but with eggs..I read about egg eating then started to freak myself out...lol!! I thought for sure with everyone squatting and singing there must have been an egg but no evidence..your words really help!

 

[Pele]

Aw, your barnie is so pretty Happy Chooks! And your wellie eggs are just gorgeous!

Unfortunately my incubator did a pretty wild temp spike while I was at work, and my Marans hatch is a miserable failure . Only two chicks made it out, and one was so badly injured (I'll spare you the details, it's aweful) that we had to put her down.

So, all we have is Rincewind, and he wont be laying anyone eggs.

 

[Nikki99]

Not sure what happened here but congrats Pele on the hatching babies!!!!

Can't wait to see pics!

Thank you!  Lol I was wondering why you were quoting me about Marans, then saying green eggs are awesome.  I was like "If these birds give me green eggs, I have a thing or two to say to the seller!"

Lol. Ya, that probably wouldn't be good!

Here's the 9 month old slacker:


And a 28 week old Lavender Ameraucana that is still nowhere near laying:



And for those of you wondering "how red do they get when they are ready to lay" - here is a great picture.  She's not laying yet, but she's super close.

Gorgeous birds! Love the pics!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks for the compliments - I'm looking forward to this breeding year with both my wellies and barnies.

Pele - I'm so sorry about your hatch and your little chick. I hate losing them like that.

 

[off-grid hen]

I'm sorry, Pele.

 

[Nikki99]

Aw, your barnie is so pretty Happy Chooks!  And your wellie eggs are just gorgeous!

Unfortunately my incubator did a pretty wild temp spike while I was at work, and my Marans hatch is a miserable failure .  Only two chicks made it out, and one was so badly injured (I'll spare you the details, it's aweful) that we had to put her down.

So, all we have is Rincewind, and he wont be laying anyone eggs.

Oh no, I'm sorry Pele.

 

[Pele]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the support. I've never had to put a chick down before, and it was hard. I didn't feel guilty about actually doing it, but rather about failing her so badly that it was necessary. Fortunately my husband says my Christmas present Brinsea is on it's way and will be here today or tomorrow. No more temperamental nasty cheap incubators for me!

 

[gwenirish11]

Awwww I am so sorry!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the support. I've never had to put a chick down before, and it was hard. I didn't feel guilty about actually doing it, but rather about failing her so badly that it was necessary. Fortunately my husband says my Christmas present Brinsea is on it's way and will be here today or tomorrow. No more temperamental nasty cheap incubators for me!

The Brinsea is spot on for worry free incubating. Though I sometimes still like to hatch in my hovabator because it has more room. The brinsea is a lot easier to clean though. If you don't have one, I also recommend the Brinsea Spot Check thermometer. It's $30 but accurate to .1 degree.

It's never easy putting a chick down.

I've done a few myself. I find the quickest, most painless method for the chick (it's never easy on the human) is sharp pruning shears. Dig the hole first so you can drop it as soon as it's done. I rarely help chicks out of the shell anymore, because I find the ones that need helping are the ones I end up putting down. (the exception is if they are zipping and get stuck because a bunch were hatching at once and the humidity falls too quickly)