First time hatching eggs

[maddogdodge]

Hatch day tomorrow for my Barnevelders and two from my flock... I'm SO excited!!

Also a bit nervous, hopefully It all goes smoothly!

 

[maddogdodge]

Well... 30 mins since I just said that it is hatch day tomorrow. I just went to check on mum and see if there was any activity and guess what!!!!

Two have hatched already!!! I had no idea until I lifted mum up to look for pips. So I've got one from my lot and one of the barnevelders has hatched as well, the others are on their way too!! Squeee this is so exciting!!

How long should I wait before I try to handle any of them?

 

[maddogdodge]

Just went to check again, I don't want to lift mum right up off the nest, so its hard to see all of them. From what I can see, there are 3 Barnevelders hatched and 1 of mine

But who knows what is hiding under all those fluffy feathers of hers!

 

[Aphrael]

Well... 30 mins since I just said that it is hatch day tomorrow. I just went to check on mum and see if there was any activity and guess what!!!!

Two have hatched already!!! I had no idea until I lifted mum up to look for pips. So I've got one from my lot and one of the barnevelders has hatched as well, the others are on their way too!! Squeee this is so exciting!!

How long should I wait before I try to handle any of them?

I, personally, start handling mine any time after they have dried out and fluffed. Just be sure not to keep them out long and risk chilling them. Also, it isn't a good idea to keep lifting mum up to look at the eggs. I know it is VERY hard to resist. But exposing the hatching eggs to the cooler, drier air could cause them to shrink wrap. You don't want that!

 

[maddogdodge]

Thanks for the tip

7 have hatched now, the last one still hasn't pipped. Hopefully it will pip soon... time will tell.

 

[Aphrael]

They are all super cute, but I just love that little speckly one in the bottom pic.

 

[maddogdodge]

Still no pip on that last egg, starting to wonder whether it will hatch or not.

Gosh the chicks are up and on the go already! They're exploring within about a meter of mum, checking out the world

Its so cute watching mum show them how to eat and drink, and seeing them copy her

 

[maddogdodge]

Well my second hen's batch of eggs has been more successful than I was expecting!! So far 5 out of 7 have hatched

One of the last two has pipped, although what I found weird with that one is that it appears to be sitting IN the bottom half of a broken egg from one of the chicks that have hatched already... its a bit odd... the pip is above that though and I wasn't game to be rough and try to get the other shell off, so I've left it. I think it will be okay! I guess i'll know in the morning....

They're cute chicks... just X breeds. Two yellow, one a light brown colour and two yellow with black stripes on the top of their heads

I'm excited to see what they look like as they mature!

Here's a crappy photo I managed to quickly take today.

 

[Aphrael]

Well my second hen's batch of eggs has been more successful than I was expecting!! So far 5 out of 7 have hatched

One of the last two has pipped, although what I found weird with that one is that it appears to be sitting IN the bottom half of a broken egg from one of the chicks that have hatched already... its a bit odd... the pip is above that though and I wasn't game to be rough and try to get the other shell off, so I've left it. I think it will be okay! I guess i'll know in the morning....

They're cute chicks... just X breeds. Two yellow, one a light brown colour and two yellow with black stripes on the top of their heads

I'm excited to see what they look like as they mature!

Here's a crappy photo I managed to quickly take today.

That is a great photo! They are adorable.

Congrats!

 

[maddogdodge]

1 more hatched, but mum hen got too distracted by her chicks and hopped off her nest some time last night. Checked them this morning and found her sitting in a new little nest with her chicks, leaving the last egg in the old one. It is cold, so probably dead.

But 6/7 is much better than I was expecting from her, so i'm happy