Hatch date May 17! anybody else?

[chics in the sun]

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Congratulations to everyone!

I've got my first one in the bator! Can't tell if there are any under the broody sisters yet. One other egg in the bator is jiggling quite a bit - hope the first one gets a buddy in there! How long do you leave them in the bator?

Tell me about shipped eggs!!

The first 11 Speckled Sussex I had under the broodies were all duds!

 

[snazzyboots]

I know. Last hatch I set 12 speckled Sussex, 12 salmon faverolle, and 12 orps. I had 1 orp and 1 Sussex hatch. This hatch I set 14 salmon favs and 12 orps. I had 1 fav make it to lock down and hatch. 8 orp eggs made it to lock down and 6 hatched. I'm happy with my babies but shipped eggs are a gamble. Even if they are packed perfectly.

 

[Paintedhorsegirl]

So earlier today I noticed 1 more egg had zipped, never saw the pip. This was about 7 hrs ago and it still hasnt hatched and no more pips.
How long does it normally take to hatch once the egg is completley unzipped? Should I help the chick or leave it to hatch on its own. I dont want to lose this one considering I only had 1 other hatch. I will be happy if I only have 2 of the 24 hatch, at least they will have each other and not be lonely..So what should i do, wait or help?

 

[Paintedhorsegirl]

I just now noticed that the first one that did hatch has 4 toes on one foot and 3 on the other...Not good but she gets around just fine

 

[chics in the sun]

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OMG!!!!! I was just looking at mine thinking, "does that left foot have an extra toe on it?"!!!! How bizzare that we would both get chicks with matching extra toes!

I have to look again - it keeps plopping down and I can't quite see for sure.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Chickens should have at least 4 toes, 3 in front and 1 in back. Silkies, among other breeds, have 5 toes; 3 in front and 2 in back.

 

[vnploveschickens]

Hi Everyone! Just found this thread!

I'm also 'expecting' 5/18 thru about 5/20. I was lucky enough to get 14 orpington eggs from Hinkjc.
2 of my buff orpingtons were showing signs of broodiness. Last year, both hens hatched and raised 2 chicks apiece. All 4 turned out to be roosters.

One of the BO, Luna, in fact sat on a wooden egg for 3 days by the time these beautiful eggs arrived. So I put 6 eggs under her (2 each of Buff Orp, Black Orp, and 2 Lavender Orp.) So I was expecting today, 5/18. Imagine my surprise yesterday afternoon when I went to get her off the nest for her daily poop, water, feed break when I heard little cheeps!! There were 2 little darlings!! And this morning was one more little sweetie. So 2 are lavenders and 1 black. Luna is still sitting on 3 more eggs.

I have the other 8 eggs in an incubator. Never used one before. But learned alot from everyone here on BYC. During Day 1-18, the temp and humidity seemed good, 99-101 degrees and 38%-21%.

Its the lockdown that has me very nervous!?!?! I wanted to bring the humidity up to about 55%, not more than 60%. But I put too much water and the humidity jumped to between 75-82% !! So first thing this morning, I soaked up alot of the water with paper towels. Because the cover was off for the few minutes, the temp went down to about 96 degrees. I am so nervous!!!

6 hours later, I checked and temp & humidity seemed ok, 101 and 53%. So I'm not touching it again! If I didn't ruin the eggs, I'm sure that any hatch will be delayed.

Good Luck to All!! Any advice will be appreciated.

Val

 

[Paintedhorsegirl]

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My only advice is once they are in lockdown, dont open the incubator...but Im sure they will be ok

 

[Paintedhorsegirl]

Im going on 9 hrs sense an egg has been zipped, but no activity..what should I do, I need some advise..to leave it or help it

 

[chics in the sun]

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I just realized that when I looked at her again - it's not an extra toe, it's that one back one appears to be missing. I can't believe I thought three was normal for a minute there - I think I've lost too much sleep staring at the incubator and checking on the broodies. Time to go to bed.......

Paintedhorsegirl, I wish I knew what to tell you - I'm too new to this to offer advice.