Help to hatch? Do I? Update: Final count!

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
Yep, these are those! It's been and up and down ride... I'm thrilled that I have these babies... not sure how, but glad they are here... and if I'm really extra blessed, I will have 2-3 more tomorrow morning... we'll see. No complaints, I would have been glad for any at all.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Was looking over what I wrote earlier and wanted to clarify... I did help the pipped baby hatch. I took off about the top 1/3 a little chip at a time and when he got warmed up he wiggled out a bit and when I picked the egg up again, he slid out! The warmth really did the trick... and the damp paper towel (he was kinda dry). I'm not a big fan of "helping" but he had been trying for so long and was so cold, i think he needed the help.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

Congradulations. You did a great job.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Morning update... Mom is out with 10 babies... the last born is weaker than the others but can keep up with effort... I closed mom and babies in the pen so that mom couldn't go too far and little one should be able to keep up. btw... the new baby has fluffed up nicely.

I still have 3 eggs... no pips but I can hear peeping from one! I know that this means he is still alive and wanting to be hatched, but what does it mean that it hasn't pipped? Do I get it started or what... is it ready? I still have no incubator, but refuse to give up on the peeper. I have them in a shoe box near the wood burner with a micro-wave heat pack around it and towels over and under it. If the baby is still peeping tonight I will put him back under the hen. Don't know if this will work, but hate to give up. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

ok... weird question... should I keep the peeper egg in my bra... it would be a constant temp, unlike the heat packs... but warm enough? thoughts? I know I'm going to extremes... but this should be the place where you people will understand... right?

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Now I have TWO peepers in the shell!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

One is pipping in the shoe box! I hear tapping in the other!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

2 pipping in the shoe box!

 

[StormyMoon]

Good luck I hope all is well....

 

[mmaddie's mom]

So far so good!

One baby just hatched... he's out and wet, but seems strong and good!

Will place him with his mommy tonight when all are settled.

Yesterday's baby slept with mom and seems to be doing well... just a little slower than the 3 day olds.

Another egg has pipped and hopefully will hatch before this evening also.

One last quiet egg... candled last night and no movement at all... and it just doesn't seem "right"... I think maybe it was a baby that died?

I have 3 micro-wave heat packs that I am alternately heating and placing around the shoe box... temp is fluctuating between 95 and 110... that's the best I can do.

I don't know how

all of you with incubators do this... it's nerve racking! I love my broody hens!

btw... I did have to run some errands this morning and the peeping eggs did go with me in my sleep bra.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Both babies hatched and will go under mom as soon as it gets dark and all are settled nicely.

Still one quiet egg... don't think it will make it.

Will candle one more time tonight... but very happy with the babies that I have gotten!