New pics***6 for 6***updated***!

[noodleroo]

Oh boy. I was washing dishes and thought I heard a peep. I turned the water off and didn't hear anything but I peeped back and a little whistle....nothing. So I turned the water back on and heard a really loud PEEP PEEEP. So I turned the water off again and opened the (at least 30 yrs. old, round, styrofoam but pretty consistant) Hovabator and a chick almost jumped out! And another one is pipped! Right now I'm just hoping to have at least another one hatch so my first baby won't be alone.

DH had saved 6 eggs for me to incubate; I've never done it before. So I've carefully been turning them by hand, talking softly to the eggs and by my calculations, day 21 is Saturday (I writing this on Wednesday). Its been really hot here, mid 90's most days, and he left the eggs in a bucket in the coop before he brought them home. Could that have given them a head start? And I am really surprised because we candled the eggs last night and were pretty sure that only one, maybe two were going to hatch. The others had more air than we thought they should.

Anyway, I've got my first baby. Its from a black sex link hen and either a SLW or Buff Orp. roo. Its quite beautiful to me. I'll get some pics when the other baby is out. A few prayers for everything to go as it should would be nice. And I thought it was nerve wracking waiting for chicks to come in the mail!

 

[Armageddon]

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How exciting!!!! I have my first ever eggs under a broody now and I am so hoping they hatch..

Post pics of yoiur babies!!!!!

 

[Rozzie]

Yes, sitting at temperatures of the mid 90s could have caused some development. I've seen eggs I left in temps around 90 show a tiny development.

Also, if your incubator temperatures ran a little high this may have pushed the eggs to develop faster and hatch earlier. Sometimes high temps cause early hatches and low temps can cause delayed hatches.

 

[noodleroo]

Thanks y'all. I' really excited! DH put another chick in the brooder from the 'bator last night so when I got up this morning my first baby has a friend! I have 2 more pipping but I am grateful for just the two so nobody is lonely. I'll get pics this afternoon as I'm at work (darn it)...

 

[noodleroo]

This is a pathetic pic; three in the brooder and 3 more pipping! I'm really excited. So far, they all look exactly the same. I guess the barred rock gene is dominant in the sex link hens? I'll get better pics tomorrow..

 

[undergroundchickens]

Awe they are so cute! Congrats on your hatch and hoping your current pippers make it out as well.

 

[noodleroo]

Woohoooooooooooo! 6 for 6! My first attempt at hatching our own chickens and all 6 hatched. The last is just 20 min. out of the shell and drying as we speak. I'll get you guys pics as soon as shes dry and is with the rest. I know how lucky I am to have them all hatch and all appear to be just fine! I'm so happy and the first five are all eating and drinking and pooping; its almost like magic, isn't it....

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Yes! Yes! That's exactly what it's like! Eggs, those simple things you would have otherwise cracked and made into breakfast or used in some recipe for something, and out of them come little wet baby birds, all tired out from peeping and pipping and zipping and all that kicking to stretch OUT at last!

They're alive!

The very first time I heard a peep from within an egg in the incubator, I thought, "No, way. I'm imagining that." And then, with my face near the 'bator, an egg peeped again. NOT MY IMAGINATION!

From that point on, it became magical.


Oh - and CONGRATULATIONS on the perfect hatch!!!!!!!

 

[chicknduck]

they are absolutley adorible. Good job.

 

[Mahonri]

congrats!