My First Hatch! SILKIES!!!!!

[TamiP]

I am over the moon! I bought eggs online and they were not well packaged at all. It took me 40 minutes to get them unpacked without breaking any. I sat them for 24 hours on the counter and the air sacs were still split and sideways etc. I put them in the incubator in egg cartons and gently tilted them just the slightest bit for 3 days. I put the egg roller on and let it go. Temps were steady but humidity was a challenge. I was pretty sure I had killed them all. Days before lockdown I found info that bantams need to lock down early so I locked them down and this morning 5 had pipped and 20 minutes later we had the first hatch. Dumb luck had me sitting and watching it happen. Two more came within the next hour and then nothing. Just now 15 hours later we have another baby who I also got to watch. This is SO exciting! Now if I can keep them alive.

How long should I give the remaining eggs?

Another one is starting when I went over to take pics.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I am over the moon! I bought eggs online and they were not well packaged at all. It took me 40 minutes to get them unpacked without breaking any. I sat them for 24 hours on the counter and the air sacs were still split and sideways etc. I put them in the incubator in egg cartons and gently tilted them just the slightest bit for 3 days. I put the egg roller on and let it go. Temps were steady but humidity was a challenge. I was pretty sure I had killed them all. Days before lockdown I found info that bantams need to lock down early so I locked them down and this morning 5 had pipped and 20 minutes later we had the first hatch. Dumb luck had me sitting and watching it happen. Two more came within the next hour and then nothing. Just now 15 hours later we have another baby who I also got to watch. This is SO exciting! Now if I can keep them alive.

How long should I give the remaining eggs?

Another one is starting when I went over to take pics.

Congratulations on the babies! Shipped eggs are always such a gamble, so great you had several hatch. You can take the chicks out quickly when they are all dry and leave the rest of the eggs until DAY 24 if you want to be certain.
Do you have your brooder all set and ready to go?

 

[TamiP]

Yes, it's been set up and warm for days with my fingers crossed. I haven't taken them out because there is always a pipped egg in there. After the last one just hatched the next egg poked a good size hole. I'm terrified I'll shrink wrap one of them. The last 2 haven't pipped yet so when this last one is dry I may have a chance.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Yes, it's been set up and warm for days with my fingers crossed. I haven't taken them out because there is always a pipped egg in there. After the last one just hatched the next egg poked a good size hole. I'm terrified I'll shrink wrap one of them. The last 2 haven't pipped yet so when this last one is dry I may have a chance.

You will not shrink wrap them by quickly removing the dry chicks. It takes more than this. You can toss in a warm damp paper towel if you are worried when you remove the chicks.

 

[MarshyRooster]

Congrats on a good hatch! You should probably give the other eggs a bit longer to hatch, and I agree with @LadiesAndJane that you won't shrink wrap them by getting the dry chicks out of their. Anyway, you have truly beautiful chicks! What are their names (if you name them/have decided yet)?

 

[TamiP]

No names yet but it won't be long. Their personalities are already showing. Two of them come running when I walk up to the incubator. I'll take them all out in a little bit when the last one dries out.
Thank you! I was so sure I had murdered them all with my incompetence.

 

[MarshyRooster]

Okay! (Be careful of little escape artists; the ones with big personalities are often the most impatient!) I don't think you're at all incompetent, by the way. Shipped eggs aren't the easiest to hatch, and you did it!

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I am over the moon! I bought eggs online and they were not well packaged at all. It took me 40 minutes to get them unpacked without breaking any. I sat them for 24 hours on the counter and the air sacs were still split and sideways etc. I put them in the incubator in egg cartons and gently tilted them just the slightest bit for 3 days. I put the egg roller on and let it go. Temps were steady but humidity was a challenge. I was pretty sure I had killed them all. Days before lockdown I found info that bantams need to lock down early so I locked them down and this morning 5 had pipped and 20 minutes later we had the first hatch. Dumb luck had me sitting and watching it happen. Two more came within the next hour and then nothing. Just now 15 hours later we have another baby who I also got to watch. This is SO exciting! Now if I can keep them alive.

How long should I give the remaining eggs?

Another one is starting when I went over to take pics.

Give them at least 3 more days. There are usually a couple early, many on time, and then a couple lates.

 

[TamiP]

YAY!!!!! We now have 5 fuzzy butts! I can't be sure what color the lighter ones are. I thought blue but they're changing constantly. One is now lighter and showing a few darker areas so possibly a splash? I've got them in their brooder with 2 eggs remaining in the incubator. One may be viable but I'm pretty sure the second isn't going to hatch.
Thank you all for the help!

 

[DuckDuckSook]

So exciting! Congratulations! They are so adorable.