Pipping and Cheeping and Hatching O' My! Pics & Final Update

[jackiedon]

The are adorable!!!!! Congratulations!!

jackie

 

[bamagirl68]

I wish I were you!

I'd be runny around like a momma hen!

 

[pattycake]

Congrats!! That's a great hatch! I've been nervous about the idea of hatching my own, but if hatches can work out that well... maybe I'll get an incubator...

 

[birdlover]

I've read this whole thread and feel reeeeally happy for you!! Great job - DARLING little fluff balls!! Congratulations!! I'm sure I don't have to tell you to have fun!!

Ellen

 

[PeiTheCelt]

Thank you guys so much, they're really handsome, and really insanely sweet too, I am so excited!!!

tee-hee, lots of cooing over them has occurred, and not surprisingly, my 3 year old is ABSOLUTELY in love with them.

Can't say as I blame her.

 

[PeiTheCelt]

Final update and tally.

23 eggs on day 21.

16 born and survived.

2 born with problems who didn't make it (1 had a deformed neck/head, 1 actually had something non umbilical protruding from his belly and was leaking either very orange blood or something else from around it... When my dh saw he was shaking and having a hard time breathing this morning he went ahead and euthanized him).
3 full sized chicks, never even pipped.
1 who drowned in the brood box because I forgot to pick up marbles to put in the water.

1 infertile egg.


So 82% hatch rate, with 70% survival rate. I'm a little concerned about the 10% deformity issue (too closely inbred population maybe? Maybe some slight extra sensitivity to some variations in the 'bator?), but.. Not bad all in all for a first time around... I wish that we hadn't lost the one to the water bottle, but that will be remedied today, I'm picking up marbles while I'm out and about after work. Primarily black (they look like baby australorps, with the little tuxedos, including one who I've named Bandit who has a little mask

), reds, and 2 partridge patterned little guys (1 is really classically patterned and is really striking). There is also one little white/grey guy who survived, and is going to stick out like a sore thumb with all his brothers who are a lot darker. *laughs*

(I am referring to them all as males, because I know that we'll be eating most if not all of the boys, and want to try to set myself up for that eventuality as early as possible.. I know they're livestock, but I'm still a total softy.. The girls will be happy surprises.)

 

[silkiechicken]

Good hatch! The orange blood stuff was probally a ruptured yolk sac that just leaked out. As for defomities, it's genetic and some lines run a higher percentage of mutants than others. So where are the chick pics?

 

[PeiTheCelt]

Quote:
Thanks, I'm actually really happy with it, quirks aside... The kids are really cute, and very sweet and already have a lot of personality, it's going to be a blast seeing them grow up. The hard part will be once we start figuring out boys from girls and I have to start prepping for the culling. I know it's necessary and it's the right thing for what we're trying to do, but it's still hard.

And the pics are here: img/smilies/smile.png" alt="smile" />">https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=17391&p=2

Posted them last night, as promised.

 

[rosyposyosy]

you really tricked me there! i was like "did she accidently post this thread twice?" that wasnt very nice!

 

[silkiechicken]

Hahaha, page two!