Gave my broody eggs tonight...first time for both of us...anyone else start some today, 4-4-12?

[nurse_turtle]

I checked on Sissy a few minutes ago and of 7 eggs, there are 3 pips! She's due on Thursday. I immediately put her back on the nest and I won't bother her again until tomorrow when I'll do another quick peek. So nervous and excited. She's been a very dedicated egg warmer.

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

That is exciting. Can't wait to see pictures!!!

I didn't candle our eggs tonight, decided to give her a break from us intruding on her night.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Today so far, Sissy has 2 new babies! One wet and one dry with the green egg starting to zip. She's such a diligent mama. She made her nest in a large plastic dog house where all the girls used to lay. I think I should block the entrance with some wire in case the bigger girls try to mess around in there. I'm going to place some food and water in with her too.

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

Today so far, Sissy has 2 new babies! One wet and one dry with the green egg starting to zip. She's such a diligent mama. She made her nest in a large plastic dog house where all the girls used to lay. I think I should block the entrance with some wire in case the bigger girls try to mess around in there. I'm going to place some food and water in with her too.

OH.....can't wait to see pictures. Are any of them her own eggs or all surrogates?

 

[PaleMelanesian]

I also set mine on the 4th. Mama is a Buff Orpington. Rooster is a Black Copper Marans, over a EE's, Rhode Islands and others.

I candled them last night and 11 are growing, out of 18. This is with one rooster and 15 hens.

Here's a great link about candling: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

 

[nurse_turtle]

Sissy now has 3 new babies. I don't remember if any of them are hers or not. The first 2 look a lot like their mom though. The green egg has hatched this time. Here's a picture of Ms. Sissy. I probably will try to get a pic of her with her babies in a couple days. There are still 4 more eggs in there to hatch. The 2 that hatched first were bantam eggs.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Sissy has FOUR babies now of 7 eggs. One of the other eggs is pipped. She is NOT interested in having her or her chicks pictures made, but I did it anyway. It's going to be in the low 30s tonight but I know Sissy will keep those diddles warm as little bugs in little rugs. I do believe 2 of those eggs are hers. The gray and brown with puffy cheeks is from the green EE egg and the others from smaller light colored/white eggs. So far, 1 EE and 3 Silkie mixes. I don't think she has taken any food or water today although I have it available in her doghouse.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Here is Ms. Trouble and her 8 chicks... although you can only see 7. Hatched last Thursday. For the record, Trouble is a bluelaced Orpington- daughter of 2 splash orps. None of these chicks are hers. They all came from blue eggs.
Now the question is: I think we have at least 2 splash, 3 blues, maybe a black, maybe a powder blue. The hens who layed the eggs are darkblue offspring of a black and silver EE hen and a black tailed Aurcana roo. The hens have muffs and beards. The chicks have 2 possible dads: either the black Aurcana or a blue copper marans.
I should know by the egg they lay what the breeding is, but can we tell parentage by the coloration of the chicks and the muffs?

 

[This_chicks_place]

Here is Ms. Trouble and her 8 chicks... although you can only see 7. Hatched last Thursday. For the record, Trouble is a bluelaced Orpington- daughter of 2 splash orps. None of these chicks are hers. They all came from blue eggs.
Now the question is: I think we have at least 2 splash, 3 blues, maybe a black, maybe a powder blue. The hens who layed the eggs are darkblue offspring of a black and silver EE hen and a black tailed Aurcana roo. The hens have muffs and beards. The chicks have 2 possible dads: either the black Aurcana or a blue copper marans.
I should know by the egg they lay what the breeding is, but can we tell parentage by the coloration of the chicks and the muffs?

They're beautiful! I can't wait. I have a dozen araucanas eggs sitting now, only 23 days to go.!

 

[nurse_turtle]

Went out to tuck Sissy in and check on her new chicks. It's going to be 32 degrees tonight but everyone seemed fine under mama. Of her last 3 eggs, 2 are zipping and one had no pip. I candled the no pip one and did not see evidence of viability. I brought it in the house, re-candled, and opened the egg. Inside was a fully formed chick that seemed to have quit about a day ago. The chick was apparently from my Showgirl because it had a naked neck and she's the only naked neck I have. The chick's beak was slightly crossed and the lower beak was longer than the top beak. The fetal chick had patent ear holes but no eyes on either side. Nature wins again. Sissy is such a good mama. The last 2 will make their arrival by morning!