shipped eggs hatch rate?

[OldMcDnld]

I ended up nailing skids to the flooring to drag it. Its made of about 30 2X6's that are 7' to 10' long. 100's of lbs and I couldn't get it onto the bed of my truck

 

[OldMcDnld]

Also I noticed a new broody poop in the coop today. Should they still be getting off the nest on day 19?

 

[Gray Farms]

Yes they will

 

[OldMcDnld]

First chick!!!

3 confirmed so far

It's day 20

Is it normal for a hen to eat the shell after hatching???

 

[Gray Farms]

Yes it is, similar to when cows eat the afterbirth. To help replenish some of the nutrients they have lost while setting.

 

[OldMcDnld]

There's also a solid black one that I haven't managed to catch on camera yet

 

[OldMcDnld]

The possible breeds from this hatch are:

Barred Rock
kraienkoppe
Naked neck
Easter Egger
Rhode Island Red
Red Sussex
Mille Fleur D'uccle
Sebright
Silkie
Cochin

What do these chicks look like?

 

[OldMcDnld]

How long after the 4 chicks that have hatched should I wait until I consider any unhatched eggs as duds?

 

[OldMcDnld]

Well 6/13 is the final hatch rate. 4/6 from under Phoebe and 2/7 from under Bonnie. One of Bonnie's didn't make it though, got squished during hatching when they started fighting over the chicks. Phoebe stole Bonnie's lone chick and now Bonnie just tries to attack all the chicks so she has been locked out of the broody coop. She is NOT happy at all. When should I expect them to co-exist nicely again?

The chicks look like 4 Rocks and one unknown

 

[trailrider330]

Just like with so many other things, everyone has their opinion as to what works best for them. My broody is quite experienced and has a good hatch rate, but I also did not want to leave everything up to her, just in case something went wrong. Likewise, I did not want to leave everything up to the incubator either, just in case something went wrong on that end. Hence, I set half of my shipped eggs under the broody and half in the incubator. (My own version of "Never put all your eggs in one basket.") I also equally divided the eggs that arrived with good air cells, and the eggs that arrived with detached air cells, between the two to keep things "fair". I'm anxious to see which does better in my little experiment... the broody or the 'bator. Only time will tell, but since they are shipped eggs, I'm trying not to get my hopes up!

Whatever way you choose to hatch, good luck!

Thought I would give you an update on my little "experiment".

My broody hatched 6 out of 8 eggs.
The incubator also hatched 6 out of 8 eggs.
Hence, my experiment ended in a tie.

I told myself I would be happy if only 3 of the 16 hatched since they were shipped eggs. With 12 having actually hatched, I am elated!

I ended up grafting the incubator chicks to the broody tonight. When my normally very docile broody, heard me coming with peeping chicks under cover of night, she jumped out of the nest, looked all around her pen for the chicks, decided I was the one "hurting" them and came charging after me. I got her back on the nest and stuck the chicks under her the best I could and she tucked them the rest of the way under her. I checked on them periodically, and all seems to be going well.

This all reminded me of additional reasons why opting for the broody is nice... no need for a light/heat source, mama teaches them everything they need to know, and they are more easily, and quickly, integrated into the rest of the flock.

@OldMcDnld, were you able to break your remaining broody in the end?