Setting eggs today...20th May...anyone else?

[loopy12]

IS it possible that the chick which has already hatched did the pip? It looks like a crack but not something that's been pushed form the inside of an egg if that makes sense.

Its possible...time will tell I guess...Maran's are weird though - their pips can look different because their shells are so so thick, so a pip could look like a crack. And because they are so tough, it would be hard for a chick to crack it on the outside. Can you see membrane through it?

 

[Gofygure]

Well, last night I stuck the incubator chicks under my broody and she seems to have taken to them. Good thing, too, because she only managed to hatch two of five and one was dead underneath her. :/ It doesn't show signs of mutilation, thankfully. She is not exactly the best new broody I've ever seen, but she's doing all the right things for the youngsters, so I'll let her have them for now.

As for the weird pip, I'd be surprised to see a hatched chick peck at an egg with enough diligence to crack it. Mine can't even put a dent in thin-shelled eggs while in the incubator (they try.)

 

[Amykins]

Wobbles is going into lockdown tomorrow evening. *gulp*

 

[loopy12]

Wobbles is going into lockdown tomorrow evening. *gulp*

nerve-wracking...we'll all be on tenterhooks for him...


I heard back from the egg seller/breeder. He said yes, he thinks he had an issue with the black orpington male, and has since replaced him. On the mille fiori's though he said they are normally really good - he had ten out of ten hatch last month. Anyway, he's offered me some free replacements. I will be away for three weeks from the end of the month so won't be until mid July anyway.

 

[Amykins]

nerve-wracking...we'll all be on tenterhooks for him...


I heard back from the egg seller/breeder. He said yes, he thinks he had an issue with the black orpington male, and has since replaced him. On the mille fiori's though he said they are normally really good - he had ten out of ten hatch last month. Anyway, he's offered me some free replacements. I will be away for three weeks from the end of the month so won't be until mid July anyway.

That's great that he's offered to replace them! Also I can't help but let my imagination go with the whole "had an issue" with the roo. I imagine a Godfather-esque ceremony of succession. XD And July is still good, that means they'll be all grown by the time the weather turns cold.

 

[Gofygure]

I'll be waiting to hear the news, Amykins, and I'm glad you are getting replacements, Loopy.

My incubation story is just about wrapped up for this bunch. Here are two last pictures of the new family:




Someone is enjoying being a momma hen very much.

 

[Alaskan]

Yep...I started lockdown yesterday, and have the WORST time with my temps...they totally dropped, and I thought it would just take longer than usual for the temp to come back up because of the water I added. I forgot to add super hot water, like what is wrong with me? But nope...and now I am worried.

All I have been doing this hatch is trying to kill those chicks. So frustrating! But I am hoping that everything is ok, the humidity was good, and the temps were maybe not too low...anyway, we shall see. Got it up to 98.7 right now.

 

[Amykins]

Yep...I started lockdown yesterday, and have the WORST time with my temps...they totally dropped, and I thought it would just take longer than usual for the temp to come back up because of the water I added. I forgot to add super hot water, like what is wrong with me? But nope...and now I am worried.

All I have been doing this hatch is trying to kill those chicks.

I know firsthand what that kind of guilt feels like, but now it's my turn to say you did everything you could and you should never beat yourself up over this. You're an awesome egg-mom. *hugs*

 

[loopy12]

Alaskan: don't worry too much - for one thing the ones who survive our failures are resilient little guys, and it sets them up for life, for another thing, some people drop their temps a degree at lockdown anyway...good luck

Gofygure, love the pics. Is she a gold laced Wyandotte? I love seeing broodies with babies, totally heart warming. I love when they yell and the babies bomb over to her, and if they don't come when called they get a good peck and a lecture on disobedience...

 

[Gofygure]

Alaskan: don't worry too much - for one thing the ones who survive our failures are resilient little guys, and it sets them up for life, for another thing, some people drop their temps a degree at lockdown anyway...good luck

Gofygure, love the pics. Is she a gold laced Wyandotte? I love seeing broodies with babies, totally heart warming. I love when they yell and the babies bomb over to her, and if they don't come when called they get a good peck and a lecture on disobedience...

Agreed- I bet they come out of it just fine. Chicks are a lot tougher than we give them credit for.

The hen is a Golden-Laced Cochin, bought for the specific purpose of brooding. Turns out I love these girls, which is why we there are a bunch of fluffy-footed chicks climbing around in the brooder.