Utah!

[acemario]

That's so awesome ! I'm still deciding whether to let my hen hatch my eggs or if I should leave them in the bator. I kinda wanna leave them so I can experience the miracle for the first time and keep a close eye but then I also want to make sure they hatch no matter which way it happens. I wanna give them the best chance. Why did your eggs have large air cells? Don't the hens make the perfect amount of humidity?

I would incubate the first time just for the experience. It makes you feel like the broody!

This can happen often when the air sac is big, up one side and the other.   No room in there! 

And yesterday was day 22 I think... So it came late. I was ready to throw them away and switch them out! Goes to show... Never give up on these little guys! They can surprise you every once in a while!

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I would incubate the first time just for the experience. It makes you feel like the broody!
And yesterday was day 22 I think... So it came late. I was ready to throw them away and switch them out! Goes to show... Never give up on these little guys! They can surprise you every once in a while!

Ace, have you candled the eggs in the Brinsea? Just wondering about fertility, if they are developing. Liz set some and got about 50 percent, it seems to be declining, not sure if it is the weather or a molting roo or just bad luck. Mine that hatched last week were over 80 percent fertile, but I lost tons of silkie eggs because I went dry hatch to get the marans to hatch better.

I have three FBCM babies left (Black only, I am keeping the blues to make Splash Marans babies) if anyone is interested here in Logan or close by.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

One of the Sizzles from my girls, a splash. So cute A girl from Preston took her and sent this pic yesterday.

 

[acemario]

Ace, have you candled the eggs in the Brinsea? Just wondering about fertility, if they are developing. Liz set some and got about 50 percent, it seems to be declining, not sure if it is the weather or a molting roo or just bad luck. Mine that hatched last week were over 80 percent fertile, but I lost tons of silkie eggs because I went dry hatch to get the marans to hatch better.

I have three FBCM babies left (Black only, I am keeping the blues to make Splash Marans babies) if anyone is interested here in Logan or close by.

When I checked last, it looked like I had 4/7 developing... But looking on the marans is really hard now... The silkie showgirl is still developing... Which I'm excited about!

 

[Cynthia12]

Ace..I was thinking that little chick pipped early! ha..you are right about that..don't give up on them.

Enjoying a nice relaxing day watching GC. Inspiration..a good thing!

Lisa, I would say that you are hogging your blues..lol..but ~ If it means splash babies, I'm speaking up NOW for a splash pullet to come.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Cynthia you used an egg turner right? Did yo just lay them on their side at lockdown? I was just reading how alot of people seem to really love the egg carton method. Leaving them to hatch standing up in a carton. They say it makes it easier to hatch out and less mess, while others swear on leaving them on their side. Just curious which I should try. Some suggested if you incubate straight up like in the egg turner, that its only natural to hatch them the same way since they've been positioned that way the whole time. I dont know what to think. I am thinking I will try to hatch these 5 eggs myself, and then give dixie the new set of eggs.

 

[Cynthia12]

I did NOT like the carton way. If the egg pipped underneath, where the carton was, they couldn't zip! I really prefer laying my eggs on their side, during incubation and lock down. I used the turner when I knew I was going to be too busy to keep up with turning 3 bators at once.

Yes.lol..you read that right..there was a time. I can candle and see better with eggs that have been on their sides, earlier. 7 days I can see the movement pretty well. Questionable? I always leave them until day 10.
Hope you let Dixie be mom for a while. It would be sad to take away babies.

I thought I had read that you were going to take away the babies?

And oh yes..I would lay them down on their sides after incubating in a turner. No problem.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I did NOT like the carton way. If the egg pipped underneath, where the carton was, they couldn't zip! I really prefer laying my eggs on their side, during incubation and lock down. I used the turner when I knew I was going to be too busy to keep up with turning 3 bators at once.

Yes.lol..you read that right..there was a time. I can candle and see better with eggs that have been on their sides, earlier. 7 days I can see the movement pretty well. Questionable? I always leave them until day 10.
Hope you let Dixie be mom for a while. It would be sad to take away babies.

I thought I had read that you were going to take away the babies?

And oh yes..I would lay them down on their sides after incubating in a turner. No problem.

Oh ok, so they didnt seem to pip on the wrong end or get stuck when you had then hatch on their side even after having been incubated in the turner? Ok cause thats what I was concerned with was that it would be harder for them to hatch that way or something if they've been in the auto turner position during incubation.
I dont know what to do about the babies when they hatch. I do want to leave them with dixie and let her raise them, im just afraid of one hatching and her not covering it and then I dont find it in time, and it dies. Ive heard stories of silkies making great broodies but not always good moms and they'll find freezing chicks in a corner that mom isent keeping warm. I was thinking of keeping them confined to the inside of the coop for the first week or two but its still a big coop and would be easy for a chick to get too far and freeze if she's not sitting on them. I was thinking of letting her hatch and keep this second batch so long as I get all five from this first one to hatch alright. But just dont know what I should do when they hatch. I kinda wanna keep them in the house under a lamp where I can make sure they are eating/drinking and give them vitamins if needed. Ive had to do that several times and it always helps boost them when I know they otherwise wouldve died. I know I wouldnt be able to observe them as closely if they are outside with dixie. I even thought of keeping dixie in the house, garage or shed so I can keep a closer eye or even add a lamp but then the flock would forget her, and she's the highest raked right now so I think she'd loose her place but if thats not a big deal I can always just move her and the chicks for the first few weeks. All your eggs were shipped right? Did most hatch just fine, none dying during lockdown due to being stuck or shrink wrapped or anything? I was told that alot of the upright position during incubation and hatch is because of shipped eggs due to the air cell being often messed up so they tend to do better, so I wonder how these ones will do being with a hen the entire time. The second batch arrived today, and so far they appear fine. The air cells are intact. I will let them sit overnight and then take back the egg I gave her and give her all 6 of these.

 

[themadchicken]

Cynthia, just wanted you to know the Splash is fitting in fine. Her best Friend is a Sizzle that's a little younger then her. I do have a new Silkie layer but dont know if its her or one of the two i had for sale but kind of forgot i was trying to sale them.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Cynthia, just wanted you to know the Splash is fitting in fine. Her best Friend is a Sizzle that's a little younger then her. I do have a new Silkie layer but dont know if its her or one of the two i had for sale but kind of forgot i was trying to sale them.

Gary, I saw your ad on ksl. Does the splash silkie look like a pullet?