I have babies hatching
and have to leave in a while to go to PA
I'm gonna miss the hatch
I only had/have 3 eggs in the bator. 1 pipped 2 days ago, hatched last night (whew), and they are due today, and the other 2 eggs pipped early this morning. So if they both hatch, I'll actually have gotten a 100% hatch
They are all gumpsgirl orp eggs that I couldn't fit under my broody. I took the 1 that hatched last night out of the brooder and snuck her under my broody. I was so scared, but when I checked this morning, I could hear peeping under her, so I guess it went ok
When the other 2 hatch, they will also go out under the broody. Her eggs are due this weekend, they are the rest of the gumpsgirl orps. I kept my humidity much higher during the whole incubation period this time, and it seems to have done the trick. Wasn't sure if that would help my hatch rates or not, but my rates have been so terrible this year, I had to try something different.
When the 1st one pipped, it was on the wrong end, and there was no wriggling or peeping from the other 2 eggs. I have to say, I was very upset, praying as hard as I could. I was like "I can't do this again, I can't take killing another baby". So I just left the pipped egg alone. Didn't try to help, nothing. Then last night it started moving like crazy, and finally, finally, started peeping. Yup, it was pipped for 24 hours without making a sound. Only reason I knew it was alive was because I could see the beak moving in the hole. Then he did it!! Started zipping
all on his own. It took hours. I can't believe he hatched, he seemed fine, and now the other 2 eggs that I figured weren't going to do anything have pipped. Can you tell I'm a little excited and relieved
