March 2017! Hatch with us!

[orrpeople]

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? I Silkie this young likely to go broody?

sorry for the double post, computer is being odd.

 

[orrpeople]

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?

Even if it is a long shot on fertility and hatchability (pullet eggs are sometimes too small ), you are only out a couple eggs if nothing develops!

 

[DPWPDX]

Next one out is a copper marans!

 

[Cerise1924]

Even if it is a long shot on fertility and hatchability (pullet eggs are sometimes too small ), you are only out a couple eggs if nothing develops!

True, that. Into the incubator they shall go. And I'll try leaving the next few in the coop with my young Silkie.

I'm amazed how good these eggs are, for first eggs with no layer food yet. Very solid shells, and eggs are full size (for Silkies, anyway).

 

[Cerise1924]

Next one out is a copper marans!

Yay! I love my BCM hen.

 

[orrpeople]

Yay! I love my BCM hen.

I have a love muffin BCM girl too, and a couple BCM roos that are very respectful.

 

[Mylied]

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

Yes. I've had to fix toes on a couple chicks before. I'm going to see how it does overnight first and then make it shoes if it needs them.

 

[Mylied]

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?

It took my silkies a long time to start going broody. I got mine in the beginning of May last year and my silkie just went broody for the first time just about 3 weeks ago. My showgirl went broody a couple months before her and sat about halfway through, but a hawk scared her off the nest. Now she just started sitting again. We'll see if she sticks with it.

 

[Mylied]

All the rest of the poults were dead without pipping internally, malpositioned. One was completely upside down. I definitely had a humidity problem. So, just the one poult. Hopefully my silkie will do better with her hatch. I feel awful. :-(

 

[orrpeople]

All the rest of the poults were dead without pipping internally, malpositioned. One was completely upside down. I definitely had a humidity problem. So, just the one poult. Hopefully my silkie will do better with her hatch. I feel awful. :-(

There's so much hope and expectation that goes into these hatches that the end results can be very devastating. Last weekend I was a mess... I may or may not have even asked for prayer for my chickens at church...
Give yourself a little healing time before blaming yourself for anything, and then, when you're ready, start the check list of fixes for future incubations. You've got this.