Quick update! I had 28 of 40 set eggs hatch. One chick died the first night in the brooder, but no sign why. All the other chicks are doing great. They eat so much! Love how fast they’ve learned to run around the brooder.
One interesting thing: I had 3 (out of 4 set) EE eggs that developed fully, but failed to hatch. When I candled at 21 days (after most of the others had hatched, there was no movement). I gently tapped an air hole into the air sac: one had internally pipped, two hadn’t, but there was no movement on any of them. I gently expanded the hole so I could see more and they were clearly dead. Not mal-developed. They almost seemed too big for the egg?? Is this possible? My EE eggs are the smallest laid. The Roos are either BCM or Speckled Sussex. The EE hens were the last added to my flock, so maybe because younger hens? Just wondering and trying to learn. Overall, I’m very pleased with my hatch, esp given the equipment variability and, of course, my inexperience. Thank goodness for everyone at BYC!
