Life

[LaurenRitz]

I am sitting here at midnight, reading random posts on BYC as my babies are in lockdown, day 19/20. One of the 7 has externally pipped.

I have a set of older chicks right beside the incubator, and every time they squeak I wake up thinking it's the new babies.

I finally figured I might as well get up, since I'm not sleeping.

The last (the youngest of the older set) hadn't pipped when I went to bed, and when I woke in the morning she was out.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I wish I had that pair to breed. I really want a French Blue or Black, Copper Marans Cockbird. to sire over French Black and Blue Copper Marans hens

 

[LaurenRitz]

Three are externally pipped now, as of 4:30. I am exhausted, but just as I drifted off the older chicks started up again.

One of the three is one I wasn't sure would hatch, because it appeared to be behind the others, developmentally.

Welcome to day 20!

 

[LaurenRitz]

First hatched about 10 minutes ago. Chirping up a storm. 3 more pipped, although I have a question about 1.

One of the pipped eggs has feathers showing on the outside of the shell. Is that normal?

 

[LaurenRitz]

 

[LaurenRitz]

Looks like pipping at the wrong end? Those are feathers sticking out and I can't see the beak.

 

[LaurenRitz]

#2 is out and #3 is zipping.

 

[LaurenRitz]

If I fold back the membrane I can see the beak on the one that's pipping on the wrong end. I'll check her again in the morning.

Today is day 20, and there are 3 more to pip.

 

[LaurenRitz]

#3 is out! I can hear tapping in at least one of the other eggs, so now I'll leave them alone until tomorrow. If I can.

 

[LaurenRitz]

So, I brought in the teenagers (4.5 weeks and 6 weeks) and they are NOT happy to have the babies in their space. The teenagers have been spending their days in a broody cage outside, and coming in at night because the young one isn't fully feathered yet.