Hello all!
Been too busy to post much lately.
Some of the eggs I received from a local BYC member have hatched. I placed them under a couple of my broodies 3 weeks ago. I was starting to think none of them would hatch, as the hens had begun abandoning the nests for longer periods of time. I thought they were giving up. The Australorp was also bad about "losing" one and not setting on it, even though I only left her with 2 eggs.
Anyway, I have 3 babies so far! The downside is that there are 4 hatched-out shells. I can't find the other baby anywhere.
And when the mothers saw the chicks, they pecked them pretty roughly, so I pulled the chicks from them and put them under a light. I had hoped the mamas would raise them. Too bad Rosie's babies are a week old ... too old for her to take these, I am thinking. They are still setting on 4 eggs, and I hadn't expected them to hatch just yet, so I might even get some more.
When I first put them under the light, they started peeping LOUDLY. I thought they might be too cold, but that particular light makes a lot of heat.
Then one of them made it to the other side and stretched out to sleep, seeming very satisfied.
After that, the other two joined the first baby in the corner away from the light.
And everyone stretched out and went to sleep!
I guess they were actually too hot rather than too cold. They've been pretty settled most of the time since then.
I have a question though ... the eggs he gave me were a combination of silkies' eggs and golden seabrights' eggs. I thought the light colored one was a golden seabright, but I have noticed that ALL of the chicks so far have fuzzy legs and feet. Does this mean they are all silkies?
Thanks everyone, just had to share!
trish
Been too busy to post much lately.
Some of the eggs I received from a local BYC member have hatched. I placed them under a couple of my broodies 3 weeks ago. I was starting to think none of them would hatch, as the hens had begun abandoning the nests for longer periods of time. I thought they were giving up. The Australorp was also bad about "losing" one and not setting on it, even though I only left her with 2 eggs.
Anyway, I have 3 babies so far! The downside is that there are 4 hatched-out shells. I can't find the other baby anywhere.

When I first put them under the light, they started peeping LOUDLY. I thought they might be too cold, but that particular light makes a lot of heat.

Then one of them made it to the other side and stretched out to sleep, seeming very satisfied.

After that, the other two joined the first baby in the corner away from the light.

And everyone stretched out and went to sleep!

I guess they were actually too hot rather than too cold. They've been pretty settled most of the time since then.
I have a question though ... the eggs he gave me were a combination of silkies' eggs and golden seabrights' eggs. I thought the light colored one was a golden seabright, but I have noticed that ALL of the chicks so far have fuzzy legs and feet. Does this mean they are all silkies?
Thanks everyone, just had to share!
trish