dreamofwinter
Songster
Looking for reassurance here, I guess. I've got a Brahma hen, first time broody, setting on two eggs. We candled them at day 10 and day 18 and have confirmed they're looking good. Today is day 21 - cue the holding of the breath!
Now here's my question - what are the chances they don't hatch until day 22 or later? I ask because I will be away from home tomorrow morning through Saturday afternoon, leaving only my poor husband to watch over the chickens, and he works all day so it won't be the constant checking I do (Chicken Helicopter Mom? Maybe). Don't get me wrong, he's good at it, but these are the first eggs either of us have hatched!
For what it's worth, mama is sitting on eggs inside a good sized dog house (approx 2' x 3') and we've put a wire door over the front to protect her from the other chickens and ducks as well as from rats and other predators. She's got chick crumble and water in there and up until a day ago we were letting her out every day to dust bathe, stretch, drink and eat, and yell. Assuming all goes well with the hatch and she doesn't reject them, they should be fine in here for a day or two, right? Maybe even better off?
I'm such a control freak, it's really hard to accept that I have to just let nature do its thing. I don't have an incubator so there's not much I could do anyways. I will leave a brooder set up in case my husband discovers any reason the chicks need to be pulled.
Thanks BYC friends!
Now here's my question - what are the chances they don't hatch until day 22 or later? I ask because I will be away from home tomorrow morning through Saturday afternoon, leaving only my poor husband to watch over the chickens, and he works all day so it won't be the constant checking I do (Chicken Helicopter Mom? Maybe). Don't get me wrong, he's good at it, but these are the first eggs either of us have hatched!
For what it's worth, mama is sitting on eggs inside a good sized dog house (approx 2' x 3') and we've put a wire door over the front to protect her from the other chickens and ducks as well as from rats and other predators. She's got chick crumble and water in there and up until a day ago we were letting her out every day to dust bathe, stretch, drink and eat, and yell. Assuming all goes well with the hatch and she doesn't reject them, they should be fine in here for a day or two, right? Maybe even better off?
I'm such a control freak, it's really hard to accept that I have to just let nature do its thing. I don't have an incubator so there's not much I could do anyways. I will leave a brooder set up in case my husband discovers any reason the chicks need to be pulled.
Thanks BYC friends!
