setting eggs tonight!! anyone else?

[LaynaDon95]

Two of the 4 silkies kept doing the splits so my husband helped me put Band-aid splints on their little legs. They were moving around before but their legs would slide outward with every step. They can still stand (and kind of walk/hobble) with the band-aid but they do alot of somersaults. Hope they get stronger.

6 eggs still in the bator....

but , I'm holding out. Maybe they're just late.

Oh no. I hope your two splayed babies get better.
I agree with Corg. I would definitely candle them. But, worse comes to worse, you have 4 beautiful babies instead of 10.

 

[CALI CHICK]

I would candle them. I am not giving you advice just saying. It is day 23 right?

Yes, this is Day 23. I candled all 6 eggs this morning. I 'think' they looked about the same as they did on Day 18??? I might have seen movement in one? And, in another I might have seen the beak in the aircell...it was something pointy?

What exactly should I be looking for at this point?

 

[CALI CHICK]

Oh no. I hope your two splayed babies get better.
I agree with Corg. I would definitely candle them. But, worse comes to worse, you have 4 beautiful babies instead of 10.

I'll be honest with you...I really wanted all 10 to hatch.

I feel like I did everything I could have done, but kindof feel like I failed since they didn't all hatch. But, yes, I love these 4 little babies. We definitely won't be selling any since we don't have "extras".

They are so tough. We ended up putting bandaids on 3 of them and they are getting around SO good. They started eating and drinking water today. I'm afraid the brooder is going to start getting messy.

Do you know what I should be looking for specifically when I candle?

 

[LaynaDon95]

Yes, this is Day 23. I candled all 6 eggs this morning. I 'think' they looked about the same as they did on Day 18??? I might have seen movement in one? And, in another I might have seen the beak in the aircell...it was something pointy?

What exactly should I be looking for at this point?

I would just look for any movement. Especially in the one that may have pipped the air cell. I had a leftover egg that had pipped the air cell but didn't make any more progress after that. But, of course, yours will. That was just my experience.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'll be honest with you...I really wanted all 10 to hatch.

I feel like I did everything I could have done, but kindof feel like I failed since they didn't all hatch. But, yes, I love these 4 little babies. We definitely won't be selling any since we don't have "extras".

They are so tough. We ended up putting bandaids on 3 of them and they are getting around SO good. They started eating and drinking water today. I'm afraid the brooder is going to start getting messy.

Do you know what I should be looking for specifically when I candle?

Of course you wanted them all to hatch. It would be a little weird if you didn't. You've worked hard to help them along. Just remember, if even a hen can't hatch all the eggs she sets, how on earth could we? You haven't failed at all. If it weren't for you (with a little help from the hen and rooster) those beautiful four wouldn't even have hatched.

I'm really glad to hear your others are doing well. Your going to have an awesome time cleaning out the brooder. (Just kidding)
What bedding are you using?

 

[LaynaDon95]

I moved the 4 hatched chicks into their brooder and they are drying and fluffing up nicely.
Look how tiny the last one is...she's just precious. Will, they all are!

I cannot get over how fuzzy they are.

 

[CALI CHICK]

For now, I'm just using paper towels. When they are older (and don't eat everything) I will use pine shavings with rubber shelf liner underneath...that's what I've done before.
They are even fluffier since that picture. Here is a picture from this morning...they sure sleep alot! They really are cuties!

 

[LaynaDon95]

For now, I'm just using paper towels. When they are older (and don't eat everything) I will use pine shavings with rubber shelf liner underneath...that's what I've done before.
They are even fluffier since that picture. Here is a picture from this morning...they sure sleep alot! They really are cuties!

I just took the sheet out of mine a couple days ago. They sure do love to scratch at the leaves. It only took them a few minutes to realize they don't taste very good.
It took mine like three days to wake up and realize they could, I don't know, move?! =P
I put mine in the tractor for a little while this afternoon. They LOVED it. They got to scratch, and chase a mosquito hawk... They didn't much care the the big kids taking a look at them... The RIR roo was already trying to claim them away from the bantams!

 

[Corg33]

Cali you did nothing wrong. Do not beat yourself up. Your outcome was better then mine. I had 31 eggs and only 2 hatched with my help. Shipped eggs are a gamble. Those 4 you have are special because you monitored the incubator you made sure to do everything you could to give them the best chance at hatching. Those babies are adorable focus on them not woulda shoulda coulda.

 

[cowchick11]

Did my two eggtopsies. Yes, GROSS!!!

I think I'm glad that I let them cool down first (overnight) and opened them outside. The one green one that was left I think had a blood ring, that one was, make me puke (almost), gross with a small chick/rotten glob?

It was a quick look and into the manure compost it went, to keep the dog out of it. The second one, my one brown one,

I think quit about day 18 or 19. From my candling and some of the photos on line of day by day development. Not as gross but still not good. Just wanted to give you my report.