OMG! Day 20... first Pip!

[Sue in NH]

Wow, and I was thinking the chicks weren't going to live. We had so many problems. First the egg turner was not working for several days and I did not realize it.

Then we had a power outage around day15 for a couple of hours. Incubator went down to 85 degrees.

Then I was just thinking I have not done as good a job as last time in watching the temperature.

Plus its been raining here almost ever day this month (3 times the average rainfall for June) and I had no idea if I was doing the humidity right, to add water or not? Mostly I did not, but a few times I did, then it would start raining again.

There are 16 eggs that developed. At least one of them seemed to stop growing a week or so ago, but the others were solid dark masses throughout with an obvious air cell, so maybe there will be some chicks soon!

I want to give them to my broody hen... not sure if I should put them under her as they pip, or after each hatches, or after each dries off. Any recommendations?

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

First the egg turner was not working for several days and I did not realize it.

Then we had a power outage around day15 for a couple of hours. Incubator went down to 85 degrees.

Sounds like my first time hatching! I didn't notice my turner was not working right away either. And our electric went out so I hauled my incubator to the inlaws LOL I ended up with 100% hatch I have NO clue how though!

 

[gumpsgirl]

You have a pip!

Good job! You must have done something right!

As far as putting the eggs under the broody while they pip goes, I don't know the right advice to give there. If it was me, I wouldn't compromise the hatch by doing that. Once they pip, it is so crucial to keep the humidity level right.

I also do not know if the hen will just accept the babies. I think that is a 50 / 50 chance on that one. Sometimes the hens will and sometimes they won't. I will say that 16 chicks (supposing they all hatch) would be a bit much for a mama hen to raise, so you could always go ahead and take 8 or 9 eggs out to the hen and slip them under her now before they all start to pip. Just take care to watch the hen to make sure she doesn't try to kick them out or just leave the nest all together because you'll need to get those eggs back tot he incubator A.S.A.P. if that happens.

Good luck with your hatch and whatever you decide to do! Hatching chicks is always sooooo eggciting!

 

[Sue in NH]

OK, I just took 6 not-yet-pipped eggs to Thelma, the broody hen. She has raised chicks before. I am optimistic she'll do well if any of these 6 eggs hatch.

She settled over the eggs just fine. First I took away the plastic eggs she has been trying to hatch for weeks! I think she will be thrilled if/when any of these eggs hatch. (Earlier today I made sure Thelma got her once a day meal and water, knowing she might want to sit tight for quite some time if she gets chicks hatching.)

My plan is to tuck hatched chicks under her too. Ideally, if the hen will take care of them, that would be good, as she can do a much better job than I can! I'm hoping that her motherly hormones will be going crazy if she hears pipping chicks, and hopefully she won't know the difference between one that hatched under her, and one I tuck under her. She is pretty tolerant of me and my fussing about her. She seems to know I have her interests at heart.

In fact, Thelma and I have a long history. She came from friends of mine. She is about 8 or 9 years old. When she lived with my friends she survived a dog attack and a racoon attack. She actually spent several weeks recouperating from the dog attack at my house, me being having been a veterinary assistant once upon a time, they wanted me to try to help her heal. She did recover and went back to their house. A few years later my friends went away for a year and gave us Thelma. At that time she had been an "only chicken" for about a year, and it took her some time to get used to being in a flock again.

She has often gone broody, almost every summer. Two years ago I gave her 4 eggs, 3 of which hatched, and she did a great job as a Mom, protecting her chicks from everyone. She had to have her own pen, as the other hens were terrified of her!

So anyway, Thelma is an experienced Mom, and an old friend. Hopefully she takes on the challenge of a new family!

 

[Schultz]

Aww congrats! Thelma sounds like she will be a great momma again. I hope all goes well

 

[gumpsgirl]

Thelma sounds like a trooper!

Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

[Sue in NH]

This waiting is pretty excrutiating! Still just the one pipped egg. Its from our most prolific layer, a NHRed... father is an Americauna. The chicks from this pair are always very active in the eggs, swimming about, and often the first to hatch. Funny thing is this hen has about a 4 to 1 ratio of males to females. This has happened twice. She is the dominant hen in the flock, and I have a theory that having boys is her best way to pass on genes.

Anyway, I can't check on the eggs under Thelma as I don't want to disturb her, so I'm stuck here watching the other 10 eggs, only one doing anything yet. Chick seems to be taking a rest before the zip.

I think I will take the dogs for a very long walk and hope something is happening upon return. Maybe I can even figure out how to post pictures if there is anything to show!

 

[cassey40]

I had my first pep last night day 19 and the little fellow hatch early this morning this is my first hatch so excited

 

[Sue in NH]

Cassey40,

Wonderful!
Looks like you are waiting for 6 more?
Would love to have your updates, if you have time.

I'm starting to worry as its been 6 hours since the first pip, and no one else is stirring.
Should I worry?

This is actually day 20... really day 19.5, as I set eggs at 5:30 pm, 20 days ago as of tonight... if that makes any sense!

Incidentally, Thelma is much more protective of her real eggs, than she was of her plastic eggs. She is sitting there with this VERY intense look on her face, very alert, unlike how she has been in a semi-coma for the past few weeks. I think she can tell these are real eggs, and there is life in them!

 

[cassey40]

Thanks Sue,

I have 2 chicks now , i had one that was pipping when i left for work this morning and i called home later and my son said that he had the top of his shell off and was trying to get out. So will no more when i go home from work and will send more pic and updates. I have 12more eggs to hatch. hope your eggs are doing fine also.