Is there any hope?

[chickenmomma16]

I’ve never cried over my chickens in all the 8 years I’ve had them. Didn’t even cry when my old lab was PTS. I just got done bawling my eyes out over these eggs... they were 5days into incubation.

The incubator got turned off over night. About 12hours. IS THERE ANY CHANCE some are still alive? Any? I had some really nice Wheaten Marans in there. 2 dozen! Plus another 2 dozen of May Ameraucanas. I’m just heartbroken.
It’s my own stupid fault.

 

[nchls school]

Yes, there is a chance.

 

[chickenmomma16]

@nchls school I hope so...
The incubator was wrapped in a cargo blanket but it was 55 degrees when I found it. I turned it back on and I’ll check them tomorrow. It’s so hard to see into the Marans eggs though.

 

[nchls school]

Wait 48 hours and then candle them. If you see distinct veining, they are alive. Blood vessels break down quick when the heart stops beating.

Last week a snake killed a broody hen of mine and ate all but 5 eggs. When I found them the hen had been dead several hours and the egg were stone cold. Those five eggs were put under another broody hen and yesterday, all 5 hatched-one day late. Yes, there is a good chance. Good luck.

 

[nchls school]

If the white eggs are alive then the Marans, most likely, are too.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

That early into incubation, there's a high chance that they will hatch!

Wait 48 hours and then candle them. If you see distinct veining, they are alive. Blood vessels break down quick when the heart stops beating.

Last week a snake killed a broody hen of mine and ate all but 5 eggs. When I found them the hen had been dead several hours and the egg were stone cold. Those five eggs were put under another broody hen and yesterday, all 5 hatched-one day late. Yes, there is a good chance. Good luck.

Wow that is awful. Your poor hen

 

[chickenmomma16]

That early into incubation, there's a high chance that they will hatch!

I hope so!! I had such high hopes for these eggs.

 

[chickenmomma16]

Looking at the calendar, if they hatch a day late they will be 4th of July babies. Fireworks if any hatch! But I’ve probably killed all the pullets right? I’ve heard the pullets aren’t as hardy and die quicker?

 

[chickenmomma16]

Candled this afternoon (so very gently I couldn’t wait another day)
YOUR NOT GONNA BELIEVE IT!!!!!!
I saw one of the embryos wiggle around!!! I stopped there, and didn’t candle anymore but there is hope I’ll have at least SOME hatch!! I will candle again in 5 days or so and see where I’m sitting

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Yay! That is so exciting! Yeah I managed to candle only half my eggs 10 days in that were under a broody hen. After that I only relied on the sniff test. I was just too worried I'd drop one or something silly. It turns out only 2 out of 6 were even fertilized. The others had totally liquidized, but didn't stick at all, inside the shell. I feel like *usually* you've got some wiggle room in pulling the duds, if there are any.