Incubating my favorite hens eggs - posthumously

[Samitche]

My favorite hen Buffy was tragically killed by a fox, right in front of me, 3 weeks ago this Sunday. I had 4 of her eggs (including one from that morning) in my fridge earmarked for breakfast. I decided to take my chances and incubate them (along with 3 more from my 2 other hens). I am happy to report, based on my 14 day inspections, that all 7 appear to be viable embryos. A few are actually moving!! I’m more than elated to know her babies will live on in my new flock. I lost my rooster and another hen the following Thursday. Needless to say, I put the last 7 fertilized eggs I had in an another incubator. Starting over is tough. No more unattended free-ranging for this flock.
This is my first time hatching chicks. Fingers crossed!

 

[Hihamburger]

I'm sorry that happened, I wish you the best of luck with your incubating! I know you said no more free ranging, and so I assume they will be in a fence from now on. I saw somewhere that cayenne pepper is a scent unlike by foxes, so maybe you could look into that for spraying/sprinkling around your new area for them? Honestly, I don't know if it is a mixture of pepper and water of if you just sprinkle the spice on the ground, but it seemed like something to look into. Best of luck!!

 

[ChickyPants]

That is so sad I am sorry for your loss. I had a buff brahma hen get mauled by a dog and that put an end to free ranging.

My fingers are crossed for these eggs! I hope you get some nice hens off of her.

 

[ChickyPants]

Make sure once it is three days from their hatch day you put the bator in "lockdown". Meaning NO opening the bator! Any water you are adding, make sure it is added before Lockdown commences.

My biggest mistake during my first incubations was opening the bator to help chicks hatch. Newbie mistake. It will shrink wrap the chicks in their eggs.

 

[Samitche]

Thank you everyone for Your support and suggestions. We have a very large enclosed run and a nice coop, so our new girls will have plenty of space to roam around safely. If I do let them out I will always be close by from now on.

I am checking the eggs and humidity one last tome tonight and then putting those babies on lockdown. I don’t plan on opening the incubator till everyone’s hatched. But I have read if you need to help one along you should, but only wait till the very last minute. I’m hoping I won’t have to make that decision. Since I’m not experienced yet.

 

[Hihamburger]

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

 

[Samitche]

5 just hatched starting at around 11 pm last night!! One just started zipping and the last one is still undecided. So happy I did this! We have 2 so far from my favorite hen, Buffy. It was a wonderful Mother’s Day gift in so many ways.

 

[Hihamburger]

Wow! Congratulations! I hope they grow up healthy and happy! I'm sure as they grow you'll post numerous pictures of the fluff, haha.

 

[MadChickenMama]

I'm sorry that happened, I wish you the best of luck with your incubating! I know you said no more free ranging, and so I assume they will be in a fence from now on. I saw somewhere that cayenne pepper is a scent unlike by foxes, so maybe you could look into that for spraying/sprinkling around your new area for them? Honestly, I don't know if it is a mixture of pepper and water of if you just sprinkle the spice on the ground, but it seemed like something to look into. Best of luck!!

I wonder about the cayenne. I once read an article where some horrible person sprinkled cayenne pepper on the sidewalk in front of his house to mess with the dogs people walked that way. The poor dogs ended up having pain in their footpads because of the spice.

I wouldn't want that on like squirrels or somethings, but if the yard is fenced it might not hurt to try sprinkling a few inches from the fence on the outside all around for this person. If I remember correctly, I don't think the cayenne pepper did any actual damage to the dogs' feet, but it certainly wasn't a pleasant feeling for them. Could very well make foxes think twice about coming around. Wish I could try it at my house, but my uncle has a dog and our yards are right next to each other. *shrug* Could maybe try it around the entire property, but that'd be a lot of cayenne lol. We have raccoons, possum, and foxes to deal with.

 

[Hihamburger]

I wonder about the cayenne. I once read an article where some horrible person sprinkled cayenne pepper on the sidewalk in front of his house to mess with the dogs people walked that way. The poor dogs ended up having pain in their footpads because of the spice.

I wouldn't want that on like squirrels or somethings, but if the yard is fenced it might not hurt to try sprinkling a few inches from the fence on the outside all around for this person. If I remember correctly, I don't think the cayenne pepper did any actual damage to the dogs' feet, but it certainly wasn't a pleasant feeling for them. Could very well make foxes think twice about coming around. Wish I could try it at my house, but my uncle has a dog and our yards are right next to each other. *shrug* Could maybe try it around the entire property, but that'd be a lot of cayenne lol. We have raccoons, possum, and foxes to deal with.

Oh my gosh, why would anyone want to hurt something like that? I just saw it kept foxes away, I didn't know it might hurt them! Well, I guess if there are dogs, you can't. I wonder if there are any other ways to prevent foxes from coming around then..