Set eggs April 3rd, who's with me!!??

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

Congrats to everyone on you latest hatches.

I waited another 3 days to see if any more of the remaining 14 eggs would hatch, but sadly none did.

Mama kept getting off the nest, and the eggs were cool each time, tried tapping a few, but never heard anything. So today I gave them a burial. RIP Little Chicks To Be.

All 4 chicks have feathered feet, so I wonder if the Naughty Bantam Rooster I got rid of on Monday was the Daddy. I never saw him loving the hens till a little over two weeks ago.

Here are the babies on their first day outside.

 

[Frost Homestead]

I had a similar situation with my last hatched chick. She had pipped 26 hours earlier, and was still peeping loudly, so I decided to help. She was totally shrink wrapped. After I got her out of the shell, I left her in the incubator for hours, and she just laid there. When she was dry, I moved her to the brooder. I didn't think she was going to make it. And she looked terrible, matted up, patches of fluff missing. She didn't move for about 18 hours. But here she is on day 3! A robust Buckeye! Fluffy and cute as her siblings.

adorable! I'm gonna have to try to toothbrush thing, I rinsed her under warm water but I had to use a little Dawn dishsoap to get the yolk or whatever off. It too washing her body three times before she finally started to fluff up. She does seem a little smaller than the others, I wonder what made her stick to the membrane like that? She was REALLY stuck to it, I had to moisten it a lot before it started to come off.

 

[Frost Homestead]

Congrats to everyone on you latest hatches.

I waited another 3 days to see if any more of the remaining 14 eggs would hatch, but sadly none did.

Mama kept getting off the nest, and the eggs were cool each time, tried tapping a few, but never heard anything. So today I gave them a burial. RIP Little Chicks To Be.

All 4 chicks have feathered feet, so I wonder if the Naughty Bantam Rooster I got rid of on Monday was the Daddy. I never saw him loving the hens till a little over two weeks ago.

Here are the babies on their first day outside.

Awhhh, I just love seeing broodies with their mamas! The chicks are cute, I especially like that the black one, I've never had solid black chick before. Sorry to hear so many of them didn't hatch. I had one broody on two eggs and both of them hatched even though she was constantly off the nest after they pipped. The other silkie broody would NOT get off the nest for anything and only two of her 5 eggs hatched. I wasn't brave enough to open them and see what happened. Heck, only 50% of the eggs I put in the incubator hatched but I guess I can't complain too much, I told myself as long as half of them made it I'd be happy, considering they were shipped eggs. I left mine in the incubator for an extra 2 days just in case but none of them did anything, I just hate throwing away eggs that have been in the 'bator for so long.

 

[Frost Homestead]

Oh, and I almost forgot, I'm setting more eggs tonight. Filling up the incubator to the brim this time around since I've only been getting about 50% hatch rates. I'm just gonna sell all the chicks this time around. I've got 27 chicks already!

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

Frost, good luck with the next hatch.

The black chick has me stumped, all 4 have feathered feet, it has black legs, the only thing light on it is it's butt. It was one of the first to hatch on Monday (heard them, just could not see them till Tues.). It is smaller than the other chicks, I found a blue & green shell, and bits of brown shell from the little Buff chick. I was trying to remember how many blue/green eggs were under her when we moved her to the broody house. I tapped each of the cold eggs today & listened for any sound before putting them in the trash. I dod not want to open the eggs, it would have been too heart wrenching to see the chicks that might have been.

I was out about an hour ago, and had tossed some BOSS in for the Mama's, and Mama was cracking the BOSS so the chicks could eat the inside of it. With Mama #1, every time she sit down outside, Lucy the first born, hops on Mama's back and snuggles down to sleep or if Mama get up, she may get a little ride. Do I ever have the camera when this happens........NO!

 

[SpiritedFarm]

Frost, good luck with the next hatch.

The black chick has me stumped, all 4 have feathered feet, it has black legs, the only thing light on it is it's butt. It was one of the first to hatch on Monday (heard them, just could not see them till Tues.). It is smaller than the other chicks, I found a blue & green shell, and bits of brown shell from the little Buff chick. I was trying to remember how many blue/green eggs were under her when we moved her to the broody house. I tapped each of the cold eggs today & listened for any sound before putting them in the trash. I dod not want to open the eggs, it would have been too heart wrenching to see the chicks that might have been.

I was out about an hour ago, and had tossed some BOSS in for the Mama's, and Mama was cracking the BOSS so the chicks could eat the inside of it. With Mama #1, every time she sit down outside, Lucy the first born, hops on Mama's back and snuggles down to sleep or if Mama get up, she may get a little ride. Do I ever have the camera when this happens........NO!

babies are gorgeuos! I have 3 dozen silkies in the bator, but some of the eggs are a bit too old I think, hoping for a dozen or so anyway!

 

[SpiritedFarm]

I had a similar situation with my last hatched chick. She had pipped 26 hours earlier, and was still peeping loudly, so I decided to help. She was totally shrink wrapped. After I got her out of the shell, I left her in the incubator for hours, and she just laid there. When she was dry, I moved her to the brooder. I didn't think she was going to make it. And she looked terrible, matted up, patches of fluff missing. She didn't move for about 18 hours. But here she is on day 3! A robust Buckeye! Fluffy and cute as her siblings.

OMG, gorgeous chick!!!

 

[Frost Homestead]

Frost, good luck with the next hatch.

The black chick has me stumped, all 4 have feathered feet, it has black legs, the only thing light on it is it's butt. It was one of the first to hatch on Monday (heard them, just could not see them till Tues.). It is smaller than the other chicks, I found a blue & green shell, and bits of brown shell from the little Buff chick. I was trying to remember how many blue/green eggs were under her when we moved her to the broody house. I tapped each of the cold eggs today & listened for any sound before putting them in the trash. I dod not want to open the eggs, it would have been too heart wrenching to see the chicks that might have been.

I was out about an hour ago, and had tossed some BOSS in for the Mama's, and Mama was cracking the BOSS so the chicks could eat the inside of it. With Mama #1, every time she sit down outside, Lucy the first born, hops on Mama's back and snuggles down to sleep or if Mama get up, she may get a little ride. Do I ever have the camera when this happens........NO!

Thanks! That is too cute about the momma cracking open the BOSS for the chicks, I'd love to see mine do that, they're such good chicken moms. Two of my broodies have their chicks still, I can't bring myself to take them away this time & I'm hoping raising the chicks will break them of their broodiness. We shall see!

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

So has anyone candled their new batches yet? I'm waiting until Wed. to do mine, but I'm dying to see!

 

[SpiritedFarm]

I candled last night and was not impressed. only 8 of the 12 orphs are devloping and I woukld say about 50% of my silkies.
I have never had such a low rate.
I emailed the gal i got the eggs from and she is willing to provide replacements!
Will be my first staggered hatch.

Good luck to you tonight Brooster!