November/December "Hatch-a-Long"

[gimmie birdies]

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote:

 

[Heidisgran]

5am I hear eggs chirping in the incubator....blue orps

 

[gardenmist216]

I have chicks and ducklings in my bator . Going into lockdown today Chicks on Thursday and ducklings about a week from now. I had to rescue the duck eggs from a broody chicken who decided after about 4 days that motherhood was not for her.Not sure on exact hatch day for the ducklings Maybe Christmas we shall see.
What a great Christmas present to me.

 

[malndobe]

I have various mix breed chickens and ducks in the incubator right now. First hatch due the 20th (chicks), next hatch due the 27th (ducklings). Then more chicks after that. I'll be moving eggs from the "turning incubator" into a "lockdown incubator" as needed.

Possible dads for the chicks, in the order of flock status and therefore most likely to be the dad are a Jubilee x Buff Orpington, Muttly (supposed to be BLRW but grew up to look like a New Hampshire) and a black BLRW. The girls are a Jubilee x Buff Orp, Production Red, Cuckoo Maran and Black Jersey Giant. The ducklings will be a cross of Welsh Harlequin drakes over Indian Runner (black, chocolate and fawn/white).

Can't wait to see what colors I get, I hatched some eggs from the layer flock last month and no two chicks looked alike, I had a chipmunk, blue/red with no definite pattern, white/pale yellow and a darker yellow. They are just over 3 weeks old so I'm still waiting for them to feather out and see what I have but I may have hit the genetic lottery with 1 of them (1:57 chance and that's assuming I hatch a Jubilee/Buff x Jubilee/Buff egg), I think the darker yellow one has the mille fleur pattern, although on a buff base not mahogany.

 

[gimmie birdies]

one egg peeped last night- 3 in air cell. 2 with dipped aircell and one just sitting there- why does the important egg have to be one that is doing nothing?

The slower egg is the biggest so maybe it is just taking it's time. they are not due until tomorrow.

 

[ggschulz]

Still just the one baby this morning, and no real sign of pipping or movement in the rest. Today is day 18, so not too worried yet. Not real high expectations for this group with my 1:9 ratio on my home flock and the rest being shipped with a number showing up broken (rough trip, I think) but if could get 30-40 out of the 120 eggs I set, I would be pretty happy. Incubating out in the brooder house wasn't best for consistency either, I suppose, but it's what I have to work with... EDIT - Apparently I can't count...Today is Day 17. First chick was born at the end of Day 16, yesterday afternoon. The second batch is a day behind.

 

[gimmie birdies]

you won't see uncandled movement til day 20-i am on day 20. I have not sat and stared long enough to see movement. I did hear peeping and 3/6 in air cell.

 

[gimmie birdies]

see the pip?

 

[Heidisgran]

see the pip?

I have a blue orp pipped too