I think my girl is hatching!

[LaurenRitz]

My Black Australorp pullet has been sitting on four eggs. In spite of my bumbling, a hot coop, and the threat of snakes, she has reached day 21.

When I went out this morning she was talking, which she hasn't done before. I think she hears her babies.

I put chick food and water close by. Surprising how excited I am to have chicks!

 

[TwoCrows]

Keep us posted!

 

[Shadrach]

Talking to the chicks inside the eggs is a good sign.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Funny how quiet she is when I come in the coop. But as soon as I leave she starts talking again.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

My Black Australorp pullet has been sitting on four eggs. In spite of my bumbling, a hot coop, and the threat of snakes, she has reached day 21.

Do you have a way to protect the chicks against snakes after they hatch? Only a few snake species eat eggs, but just about any snake that is large enough will eat chicks.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I snake-proofed the coop and run after I killed the first snake. It ate all the eggs of an earlier broody.

 

[LaurenRitz]

4 babies!

Mom left the nest to be closer to the food. One egg left in the nest, but I expected there would be one outlier. A problem about a week ago resulted in one egg being cold for probably most of a day.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Congratulations, you will Love watching her raise her chicks!

 

[LaurenRitz]

4 babies, 4 shells. Looks like the outlier must have been laid either yesterday or today, as it's not marked and not starting to develop.

I can see why chicks get trampled. I tried to get past her to inspect the nest and she panicked.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Looks like the mom's must have been either the Jersey Giants or the Black Australorp. They're all black with a white spot on the top of their heads. Sorry, no pictures. I'm leaving them alone for today.