Gauloise (Bresse) eggs due to hatch on 19-20th

[VillageChicken]

Thermometer shows 11 degrees this morning, and got about 5 inches of snow yesterday. It is supposed to warm up by the next weekend (get to above 32!)
We're about an 40 minutes from the edge of Budapest, it sometimes takes longer to get through the city traffic, than it does to get home on the highway.

Good news! The one who pipped yesterday has hatched. Still waiting on the other three. I set them in the afternoon of the 28th, so they're not late yet.

I'll post a picture later. He looks very non-descript... your classic yellow chick. Blue legs come later.

 

[VillageChicken]

Here's the one that hatched. When I pulled him out I heard peeping from one of the other eggs!

 

[pinkchick]

WooooooooWhooooooo!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations! Adorable! I hope they all hatch for you.

How are the others that hatched doing? Everyone is well?

 

[VillageChicken]

All the other chicks are doing fine. 4 BR/RIR cross eggs hatched in addition to the one Bresse. I'm not weird about opening the incubator during lockdown - done it lots of times with no problems, so I checked the last 3 Bresse eggs and think only one more is going to hatch. Heard definite scratching sounds and movement was visible. Tiniest hairline pip was visible too. The other two look like they quit in the last 2 days or so. Sad they made it this far. Their airsacs were all weird, and they may have suffered from too little humidity. We'll see, it's hard to know when other eggs set at the same time hatch just fine. I think at least I'll get two Bresse. 33% odds I'll get a pair! Threw a wet towel into the hatcher to bring humidity back up fast. Hoping it's done by tomorrow morning!

 

[VillageChicken]

Second chick hatched. I don't expect anything from the other two, but who knows? I'll wait a little while.
I'll post pictures as they grow, and update as to how they mature against the RIR/BR crosses.
Thanks for following along!

 

[pinkchick]

Village~ I think you have one of the cutest monsters I've ever seen under a bed! Love the new avatar!!!! Precious!

Congrats on the 2nd chick! I am so keeping my fingers crossed for the others for you. Why don't you expect anything from them?

 

[VillageChicken]

Yeah, that's my cutiepie Emily. 19 months and chock full of personality. Love her so much, sometimes it makes me forget to breathe!

I candled them when I pulled the second chick out. Nothing. No noise, no shadows breathing.
Cracked them both open, and one had quit probably day 19 or so, don't know why, but yolk sack was quite large.
The last one was perfectly formed, had absorbed the whole yolk sac, but was huge, and could not pip. Maybe I overdid the humidity, but the other two hatched just fine. Who knows.
Hate it when they make it that far and then don't make it out. Oh, I don't know why, but they don't smell, did it without the ziplocks.

I'll probably try another batch in a couple months. Until then I'm thankful for these two little chicks, always seems like a miracle, especially when they fly across the ocean!

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
By all means get this under control before she turns 16 and her first boyfriend comes around.......breathing skills then will be a huge bonus Daddy!

Sorry about the other 2 chicks that is a total bummer. I usually don't have smell either when I crack them open but I use the baggie incase of any mess...EeeeeWWWWW!

 

[poularde]

Congrats on your chicks... to bad about the other two. Please keep us updated as they grow. I hope you end up with a pair!

 

[Wynette]

Village, congrats on getting at least two of the Bresse to hatch! It'll be fun watching them grow up when you post pics!