Thistlewick Smallholding - Chickens & Sheep (for now)

[thistlewick]

They don't always chirp so this isn't an indicator. Have the eggs rocked at all? The rocking isn't constant, just an occasional jiggle.

Yes, Sophie's egg, the Maran dark one, rocked a ton while it first pipped. I haven't seen the tan one rock at all, I honestly was amazed it pipped. It moved a TON during incubation, every time I candled it the little one was bustin a move in there

But the Maran egg is the rocker since lockdown - but overnight they slept?! I guess? lol

Time will tell, as always.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my worries

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, Sophie's egg, the Maran dark one, rocked a ton while it first pipped. I haven't seen the tan one rock at all, I honestly was amazed it pipped. It moved a TON during incubation, every time I candled it the little one was bustin a move in there

But the Maran egg is the rocker since lockdown - but overnight they slept?! I guess? lol

Time will tell, as always.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my worries

You are so welcome, I am a nervous momma every time I do a hatch as well. Constantly staring into the incubator. I talk and sing to the eggs, sometimes it gets them chirping.

You are doing a great job! Sounds like the eggs are on track to hatch later today. Don't open the incubator until both have hatched to keep the humidity high in the machine. You shouldn't have to intervene unless more than 24 hours passes, but I doubt this will be the case. I am so egg-cited for you!

 

[thistlewick]

GUYS after our morning chores and errands we came home at 10am to this little one!!

I think we cooed and oooh'd and ahhh'd over them for at least an hour, then we went out for a celebratory lunch!

Came back to them still very restful but halfway dry and the OTHER PIP IS BIGGER

 

[TwoCrows]

GUYS after our morning chores and errands we came home at 10am to this little one!!

View attachment 4097711

I think we cooed and oooh'd and ahhh'd over them for at least an hour, then we went out for a celebratory lunch!

Came back to them still very restful but halfway dry and the OTHER PIP IS BIGGER

Congratulations on the little one! Wow, did it come out comb first I wonder? Could be a little boy! The other egg?

 

[thistlewick]

I think it's a boy too for sure! lol BIG ol comb haha big legs too.

I read somewhere here to play chick sounds to encourage them and OH MY GOD IT WORKS SO WELL

So I left my phone up there with gentle chirping sounds and the zipping has begun!!

Very slowly, but it looks good!

How did I go 51 years before ever experiencing this. It's simply one of the happiest best feelings ever on earth ever.

 

[TwoCrows]

I think it's a boy too for sure! lol BIG ol comb haha big legs too.

View attachment 4097817

I read somewhere here to play chick sounds to encourage them and OH MY GOD IT WORKS SO WELL

So I left my phone up there with gentle chirping sounds and the zipping has begun!!

Very slowly, but it looks good!

How did I go 51 years before ever experiencing this. It's simply one of the happiest best feelings ever on earth ever.

Fabulous on the other one starting to zip! Yes chirping sounds from the outside will definitely drive other chicks in eggs to bust out too.

Hatching is beyond thrilling, it's quite magical to watch an egg turn into a tiny life! You not only got to see this but you had your hand in creation as well, you were part of this!

 

[thistlewick]

I really wasn't sure about this whole thing and man oh man how happy am I!

Second chick super lively, I went downstairs for only 25 minutes after zipping started, I thought that it would be slow -- the little tiny bit of pecking it was doing I thought, surely... I can go downstairs...

BUT NO, a mere 25 minutes later OUT IT COMES! A hairline umbilicus was attached, which it dragged around for about 10 minutes LOL screaming the whole time -- but brother tripped over it and snap, it broke. Totally fine, also got nice and quiet. This pic was about 3 minutes after the umbilicus broke off.

For anyone curious, Dad is an easter egger Chuck:

And mom of "Cracker" is Sophia a French Black Copper Maran

we aren't sure of #2 "Falcon" yet, but bc it doesn' have a single comb it HAS to be one of our Wyandottes, so Silver-Laced or Blue Laced Red...

I'm thinking it has to be the BLR Wyandotte from the colors of the chick yeah??

 

[TwoCrows]

I really wasn't sure about this whole thing and man oh man how happy am I!

View attachment 4097869

Second chick super lively, I went downstairs for only 25 minutes after zipping started, I thought that it would be slow -- the little tiny bit of pecking it was doing I thought, surely... I can go downstairs...

BUT NO, a mere 25 minutes later OUT IT COMES! A hairline umbilicus was attached, which it dragged around for about 10 minutes LOL screaming the whole time -- but brother tripped over it and snap, it broke. Totally fine, also got nice and quiet. This pic was about 3 minutes after the umbilicus broke off.

For anyone curious, Dad is an easter egger Chuck:

View attachment 4097873

And mom of "Cracker" is Sophia a French Black Copper Maran

we aren't sure of #2 "Falcon" yet, but bc it doesn' have a single comb it HAS to be one of our Wyandottes, so Silver-Laced or Blue Laced Red...

I'm thinking it has to be the BLR Wyandotte from the colors of the chick yeah??

Congratulations on chick #2!! You had a wonderful hatch! I am sure these two will always be your favorites, my first hatch I set 5 eggs, 3 hatched. They were always the loves of my life, the most special of all my birds.

Wow, dad is a beauty!! Love Copper Marans too.

 

[WingItRanch]

That's so exciting! Congrats!

 

[thistlewick]

wet in the afternoon, looking very cute though

a bit drier and relaxing in the evening right before sunset, snoozey babies -- not yet fully dry but getting there!

The ducklings absolutely killing the 'lets be adorable and sit in the buttercups'

the view from my henhouse stoop, which I sit on in the warmer months at roost time and enjoy chicken TV My pastures looking ratty and fat, I need grazers!!