Incubation to hatch! only 2 days!!

[silverfilly]

OK I only have 4 chickens layin and I found a nest with 38 eggs in it Thurs, Now none of my chickens have been laying on this nest as they are all acounted for and I was not missing any. So I took them and put the clean ones in the incubator since I dd not know what ones were fresh or old and some have been there awhile. I woke up today and my husband told me my egs were hatching!! what they have oly been in there since Thurs evening! Yep sure enough one little bouncing baby chick! How did that happen???? I candled the rest but they are clear, I should be able to tell tomorrow if they are good or not.

 

[shelleyd2008]

What have your temps been lately? If it has been fairly warm most of the time, that could explain it. Were they in the sun?

 

[silverfilly]

they were back in the corner of an old shed, and its not been a hot summer very cool actually for KS, Highs have not been much more than 80 or so, and the ights have been cool, I have even been wearing a sweater in the mornings for a couple weeks now.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Are you sure you didn't mix in an egg that was already in the bator?

I really don't know, that is just weird!

 

[silverfilly]

Nope I set up the bator Thurs after I found them, really did not think anything would hatch anyway. IT was really weird I am at a loss, I know none of my chickens were siting on it, becouse they are always out runing around and all roost together on the ladder rack every nite like always...they dont use the coop..lol

 

[FenDruadin]

Is there an unaccounted-for source of heat in that back corner? An electrical connection that warms up? Hot water under the floor? Maybe a nest of rats (lol)? Maybe the heat source is what attracted the hens to lay there...?

 

[silverfilly]

WEll it was between some old hay bales but other than that nothing, just a 3 1/2 sided wooden shed that used to be a play house when my husband was a kid. No electricity or anything and its shaded by a couple trees.

 

[FenDruadin]

Any chance the hay bales are decomposing and creating heat? Moldy hay will often be quite warm in the center, and maybe warm enough to heat the eggs enough...

I don't know otherwise--that's all I've got. It is VERY strange.

 

[silverfilly]

yes that may be it, those hay bales have been in there since my husband was little (he is 34) now so its been awhile. Thats about the only thing i can figure. but still its prety far fetched...lol. I almost dont believe it myself