MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

"back" - this is about hatching artificially, not with a broody. I think it's a very bad idea; not a port in a storm but a shipwreck.
Keep faith with Mary until she leaves the nest. She knows what she is doing better than we do. If she gives up on the eggs, so should you.

Yeh, so when she leaves the nest it's too late to give her chicks that I will have bought.

The idea is to give her chicks before she leaves the nest because it seems those eggs are infertile.

When she gets up, that's it. Done.

And this whole journey was about her having chicks.

 

[MaryJanet]

Just reporting that I've gone inside because the hens have roosted.

There's no sign of hatching.

Tomorrow will be day 23.

 

[Perris]

Yeh, so when she leaves the nest it's too late to give her chicks that I will have bought.

The idea is to give her chicks before she leaves the nest because it seems those eggs are infertile.

When she gets up, that's it. Done.

And this whole journey was about her having chicks.

that's true that's it's too late once she leaves. But it's not true the eggs are infertile - we know the welsummer was fertile, and we do not know about the bantams, yet. She would not have been coo-ing unless she detected sound or movement from the eggs under her.
She might yet have chicks. I just think you are giving up on her brooding abilities too soon. Focus on TODAY, day 22, not tomorrow, day 23.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's day 23 now. I haven't been out to the hens yet because it's too early, but I reached out to Hanna for advice on these particular eggs which she has hatched many times. This is what she said.

So sorry to hear about the broken eggs.​

Chocolate bantam orpington eggs open hatch on day 20-21 in an incubator setting under the controlled environment. However, Broody hen hatching is a bit different, they can take anywhere between 19-27 even.​

We are just wondering - have you candled your eggs at some point? Is there a chick inside growing? If you didn't please do so. If you head over to our website - info - chick hatching tips. There are candling videos we put on.​

If eggs are look clear or mucky, best to ditch it and find her some dayold chicks.​

If eggs look dark inside there may be a chick inside. might be work giving another day.​

If you aren't sure - please send us a photo via our facebook page message.
https://www.facebook.com/pipandgrowfarm​

​

Kind regards,
Hanna​

So I'll candle them tonight.

 

[MaryJanet]

Unfortunately, it takes a couple of days to source day old chicks, so focussing on today is not a feasible course of action when Mary could give up without a moment's notice.

Both hatching and sourcing chicks have to be ongoing at the same time.

 

[Perris]

Do not candle them now! It's much too late. Don't touch them. They need to be in the right position to breathe in the air sac.

 

[RoyalChick]

FWIW MJ, I don’t think I would try and give her chicks.
You don’t need chicks - this is all for Mary. She will naturally give up if the eggs aren’t viable and then won’t care any more about having chicks.
I am not being very articulate, but I think giving her chicks may be more for you than for her and may ultimately cause her stress.

 

[MaryJanet]

FWIW MJ, I don’t think I would try and give her chicks.
You don’t need chicks - this is all for Mary. She will naturally give up if the eggs aren’t viable and then won’t care any more about having chicks.
I am not being very articulate, but I think giving her chicks may be more for you than for her and may ultimately cause her stress.

Isn't brooding about chicks?

 

[MaryJanet]

FWIW MJ, I don’t think I would try and give her chicks.
You don’t need chicks - this is all for Mary. She will naturally give up if the eggs aren’t viable and then won’t care any more about having chicks.
I am not being very articulate, but I think giving her chicks may be more for you than for her and may ultimately cause her stress.

What do you have in mind when you say 'stress'? What would it be caused by? The arrival of chicks or the loss of eggs?

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm out in the run Saturday morning and there's no sign of any hatching over night.