My White Eggs Turned Brown/Tan....???

[newtimer]

:-D

I really can't believe it. The whole humidity thing I was scared about and that's why I figured they wouldn't hatch. Only thing we've done for humidity is hang a warm wet rag on side of box a few times a day and put a bowl of water next to it. I haven't even checked the %-age cause i don't know how! The homemade incubator box is in like an armoire thing....it's a cabinet where you can open two doors at the top for a TV and there are 3 drawers underneath. Gosh I hope I'm there when that little lucky thing decides to finally meet his crazy mama!! Lol. I have to come up with a name. Lucky? I need suggestions of chicken names...

 

[newtimer]

Oh yea....will I be able to tell if its a hen or a rooster right away?

 

[orumpoultry]

Oh yea....will I be able to tell if its a hen or a rooster right away?

most likely not. Very few breeds are able to be sexed at hatch.

 

[BonRae67]

most likely not. Very few breeds are able to be sexed at hatch.

agreed

 

[newtimer]

I'm having a baby!! I get a pic message this morning from my friend Larry who has been rotating them for me during the week. It has a crack and a little hump on the side going out wards. AHHHHHH! How long does it take to actually start coming out? I want to be there so bad.

 

[HickoryHollow]

Well.......your water just broke, but it could be several more hours before"delivery" lol......The good news is the peep does all the "pushing" lol

 

[newtimer]

Haha!! What do we do with it? Do we let it dry off by itself completely before picking him up? Do we move him to his own box immediately? Can he stay with the other eggs for a couple days? As you can see I'm clueless about chickens but I want to do it right lol. I've got to go get a waterer during lunch and find a bigger box he can hop around in.

 

[HickoryHollow]

The incubator should remain "sealed" for the last three days. (Day 19, 20, and 21) This is called lock down. The idea is to keep the humidity very high (around 75%) to prevent the membrane from drying out as the shell is broken by the peep. If the membrane dries out, this is call "shrink wrapping" and the peep will die before it can escape the shell.

Once the peep has fought its way out of the shell, it should remain with the other eggs for at least 24 hours to make sure all the hatching has completed. The peep will dry out during this time and is then revered to by many as a "fluffy butt". lol

Once all the hatching has completed, the peeps should be put into a brooder with a heat lamp. They will need water and feed, but there is no rush for the first day or so.......You will need to dip the peeps beak in water to teach it to drink. Put peep crumbles down on a piece of paper in the brooder to encourage pecking at the food. They will then learn to eat.......

 

[HickoryHollow]

DO NOT help get the peep out of the shell. It takes time, and while it is in the hatching process, the peep is obsorbing the yoke through it's abdomen. If you rush this, the process will not complete and again.....the peep will die. Only help if it appears the peep has become shrink wrapped. And then, only help enough to get the peeps beak out so it can breath. Let him or her do the rest.

 

[BonRae67]

Congratulations! Lots of pics all day tell your friend.