I’m not Mother Nature, but..... My journey hatching broody and bator chicks

[Mimi13]

Well, tonight was the last time I would see the little chickies ...in their egg shells, that is! I candled them very carefully, one last time. I wonder if anyone else has had this horrible thought pop into their mind while candling on this last day, “What if I accidentally drop this poor baby and crack it and kill it?” Why in the world does my mind do that? I worry enough as it is.

So here are their Day 18 pictures:

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Egg #3

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Egg #7

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Egg #1

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Egg #6

The air sac markings on all four eggs were markedly increased. I mean, wow! In just 4 days the difference was amazing. I really wondered about the small size of it when I last candled on Day 14.

There were veins and embryo movement present in each egg. And it seemed that I could see feathers (a jagged outline) in Egg #6.

This whole experience, and it’s not over yet, is so thrilling. For sure, these past 18 days have flown by. Unlike these next 3, I’m sure!

However, during these next 3 days I am going to try to capture the broody talking to her chicks. I may have to prop up my phone and leave, but I’m going to give it a shot.

So far, I don’t regret taking a chance on this little broody pullet.

To Be Continued...Eeeeek!

 

[aart]

Awesome!

One of my fondest memories of a broody was my dog hearing the peeping of internally pipped chicks, his attentive and cocked head with raised ears clued me in to the fact taht it was happening! Then I noticed broody talking to them.

One of the downsides to broody hatching is you don't get to watch like in an incubator.

 

[Mimi13]

Awesome!

One of my fondest memories of a broody was my dog hearing the peeping of internally pipped chicks, his attentive and cocked head with raised ears clued me in to the fact taht it was happening! Then I noticed broody talking to them.

One of the downsides to broody hatching is you don't get to watch like in an incubator.

That is true! I don’t get to see them hatch AND even more importantly, I’m not gonna know which chick came from which egg. There I go again, counting my chickens before they hatch.

 

[aart]

I wonder if anyone else has had this horrible thought pop into their mind while candling on this last day, “What if I accidentally drop this poor baby and crack it and kill it?”

Forgot to answer this......YES! Every time I candle!
Dropped one on concrete floor from waist height, luckily it was a dud.
Now I candle over a sink..small lavatory 10' from bator with no windows-perfect...haven't dropped any more tho.

 

[Mimi13]

Forgot to answer this......YES! Every time I candle!
Dropped one on concrete floor from waist height, luckily it was a dud.
Now I candle over a sink..small lavatory 10' from bator with no windows-perfect...haven't dropped any more tho.

Well, don’t get me wrong, I would be absolutely devastated at first, but then turn it into a science experiment. Weird, I know.

 

[WVduckchick]

Looking good Mimi!

Moist fingers before candling helps keep a good grip!

 

[Mimi13]

Looking good Mimi!

Moist fingers before candling helps keep a good grip!

Oh yes, that would have helped tremendously, but I’ve always thought the eggs shouldn’t get wet. Just goes to show, you can learn something every day. Thank you.

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh yes, that would have helped tremendously, but I’ve always thought the eggs shouldn’t get wet. Just goes to show, you can learn something every day. Thank you.

Not really wet, but wash your hands first in hot water, lightly dry them, and go directly to the eggs. Better safety for the eggs anyway, but eggs are more slick in cool, dry hands. Warm, supple fingers stick to them better.

 

[Mimi13]

Not really wet, but wash your hands first in hot water, lightly dry them, and go directly to the eggs. Better safety for the eggs anyway, but eggs are more slick in cool, dry hands. Warm, supple fingers stick to them better.

Those eggs under the broody are shiny as can be and pretty near slick as all get out.

I will try this little trick this Friday when I candle my bator eggs. Thank you.

 

[Mimi13]

AHHHH! EEEEEEK! WHAAAAAT?

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I have a chick! Yes, yes I do! Day 19!

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I just went up to check on the broody, mainly to change the water and feed in her cage, and heard a peeping. I looked right in front of her and found part of an eggshell. It was #6. I have no idea what #6’s mother is other than a brown egg layer. Oh.My.Gosh.Golly.Bum! I want to bring her nest inside the house tonight, but I won’t.

I feel bad cause I let her off the nest yesterday.