Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[jeremy]

When I left home this morning I had a 3rd W/BW Ameraucana chick pipping, I could actually see it's little beak breaking out of the egg, it was sooo cute! Still no Dell babies yet though.

The one that pipped hasn't started zipping, I saw it rock around a few times, but he/she is still inside. Should I be worried?

Also, the first chick that hatched a couple days back is almost completely dried and is fluffing up, it's also starting to pick on it's hatchmate(s). Everytime I turn on the light to look at the little guys the older chick rushes the new one and starts pecking and pulling at it. They're causing the other eggs in the incubator to get knocked around quite a bit. Is this cause for concern? Should I remove the little trouble maker when I get home if he's completely fluffy? Today is technically day 21 (depending on if I count the 11th or 12th as my first day.) so I don't want to disrupt the others in the middle of the hatch.

Sorry, I'm fretting. I don't like not being in control of the situation, all I can do is watch and worry!

Almost forgot, when should I "call it quits"? I'm hoping all the little guys get their butts in gear and come out of their eggs by the end of today or tomorrow, when will I know if an egg isn't going to hatch? What day should I remove the chicks that have hatched and shut off the power?

ETA: Cyn, it sounds like Cetawin is not having an easy time moving. Let her know she's missed and that I hope everything gets underway and they're to their new home ASAP!

 

[speckledhen]

Usually, if an egg hasn't hatched by the middle of Day 22, I try to candle and see if I can tell if there's a beak in the aircell. Then I make a decision based on what I see then. I've only let one go till Day 23 and that was because on Day 22, there was movement in the aircell and I tapped a very tiny hole in the end so it wouldn't run out of air. The first ones out always play chickie-bowling with their siblings. I think them pecking at the openings stimulates the others to come out and play, but I don't let one stay in for days after its fluffed out.


Just wanted to give my Dellie pals a headsup about me being here. Today, I was logged out and it showed me being on duty for about 20 minutes after logout. I even got off the site entirely, then came back and showed being here when I had not logged in yet. So, it may look like I'm here, but I may not be at all.

Was out retrieving Maxie who somehow got out of a 7 ft fence and was down the hill from the pen and in serious danger of being a snack for the neighbor's dog, being highly visible in her white plumage. Not really sure how she got out, unless she squeezed out a tiny gap from where the leaves and dirt have piled against the fence, thereby separating the chickenwire wrap from the livestock fencing a bit. Have rigged it and will fix it in the next couple days with proper wire. Silly Maxie. I'd miss my Mouth of the South if she disappeared.

 

[joletabey]

I CANNOT believe Cetawin is having this much trouble- please tell her we are all thinking of her, praying and pulling for this to be OVER.

Jeremy- I would not want to be in yours shoes, making those decisions about taking babies out and calling it quits. I would be fretting, too, so hope someone gives you good advice.

Rancherhicks- I would like to band my birds when I get more babies- don't know what kind is good- when you know, tell me!

 

[rancher hicks]

I had six EE eggs in w/ the Specklehen Dels and one EE hatched very quick and then a couple more. The Dels were late and slow to hatch. I went to my volunteer job and when I came home all the EE's had hatched nearly a day later and all the Dels that hatched (6) and one I finally took out and cracked the shell up. It was nearly out but just couldn't seem to make the split complete. It finally got out, but another had a hole and it's beak through but didnt' make it. Anyhow they can live for three days w/o food so I figured I could leave them in the incu for a little while longer after they hatched. I pulled plug day 22/23. 7 out of 26 Dels. I did have to cull one cuz it's feet didn't work. I gave it a couple of days but it just scooted around on it's butt. It was strong, in fact it hatched w/ no problem poor thing, but I just knew whether hen or roo it's wasn't gonna have much of a life w/o special care. RIP Scuddles.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Well, I don't know. What is it that you are after .... I mean breeding and selling eggs or do you have them for egg layers? As long as they are laying I would keep them, for sure.

What do you mean, "make the switch?" Switch for what?

 

[countrychickengirl]

Hi all!!!

I am re-homing 4 of my Del roos and would like to know if any of you are interested that are in my area. They are 9 weeks old and are from Cyn's Ike and girls. If you are interested, please PM me - I am NE of Atlanta. Here are the boys:

Spot:

Purple:

White:

Green:

Hope everyone is doing well!!

 

[jeremy]

Thanks Cyn and joletabey, that calms my nerves a bit. I think I most worried over the Dell that has pipped but hasn't shown any effort to get out of the egg since then.

By the end of the week (Friday will be day 22) if no Delaware babies have hatched I'm going to candle again. Hopefully it won't come to that. As for those Ameraucanas, I'll probably go home and take the trouble-maker out tonight, it was practically dry this morning.

Thanks everybody for helping me through my first hatch, I know I've been full of questions, you all have made it much easier!

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Well, I don't know. What is it that you are after .... I mean breeding and selling eggs or do you have them for egg layers? As long as they are laying I would keep them, for sure.

What do you mean, "make the switch?" Switch for what?

Well since I can only keep so many Dels I was going to switch the new stock for the older stock. Selling the older stock. I'm certainly going to keep the GA. chicks from Speckledhen. I also intend to order eggs from Dolce Farms in Oregon. I do have a question about roos. I have Nick w/ 6 hens and they are not a tore up as the 17 hens w/ Eric a CM roo in the mixed flock. Are all young roos so amorous to mate? I mean Eric is french but I swear he'd jump on the cat if he could. While Nicks is older is that why he isn't as amorous? Or are some breeds not as amorous?

 

[zephyrcreek]

I think roos just have different personalities just like people. I have 2 Del roos with 9 hens. Gonzo is only a few months (at the most) older than Kermy. Gonzo is a gentleman with the ladies. He takes his time and romances the girls. Kermy on the other hand jumps anything that stands still for more than five seconds without Gonzo chasing him off. Heck, I even pulled him off one of my ducks today. It's getting to the point that I may be removing him from the pen very soon.

 

[Laney]

Very tired, but I just wanted to let Jeremy know I'm pulling for him. They will hatch just give them time. Remember though that if they don't hatch, there is a reason.

Cyn, please let Ladyhawk know we are praying for her. I hope she can make it all the way before she can't stand the pain. I know she will go through anything for her chickies. I also hope she can find a new dentist right away when she gets there. I know that I clench my teeth when I am frustrated, upset, worried etc and I have cracked 4 or 5 teeth doing it. I can really sympathize. I also hope the crack isn't bad enough to need a root canal.

Cyn, know that we love you, and if you need a break take it. We will be here waiting for you when you get back. We have your email, so we can keep in touch. Just take care of yourself. I know we are all coming into the busy season in farming (Or back yard farming for those that are just doing things that way). Things are getting really crazy here at the Folly! We've almost go the Northwest pasture done. Lots of staples to drive into posts though, 6 acres worth!!! Then we have bucks to move, and if that's done I may want to move chickens over there too once some of the undergrowth is cleared out. With the breedng, the hatching, the kidding, fencing, growing season coming up....I will be watching and probably only able to comment once a day or once every few days myself! But I am watching and praying for you all!!!

Laney