MJ's little flock

[Perris]

It's day 20 for these eggs, so maybe they will still hatch tomorrow? Or later today?

so today is the first normal day, and it is not even over there yet is it? Keep sitting on your hands MJ. You are crossing bridges before you've got to them. And fwiw, chicks here typically spend the whole or almost the whole of their first day after hatching sleeping under mum, and just recovering from the enormous effort they needed to expend to break out of the shell. They do not need food or water for at least a day or two or three. So hold on. Think positive. What will be, will be.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thanks Team!

 

[MaryJanet]

It's getting near roosting time and I'm not hearing peeps with any certainty yet.

Unfortunately I have F2F meetings all day tomorrow, so I can't be at home. But I'll give morning and early evening updates.

 

[BY Bob]

Counting a few brooding successes.

There's a well set up brooding section in the run.

Mary wasn't harassed by Peggy at any time.

No ants in the coop (except for the two I squashed the other day - I assume they parachuted in).

Mary has been kept cool on hot days and warm on cold days.

I'd better count my mistakes too.

I dropped that Welsummer egg (but perhaps it would have cracked open anyway).

I gave Mary crumbles while she was sitting which may have led to her pooping the nest.

I didn't keep the hen on the eggs when cleaning out the poopy nest.

That's pretty good for your first time.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes! Even the day after tomorrow is possible too. I even know of hens who took 24 days to hatch their eggs.

I've heard that as well. I would not rush her off the nest.

 

[BY Bob]

so today is the first normal day, and it is not even over there yet is it? Keep sitting on your hands MJ. You are crossing bridges before you've got to them. And fwiw, chicks here typically spend the whole or almost the whole of their first day after hatching sleeping under mum, and just recovering from the enormous effort they needed to expend to break out of the shell. They do not need food or water for at least a day or two or three. So hold on. Think positive. What will be, will be.

 

[MaryJanet]

That's pretty good for your first time.

It's the third time, but I consider myself a beginner.

Ivy's first clutch had one chick who was squashed by Peggy before it got out of its shell. Ivy's second clutch were all infertile (free eggs from the rooster who lived up the street).

This time, Peggy is excluded and the eggs were from a fertile egg provider.

 

[BY Bob]

It's the third time, but I consider myself a beginner.

Ivy's first clutch had one chick who was squashed by Peggy before it got out of its shell. Ivy's second clutch were all infertile (free eggs from the rooster who lived up the street).

This time, Peggy is excluded and the eggs were from a fertile egg provider.

That's right. I'm sorry I was inexact in my language. Certainly for a "beginner" you are doing a great job.

 

[MaryJanet]

That's right. I'm sorry I was inexact in my language. Certainly for a "beginner" you are doing a great job.

I like to take stock of things that go wrong more than things that go right. For the learning and transparency.

Someone might read this one day and realise hatches do not always go well.

It could bolster their confidence and give them courage to try again.

 

[MaryJanet]

Apparently there's nothing happening the nest this morning.

Mary's blinking out some Morse code but unfortunately I never learned it thoroughly, so I don't know what she means.

She's hungry and tired I guess.