September Hatch-A-Long

[gimmie birdies]

my chicks are done hatching. I am sending my Homemade incubator (cleaned out) to a friend in Florida she will have a longer hatching weather window, plus I have tons of materials to build a new one
.

 

[Peep_Show]

Did and eggtopsy on my five dud eggs. The 3 CCL were female (

) and one had a skull that didn't form all the way...a blob of brains over the top of the head. All were close to full term and about ready to pip. Of the two Marans eggs, one quit about Day 15/16 and the other was close to full term, too.

Not a case of sticky chicks or shrink wrap as they all pretty much slid out of the egg. Very strange and disheartening as I really wanted those two breeds. I think I need to find eggs laid at a higher elevation than sea level as I'm pretty sure high altitude is the factor (besides the USPS).

I'm trying to fathom why the only eggs that hatched, thrived and gave me females were the crossbred eggs. I did get a heckalot of male Welsummers, though.

So I have three female RSL (RIRx SLW), 1 unknown sex OE, 1 supposed female EE RSL (RIRxCCL), 1 male CCL, 1 unknown sex CCL (the odd colored chick) and the TJ egg (also unknown sex). That's 7 chicks out of 70+ eggs that might make it to the coop depending on if they comb up or not. Not very good odds even by lottery standards.

Oh, well. Better luck next time, right?

 

[gimmie birdies]

sorry for you babies, but you are blessed as well.

 

[Peep_Show]

Oh, I'm not really complaining. I'm pretty sure I have 4 pullets out of the bunch, which is 50/50 afterall; right? I'll be pleasantly surprised if the OE and TJ are female.... Time will tell.....

It's amazing the difference one month of growth can make. Comparing the two batches reminds me of that poster of a Great Dane and a Chihuahua.

 

[gimmie birdies]

yup, just remember white egg layers have bigger combs too.

 

[KAC hapman19222]

I'm on day 12. Started with a dozen eggs, 3 were non fertile, and 1 was probably a day 3 quitter. 8 eggs still in the bator doing great... Getting super excited!!

 

[gimmie birdies]

 

[Peep_Show]

Too cute! And a nice assortment, too!

 

[JoBean1987]

Hatched September 26 I love my 16 babies I lost 102 tho

 

[ChickyChickens]

Hatched September 26

I love my 16 babies I lost 102 tho

102 WHY??