My first shipped eggs! An incubation adventure

[PrairieChickens]

I'm not sure exactly how many chicks have hatched at this point. I want to say around 18 but it might be more. This isn't counting the one shipped egg that hatched--though the chick is still fighting on, I am trying very hard not to build up my hopes that it will pull through.

One of my home-grown eggs was born deformed, a first for me. The chick has only one eye and a severely crossed beak--honestly, I don't know how it was even able to hatch. I'm waiting to see if it can eat on its own before I decide whether or not to put it down. Besides the deformity, it's acting like a perfectly normal chick of this age, so we will see. If it does thrive, I will name it Sloth after the character from Goonies.


Being born is hard work--especially when you're given such tools to work with. Sloth fell asleep while I took photos.

 

[PrairieChickens]

Here's some happier pics for you all. This isn't all of the new chicks, but it's a fairly good representation of them.

 

[Aphrael]

So much fluffy cuteness! Congrats on the success of your homegrown eggs. It can be really devastating when the shipped eggs you have such high hope for do so badly. I am in the same boat. The only way I can get many of the eggs that I want is by having them shipped.

 

[PrairieChickens]

I might try again, but it will be a while. I don't have a lot of money to spare, so who knows when I'll have another chance to try.

 

[joshbparker]

Did the deformed one make it?

 

[PrairieChickens]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to put it down. Even if I had the time and setup to feed it with an eyedropper several times a day, it's not showing any interest in food and water.

The leghorn is still fighting, but from past experience I know better than to get my hopes up.

 

[PrairieChickens]

I can't believe it! The lonely little leghorn chick is still alive, and it's eating and drinking now! It's even found the strength to stand on its own, though it's still too wobbly to put in with the other chicks. I never expected this kind of a turnaround after the dismal hatch!

 

[Aphrael]

Oh that is wonderful news!!! Keep fighting little Chicky!!! They can be so delicate and yet so resilient sometimes. It never ceases to amaze me.

 

[PrairieChickens]

You really never know. I've seen chicks come back from the brink of death, and seemingly healthy chicks decline and fade away.

If the chick pulls through, I may name it Little Warrior.

 

[Aphrael]

You really never know. I've seen chicks come back from the brink of death, and seemingly healthy chicks decline and fade away.

If the chick pulls through, I may name it Little Warrior.

That sounds like a great name.