Silkie thread!

[ChickNmamma]

I just went out and checked my silkies progress with her 14 eggs. I didn't do too much myself, but since she was eating I lifted her up for a second. I heard peeping but no external pips yet. I didn't know you could hear them while they were still inside the eggs.My biggest concern now is that since she isn't very big, I know she has been keeping some of the eggs under her wings and not directly under her. Is this normal? They don't feel as warm as the ones under her. So are the chicks going to be able to stay warm under her? Are they going to be able to stay under her while the other ones hatch? That is a lot of eggs for 1 silkie.

Yes, they will be able to stay warm. She is a super-incubator - ones that aren't ready and don't need the heat/humidity get moved out, the ones that NEED to stay hot and wet are directly under her. I know curiosity gets the best of us, but it is really best NOT to mess with her while she is Pancaked -its like opening up the incubator when the chicks are hatching - not recommended! She can compensate better than in incubator - but does better if left alone...

As for the cool eggs - I had one that I thought was a gonner because my broody pushed it away from her - it was very cool to the touch. I left moved it towards her and she tucked it under again - and the next day it hatched. Sometimes if there are too many eggs they can roll away - but even if they cool down they can still hatch.

And yes, you can hear peeping in the eggs for up to a day before they hatch - they start that when they pip internally into the inner air sack - that peeping means their lungs are learning how to work. Their next job is to run out of air and go into convulsions that cause them to pip externally. That is the tapping noise we hear. I know it sounds awful - but without that lack of air they don't hit strongly enough to break the egg shell. After they pip externally THEN they start absorbing the yolk and the blood vessels that brought the nutrients to them from the albimum. They get quiet when they do this - and it can take up to a day also. This is when most people get concerned about the chick - its quiet - its not doing anything.. its STUCK! NO, its NOT stuck - and seriously hands off right now - you can kill them by "helping"... That yolk has enough food for three days - so they have three days to get out once they pip externally.

 

[silly4buttons]

Hi everyone in mid aug I had some Silkies shipped to me from cackle and lately I have been noticing that this one has a pointed comb and is started to crow and among other things so I called them and they ask for a picture these are the ones I sent please give me your opinion


Thank you
Dianne

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Hi everyone in mid aug I had some Silkies shipped to me from cackle and lately I have been noticing that this one has a pointed comb and is started to crow and among other things so I called them and they ask for a picture these are the ones I sent please give me your opinion


Thank you
Dianne

It has a single comb, not uncommon for a hatchery bird. It is not the correct comb for a silkie. Also if it is crowing it is probably a boy.

 

[SilkieMom8875]

Ok so I had 18 eggs that are under my girls and after losing a few the other day I was able to count them when the girls were up and out eating. I have 22 eggs OH MY GOD why are they still laying? I have no idea what to do? I guess unless I am told different I will leave them alone. I just have no idea which ones are which ? Some should be day 18 today.

 

[kabhyper1]

Yes, they will be able to stay warm. She is a super-incubator - ones that aren't ready and don't need the heat/humidity get moved out, the ones that NEED to stay hot and wet are directly under her. I know curiosity gets the best of us, but it is really best NOT to mess with her while she is Pancaked -its like opening up the incubator when the chicks are hatching - not recommended! She can compensate better than in incubator - but does better if left alone...

As for the cool eggs - I had one that I thought was a gonner because my broody pushed it away from her - it was very cool to the touch. I left moved it towards her and she tucked it under again - and the next day it hatched. Sometimes if there are too many eggs they can roll away - but even if they cool down they can still hatch.

And yes, you can hear peeping in the eggs for up to a day before they hatch - they start that when they pip internally into the inner air sack - that peeping means their lungs are learning how to work. Their next job is to run out of air and go into convulsions that cause them to pip externally. That is the tapping noise we hear. I know it sounds awful - but without that lack of air they don't hit strongly enough to break the egg shell. After they pip externally THEN they start absorbing the yolk and the blood vessels that brought the nutrients to them from the albimum. They get quiet when they do this - and it can take up to a day also. This is when most people get concerned about the chick - its quiet - its not doing anything.. its STUCK! NO, its NOT stuck - and seriously hands off right now - you can kill them by "helping"... That yolk has enough food for three days - so they have three days to get out once they pip externally.

I'm not going to help. My concern was just the large load of eggs hatching. If you say she can handle it, I'm fine with that. I'm a first timer this year, so I am learning with experience lol. It is 48 degrees out and raining, so it made me a little nervous.

 

[sheeshshe]

Yes, they will be able to stay warm. She is a super-incubator - ones that aren't ready and don't need the heat/humidity get moved out, the ones that NEED to stay hot and wet are directly under her. I know curiosity gets the best of us, but it is really best NOT to mess with her while she is Pancaked -its like opening up the incubator when the chicks are hatching - not recommended! She can compensate better than in incubator - but does better if left alone...

As for the cool eggs - I had one that I thought was a gonner because my broody pushed it away from her - it was very cool to the touch. I left moved it towards her and she tucked it under again - and the next day it hatched. Sometimes if there are too many eggs they can roll away - but even if they cool down they can still hatch.

And yes, you can hear peeping in the eggs for up to a day before they hatch - they start that when they pip internally into the inner air sack - that peeping means their lungs are learning how to work. Their next job is to run out of air and go into convulsions that cause them to pip externally. That is the tapping noise we hear. I know it sounds awful - but without that lack of air they don't hit strongly enough to break the egg shell. After they pip externally THEN they start absorbing the yolk and the blood vessels that brought the nutrients to them from the albimum. They get quiet when they do this - and it can take up to a day also. This is when most people get concerned about the chick - its quiet - its not doing anything.. its STUCK! NO, its NOT stuck - and seriously hands off right now - you can kill them by "helping"... That yolk has enough food for three days - so they have three days to get out once they pip externally.

that is a VERY good description. thank you for posting that!

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Ok so I had 18 eggs that are under my girls and after losing a few the other day I was able to count them when the girls were up and out eating. I have 22 eggs OH MY GOD why are they still laying? I have no idea what to do? I guess unless I am told different I will leave them alone. I just have no idea which ones are which ? Some should be day 18 today.

You can candle them to see which ones are on which days? Place a bright flashlight at the larger end in the dark. If they are day 18 you will not be able to see much, mostly just a big dark spot.

 

[SilkieMom8875]

I candled them just now and I can't see much in 5+ eggs I think. It is so hard to do without disturbing the mommies to much. And when I put one down they immediately push it under them. They are so cute !! In the 5+ eggs i see some movement too! I am so excited
I guess I should leave them alone now too? I hope I can be one of the lucky people on here and post some photos soon. Thanks for all the help because I need it !

 

[kabhyper1]

I just went out and checked on the hatching progress. I didn't do much besides look in and make sure she wasn't a homicidal mother, and a little white head peeked out at me from under her! That's 1 out of 14 I heard other peeps but I didn't want to disturb them so I didn't look any further. It is 49 degrees in her brooder, but she is sitting in about 4 inches of hay, nestled in pretty good with no drafts. So hopefully they will be alright tonight. Apparently you can get white breeding a white hen to a blue roo. This is the secnd white we have gotten. The first one from the first hatch passed away.

 

[ChickNmamma]

I just went out and checked on the hatching progress. I didn't do much besides look in and make sure she wasn't a homicidal mother, and a little white head peeked out at me from under her! That's 1 out of 14

I heard other peeps but I didn't want to disturb them so I didn't look any further. It is 49 degrees in her brooder, but she is sitting in about 4 inches of hay, nestled in pretty good with no drafts. So hopefully they will be alright tonight. Apparently you can get white breeding a white hen to a blue roo. This is the secnd white we have gotten. The first one from the first hatch passed away.

Hooray for Babies! Sounds like she is a good momma so far - and yes, snuggled down in the hay those chicks will be fine.

You can get White from a White to Blue breeding - if your Blue carries White. So - you can say your Blue roo is "Split to White" - and the chicks have a 50/50 chance of being White. All the other chicks will be "Split to White" also and will pass that on to their kids too. If you get a White boy you can use him over the White hens - that way you will get all White.