March 2017! Hatch with us!

[Mylied]

Here. I put some flour around it to stop the bleeding.

Poult seems to be doing better. It's moving all around the incubator and cheeping. I wish it had a buddy. The belly button seems to be closing up some.

 

[orrpeople]

Poult seems to be doing better. It's moving all around the incubator and cheeping. I wish it had a buddy. The belly button seems to be closing up some.

One of my chicks in this last hatch had similar issues, but seemed to do just fine. A little flour certainly didn't hurt either! Yeah, I always feel bad for the first one - wandering around, looking for a friend!

 

[Cerise1924]

Oh, my goodness! I just had a surprise.

This weekend, I rehomed my gorgeous 5 month old Silkie cockerel, as he had started to crow.
Today, I just discovered that my 5 month old Silkie pullet has laid two eggs!

Is there any likelihood that these could be fertile eggs? I never saw the cockerel make any moves on her.

I'd hate to eat eggs that could hatch little Silkie chicks, but I'm thinking it's a long shot that these would be viable.

Thoughts on this?


UPDATE: I just had an idea. Since I have two eggs, what if I crack one open and look for signs of fertility? I should be able to tell, right? And if it's not fertile, I make a mini-omelette. And if it was fertile - boo hoo for that egg, but I can try to hatch the other one, maybe?

Is a Silkie this young likely to go broody?

 

[Mylied]

One of my chicks in this last hatch had similar issues, but seemed to do just fine. A little flour certainly didn't hurt either! Yeah, I always feel bad for the first one - wandering around, looking for a friend!

Unfortunately, I am not sure that the others are still alive. I haven't seen any sign of life in 2 days, there are no external or internal pips. Today is day 28. I still have them in the incubator though. My silkie is due to hatch her's on Sunday, so I'll steal a chick or two to keep the poult company.

 

[Cerise1924]

Unfortunately, I am not sure that the others are still alive. I haven't seen any sign of life in 2 days, there are no external or internal pips. Today is day 28. I still have them in the incubator though. My silkie is due to hatch her's on Sunday, so I'll steal a chick or two to keep the poult company.

I am glad this one is pulling through. It's a nice idea to add some chicks to keep it company.

 

[MontainBourbons]

Oh, my goodness! I just had a surprise.

This weekend, I rehomed my gorgeous 5 month old Silkie cockerel, as he had started to crow.
Today, I just discovered that my 5 month old Silkie pullet has laid two eggs!

Is there any likelihood that these could be fertile eggs? I never saw the cockerel make any moves on her.

I'd hate to eat eggs that could hatch little Silkie chicks, but I'm thinking it's a long shot that these would be viable.

Thoughts on this?


UPDATE: I just had an idea. Since I have two eggs, what if I crack one open and look for signs of fertility? I should be able to tell, right? And if it's not fertile, I make a mini-omelette. And if it was fertile - boo hoo for that egg, but I can try to hatch the other one, maybe?

Is a Silkie this young likely to go broody?

Your bird could be broody if it is summer or spring where you live. And it is very possible that they are fertile because I almost never see my rooster breeding with my hens but we have around 98% fertility. I say go ahead and try, it doesn't hurt.

 

[Cerise1924]

Your bird could be broody if it is summer or spring where you live. And it is very possible that they are fertile because I almost never see my rooster breeding with my hens but we have around 98% fertility. I say go ahead and try, it doesn't hurt.

Thanks for the reply! It's very early spring here. I did bring these two eggs in the house, but maybe I'll leave future eggs in the coop with her and see what she does. The cockerel is gone, so the next week or so would be my only chance to get any fertile eggs from her.

I think your advice is good.

 

[Mylied]

Here's a cute picture of the little thing. It's fluff seems stiff and not wet. I just totally screwed up somewhere on this hatch. It's little toes are curled in too. I think I shouldn't have messed with the humidity halfway through when I thought the cells were growing too fast. Worst hatch yet. :-(

 

[Cerise1924]

Here's a cute picture of the little thing. It's fluff seems stiff and not wet. I just totally screwed up somewhere on this hatch. It's little toes are curled in too. I think I shouldn't have messed with the humidity halfway through when I thought the cells were growing too fast. Worst hatch yet. :-(

Aww, that cute little face! Can you uncurl the toes?

 

[orrpeople]

Here's a cute picture of the little thing. It's fluff seems stiff and not wet. I just totally screwed up somewhere on this hatch. It's little toes are curled in too. I think I shouldn't have messed with the humidity halfway through when I thought the cells were growing too fast. Worst hatch yet. :-(

Sometimes they uncurl all on their own, but you could make it some little shoes just in case. It sure is darling though!