New Brahma Group: Blue Partridge x Partridge, Plus Dark

[speckledhen]

I wonder if maybe he's not making contact with her because she has so much fluff? It's a problem that happens in some breeds like orps, silkies, cochins, etc, and the feathers around the vent are trimmed back to make sure the rooster can actually make contact during mating. Maybe she needs a little feather trim

I never noticed that she was any fluffier than the others, but I can check that. I did trim Orp fluff years back on occasion, but these are not as fluffy as the Orps or Cochins so it really never occurred to me. Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Bonnie is officially over-the-edge broody. I convinced her to leave the main nest by giving her Cora's egg we were collecting and putting it in the bottom of the large portable nest box unit, pushing her in there and finally, she got her bottom all splayed out over her one egg. She settled down and if she really sticks, I'll give her a handful of Brahma eggs tomorrow, minus any I think are B.J.'s. I had to pull B.J.'s two eggs out from under Brandy, who is on Day 9 tomorrow, no growth/veining at all. I checked B.J. and her fluff doesn't seem to be the issue, not really all that dense back there.

 

[speckledhen]

Day 21 has begun. No pips, though I have heard cheeping and seen a little movement from an egg here and there. The only thing I can figure is that their lateness stems from me putting them in at almost 11 a.m. on Day One, then since the eggs were fairly cool when they went into the incubator, it took longer for them to come up to temp internally, truly making this more like late on Day 20. I grabbed one of the closest to the corner to candle, just to see and it has a chick in the air cell so they're just late, I guess. Temp and humidity are fine so we wait...and wait...and wait.

And Bonnie has 8 eggs now. I put one of Jill's (BR) under her with the others she has just in case the bator BR eggs are not going to hatch. So, Brandy is on Day 9 today with six Brahmas and Bonnie is on Day 1 with seven Brahmas and one Barred Rock.

 

[speckledhen]

FIRST PIP! One of Betsy's eggs is pipped, finally! About darn time, kid.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

FIRST PIP! One of Betsy's eggs is pipped, finally! About darn time, kid.

You are gonna help me decide incubator or broody hen. I'm curious about your hatch rate, hopefully it's great.

 

[speckledhen]

You are gonna help me decide incubator or broody hen. I'm curious about your hatch rate, hopefully it's great.

What is good about an incubator is you can watch them hatch. But, they have to be managed more than a broody. I think these are late due to a combination of when I set them and how cool they were when they went in there. Really, they're not technically late yet, still Day 21.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What is good about an incubator is you can watch them hatch. But, they have to be managed more than a broody. I think these are late due to a combination of when I set them and how cool they were when they went in there. Really, they're not technically late yet, still Day 21.

I have about 2 weeks to decide. I currently have 3 broodies, but haven't tried moving any yet. I'm tired of the screeching and nest jumping that usually goes on here, but I read hatch rates are poorer with an incubator compared to a broody. Doesn't help we are buried in snow too and it's not fun to go outside to check on stuff.

 

[speckledhen]

One of Jill's eggs is pipped, that and the two Brahmas. It's like they are a day behind, as if this is Day 20 rather than 21 so I'll just figure it was due to them having a long time getting up to internal temp on that first day, which may have taken into the late afternoon or early evening.

Make that two of Jill's...

 

[1muttsfan]

I would recommend broodies if you are fortunate enough to have one. I lucked out last year and had both going, all eggs set on the same day. The hen was heavy-footed and broke quite a few eggs, so when the incubator eggs hatched I put the chicks under her and she was thrilled. Best of both worlds.

 

[speckledhen]

I would recommend broodies if you are fortunate enough to have one. I lucked out last year and had both going, all eggs set on the same day. The hen was heavy-footed and broke quite a few eggs, so when the incubator eggs hatched I put the chicks under her and she was thrilled. Best of both worlds.

Agree that if you can have both going at once, due the same time, that can work out well. Jill now has three eggs pipped, still just two Brahmas. Yup, they're acting like they're a half day behind at least, for whatever reason.

Dottie used to break at least one egg every time she sat. We started calling her Bigfoot.