Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[SullyD]

Lindz- Love the new birds and the babies! Good luck with the rest of the hatch! Can't wait to hear about the stragglers and whether they were hatched by the broody or the incubator, or if they hatched at all.

Cheeka-Mylee looks so proud on her new bike! Pink is my favorite color too! How lucky you are to have all this time with her, the memories you are making for both of you. I would love to see a picture of her with the chickens riding shotgun! She would be the one to get it done too! I know what you mean about having that gift with animals. My oldest daughter is like that. Even now at age 22 she walks into a place with animals and they all gravitate to her. Doesn't matter if it is at my farm, someones house with pets, or the zoo! Amazing to watch! I told her she would make a wonderful exotic animal vet, but she was too impatient to get on with her life. You never know, maybe someday!

MC-I thought I read somewhere about a rare condition where a hen can actually be part rooster too. Something about some mix up during development. I will have to go find that page!

Sally-Good luck with the hatch! I can waste a whole day watching the eggs from pip to hatch! Luckily, sometimes I can!

OK-I hope you had a great time with your grandkids! I look forward to the day when I have some to spoil and show them the world of animals! Great previous pictures of the little chickies running around momma.

It's funny how quickly they go from the cute fuzzy stage to the ugly, growing feather stage, which seems so quick. Yet, it seems to take forever for them to start laying! And laying consistently!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[lindz8504]

We have two fluffies and a pip this morning. Do larger breed chickens generally take longer to hatch? My one orpington egg isn't doing anything and it was one of the first eggs under her. Still keeping my fingers crossed! I had someone suggest taking the chicks away until they all hatch them giving them back to her. I am not sure if that would keep her sitting or Just stress her out and make her leave the nest to look for them? What do you all think?

 

[lindz8504]

Oh I forgot to mention that rogue is definately a rooster. He is attempting to crow although it sounds like someone trying to kill a turkey. He is also starting to stand his ground with the girls but will back down when they team up on him or with the more dominant two.

 

[cheeka]

lindz, since you didn't take the first 2 right at hatch, I wouldn't recommend taking them now. she would most likely become very upset. she can handle them while still sitting. I promise... just watch for her to leave the nest - if she leaves for more than a very few minutes, she's probably given them up and you can take them for incubating. it's really the last one egg that isn't due til next week that you should be looking to take, she'll sit on the rest til they are done - if they are to hatch at all...

 

[lindz8504]

lindz, since you didn't take the first 2 right at hatch, I wouldn't recommend taking them now. she would most likely become very upset. she can handle them while still sitting. I promise... just watch for her to leave the nest - if she leaves for more than a very few minutes, she's probably given them up and you can take them for incubating. it's really the last one egg that isn't due til next week that you should be looking to take, she'll sit on the rest til they are done - if they are to hatch at all...

That is kinda what I was thinking too. Next time I will make sure that the hatching eggs all go under her the same day! Worrying about her staying on the nest long enough for everyone to hatch is crazy! I am also thinking about investing in a small incubator for emergency situations like this!

 

[lindz8504]

Ugh! Clarabelle got off the eggs and moved the babies to a different nest box! There was still one piping and chirping. They are now in my bathroom under the heat lamp. I have a damp sponge in with them and a damp paper towel over them. The chick was still peeping when I put them in but I dont hear anything now.

 

[cheeka]

Clarabelle! naughty Mommy!

I'm really surprised that she left while one was actively hatching... maybe however many chicks she has now is the max number of eggs she should get in the future.

I'm really hoping that one pulls through and the rest hatch...

 

[lindz8504]

She has two babies. If this one hatchs before dark should I try to sneak it under her? It is chirping again but doesn't seem to have made any progress on zipping. I attempted to candle the other eggs and could tell that one was porus and nothing in it so I did go ahead and toss that one.

 

[Sallysec]

She has two babies. If this one hatchs before dark should I try to sneak it under her? It is chirping again but doesn't seem to have made any progress on zipping. I attempted to candle the other eggs and could tell that one was porus and nothing in it so I did go ahead and toss that one.

I would slip it under her and watch if you can...I have one chick out.

 

[Sallysec]

10 pips 1 out ...looks like a girl