June 2015 Hatch A Long HAL

[mollybuck]

Well, that ends that! I went out to check on my broody hen and she was sitting on egg shells and dust. There were a bunch of ants in the shells too. Can ants destroy 4 eggs overnight like that? She is refusing to budge from the nest and give up the brood even though there is nothing left. Now, I have to find a way to help her break the broodiness.

i wouldnt think it was ants. my broody cracked a couple eggs.. and she ate the chicks, even though she has always had plenty of food. she did hatch out 4 chciks and they are almost 5 weeks old... but she wanted to eat the ones that didnt. I guess its natures way.. for her to keep the nest cleaner.. but if she ate ALL of the chicks i would never let her go broody again....

 

[Pyxis]

Thank you! I was working on my incubation skills since November before investing in the Cemani eggs. And then when my hatcher crashed I was like...." Well, of course it did"!!!! So, feeling blessed at this point to have such beautiful little chicks!

So, this hatch had 5 Cemani, last week 3 and I have a baby from Pyxis too. Hopefully, some will be hens! Unlike my hona's which are almost all roosters! Lol!

Thanks Pyxis...these are so cute! I think there are two perfect ones in the crew!!!

Woo! I had an awesome hatch over the weekend - three eggs, three perfect babies! I hope the GFF pullets start laying soon - their combs and wattles are starting to come in, so soon hopefully! How are your babies from the other eggs looking?

My broody has hatched seven chicks! They are all adorable frizzle olive eggers. Some are sex linked, too. I'll have to get pictures once she's up and about with them.

 

[Desert Chick3ns]

Oh man it's so cute!! I think I hear two chicks but have only seen one. Oh man! This is so exciting!!!!!

Congrats!!! So precious! I hope it has a buddy or 2 or 3...haha!
I am hoping to hatch the end of this week. My broody has been very diligent, and I'm ready for her to be done because it's been so hot here. I'm doing all I can to keep her cool...watermelon, frozen water bottles, mister...hoping all goes well!

 

[MesMama]

Baby #2 different hen

 

[MesMama]

So what do the chicks eat for the first couple days?

 

[Pyxis]

So what do the chicks eat for the first couple days?

For the very first day or two, nothing at all! They live off their yolk. After that, chick starter, just like any chicks raised in a brooder.

 

[Loc20chick]

Well, I am thrilled at the hatch last night. 5/5 Cemani hatched, 2/4 silkies and one EE hatched. I am amazed because my hatching incubator is out of service. These guys went through lockdown with my peafowl hatch, Cemani and bantams. I did keep the humidity at lockdown at 55% and they were up in the turners. I wasn't sure what effect it would have. Feeling blessed!

congrats.. thats great!!!

 

[MesMama]

For the very first day or two, nothing at all! They live off their yolk. After that, chick starter, just like any chicks raised in a brooder.

Thank you! So it's normal for the chick to peck around at the bedding etc then too?

 

[Pyxis]

Thank you! So it's normal for the chick to peck around at the bedding etc then too?

Yep, they are just exploring Momma hen will teach them what to eat, and if you wanted to put a dish of crumbles in with them if you haven't already she'll probably eat some and she makes a certain noise to tell the babies to come eat too.

 

[MesMama]

Yep, they are just exploring Momma hen will teach them what to eat, and if you wanted to put a dish of crumbles in with them if you haven't already she'll probably eat some and she makes a certain noise to tell the babies to come eat too.

I'll do that! Thank you