Hatching with 2 broodies

[lizgarf]

It's a chilly Day 20 morning here. Frida is on all the eggs, looking serious, with Rousseau nearby, pretending to be setting too. They're not quite as snuggled up right now. I wonder how they're working all of this out!

Oops, I was wrong. Frida was only on 2 eggs and Rousseau was on 4! When Frida got up for a break, Rousseau very carefully moved one of her two eggs under her, but left the blue one that I suspect has passed. I'm dying to know how they've arranged all of this, and I hope they know what they're doing!
No pips yet.

 

[Teila]

Oops, I was wrong. Frida was only on 2 eggs and Rousseau was on 4! When Frida got up for a break, Rousseau very carefully moved one of her two eggs under her, but left the blue one that I suspect has passed. I'm dying to know how they've arranged all of this, and I hope they know what they're doing!
No pips yet.

Aaargh, getting excited and anxious for you now Liz .. is it Day 20 or 21? I remember they are due on Monday and it is Monday morning here but I know it is not Monday there
They are such funny little characters; stealing each others eggs etc .. I am pleased for you that both of them have stuck it out. Dusty gave up on that idea early in the piece.
I am stuck at work for the next 7 hours but I will try and check in to see how you are doing ... definitely later this evening but I know that it will then be around 1am in the morning for you!
Go Team Broody!
PS. Will try and get some more pictures after work ... I got to say good morning to Cilla and two bubs before racing for the bus! (must have been a tad too early for the other 3, still tucked up under mumma)

 

[lizgarf]

Aaargh, getting excited and anxious for you now Liz .. is it Day 20 or 21? I remember they are due on Monday and it is Monday morning here but I know it is not Monday there

It is the morning of Day 20 (I put them under her on a Monday night, California time).
So, I believe I have a pip!!! One of the Marans eggs has a tiny outwardly directed crack! So, something may finally be happening! Grace has placed herself on guard duty just outside the nest.

And, I finally learned what happened that day I was gone and the egg was crushed. My neighbor just told me that a dog that lives several blocks away had taken a wander and decided to come into my yard and scare my chickens for a good long time. My neighbor collected the dog and called the owner, but she said they were clearly freaked out and now it all makes sense that I found one egg crushed and another knocked out of the nest.
Darn neighborhood dogs!! My front yard is not conducive to a fence, but I may need to figure something out.

 

[lizgarf]

It is the morning of Day 20 (I put them under her on a Monday night, California time).

And by "morning of Day 20," I meant, "afternoon of Day 20."

 

[lizgarf]

Here is a pic of what I believe is the first pip:


The very dirty egg above it is the blue egg I believe has passed.

And here is a shot of Team Broody in action on Day 20!

 

[tommysgirl]

cool cool cool! Go Team Broody!!!!!

 

[Teila]

Lunch time for me, checking in ............
Wooo hooo Liz, huge smile at work, if anyone comes into my office now they are going to wonder lol. That most definitely looks like a pip .. check me out pretending I'm an expert now! lols
Is that not a pip in the blue egg also or just a dirty line??
I am so excited for you .. When I get home from work I am hoping that you have even more good news!
How adorable are those two? Just gorgeous!
Team Broody rocks!

 

[lizgarf]

I can hear peeps!!!!
The broodies are acting like nothing is happening.
I sort of lightly closed their nest area off from the rest of the coop with some wire fencing - if they really wanted to get out, they could push it, but it's enough of a barrier to give them a little space from the others if needed. I put some water in there and will probably put the chick starter in first thing in the morning.

 

[lizgarf]

Is that not a pip in the blue egg also or just a dirty line??

I know it really looks like a pip in the picture, but I'm pretty sure it was just a line and I think I even touched it.
Who knows? I keep worrying something is going to go wrong with the hatching process, since they were shipped eggs. I really up the girls are up for the challenge! They've worked so hard!

 

[Teila]

I know it really looks like a pip in the picture, but I'm pretty sure it was just a line and I think I even touched it.
Who knows? I keep worrying something is going to go wrong with the hatching process, since they were shipped eggs. I really up the girls are up for the challenge! They've worked so hard!

Hang in their Liz .. I have a good feeling about this!

I can hear peeps!!!!
The broodies are acting like nothing is happening.
I sort of lightly closed their nest area off from the rest of the coop with some wire fencing - if they really wanted to get out, they could push it, but it's enough of a barrier to give them a little space from the others if needed. I put some water in there and will probably put the chick starter in first thing in the morning.

Wooo hooo @ peeps .. wonderful new, good stuff!
Two of my pipped eggs hatched some time overnight and I have read it can sometimes take 24 hours from external pip to hatching. Even the one I thought was damaged hatched.
I have some more pictures which I snapped away and I will try and sort through them later this evening and post the best ones. Trying to get 5 babies to pose is no easy feat!
I quickly logged on when I got home to see if you had news .. will check again in a few hours after I have done my chores
Fingers crossed .. good luck .. Go Team Broody!! :-D