Oh good....my friends are tired of hearing the "egg update" so here goes. I bought 12 silkie eggs and had them shipped in. She kindly sent me 13. 5 were buff, 5 were white and 3 were cuckoo. In reality the actual cuckoo was the one who ordered them! HA!
I had two broody hens, first time rookies, who just wouldn't give up and get off the nest. Soooooo I put these 13 eggs under them. I had to put them in a plastic basket with open waffle sides because they kept separating the eggs to parts unknown. Once they both settled on the eggs in the basket I thought things would be fine. They even take turns getting off the nest for food/water/poop. How sweet! The problem started when one of the others in the coop wanted in on the action. She walked all over them and finally plopped down between them and wiggled until she was between them. It was a very tight fit, believe me. Now she was apparently just visiting, not serious about the business at hand and left by the next morning, leaving an egg behind. Not fertile. Had to find the 14th egg without shaking up 1-13. Finally found it, put the 2 broodys back on them and chased Ms.Pushy out of the nest at least 5 times before I had to give up and go in the house.
The next day one of the eggs was broken. I think the pushy hen stepped on it. Wouldn't you know it was one of only 3 cuckoos! Arrrrrggggghhhh! Oh well, no reason to cry over spilled eggs.... Two days later I was checking the nest and feeling around the edges of the broodies to make sure all eggs were tucked and covered. One egg was about 3/4 way uncovered by the hen that pecks me soundly for my trouble every time I check the nest. The other one is a lamb. Well she pecked me pretty hard so I tried to push the egg underneath her just another few milimeters and I felt it go 'C-R-U-N-C-H' sickeningly, under my fingers. I had pushed my index finger into the egg and crushed that spot on the shell. I was FURIOUS with myself.....I have a gentle touch and take special care of these eggs......I don't know how it could have happened! So there I stood with an egg impaled on my finger, goo dripping down my arm, making up new swear words.
As I started to put it in the trash, I happened to see the markings on the shell.....you guessed it....."Cuckooo". Now I'm not only angry, I'm in tears from the frustration and the loss. I went in the house and had a conciliatory bowl of ice cream, covered in Kahlua. It didn't help. There aren't too many problems in life that can't be solved by a large bowl of ice cream, but this was one of them.
I checked them today and had to play the game of "find the extra unmarked egg" without disturbing the others. I found it, put them back, evicted another hen from the nest and went inside to cool off (it's in the 90's today).
They are supposed to hatch on the 20th or 21st. I don't know if my nerves will take it that long! I am having another coop built, but even if all goes well (which it rarely does), I won't get it before the 18th which is pretty close to hatch date. I have to take these broodies and their precious cargo out of the community coop before they hatch. When you do you all separate the broody mothers from the other adults? How long do you leave them with the chicks before putting them back in the grown-up coop? Mine do not free range, they are in a spacious 'Coop de ville' on shavings and do very well.
Obviously, the hens are not the only rookies in this deal.
I was able to determine that the Ameraucana egg I suspected did in fact have a blood ring. I cracked it open and was right on. That is 4 out of 5 of my blue eggs that so far are developing. I was also finally able to see into my FBCM eggs easily with the new light. One had blood ring and three clear. Cracked them open to be sure. I was so relieved that I had not misjudged the eggs. I would not be happy about cracking open a viable egg accidentally. Only 2 of the 6 FBCM are developing. I am totally worried that I will do something stupid and kill the viable chicks.
