Utah!

[Cynthia12]

Oh Gary, check out that beard on her! I knew she would get a good one! And, she isn't done filling out yet. She could be the one laying. Guess you will find out sooner or later. Did you name her?

 

[themadchicken]

She is really pretty. That would be nice if it was her. She did get a name, "Smoky".I have14 Silkie eggs collected so far.I am going to move my broody Welsummer to the aframe tomorrow, and see if she stays broody. If she does shes getting all 14 eggs. I don't know about my broody OE. She gets kicked out of the nest during the day and will wander around the yard but kind of walking like she is still sitting in the nest box and trying to not break any eggs.At first i thought something was wrong but after throwing some hot dog buns out to the flock she jumped to attention. But she is back in the nest box each night. Maybe if i move her into her own nest box she will stay put. I will have to give it a try tomorrow also.

 

[themadchicken]

Iluv, she does like a pullet but i will get take a better look tomorrow.

 

[the-bird-man]

hey red, saw this article on icelantics and thought of you http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...ndic-chickens-zm0z14onzkin.aspx#axzz3FEsV4Hcw

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Iluv, she does like a pullet but i will get take a better look tomorrow.

Hows her crest/beard/ and feet? I'd love to see pics of her. I may just want her

 

[sundancenbare]

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.

There is nothing funner than watching mom with babies. But you are right about the flock forgetting her

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Can you guys tell me what I am looking at on my 5 developing eggs? It's day 10 and they seem to be doing well and are moving around. But the air sacks look really funny to me. I figure it's to be expected in shipping eggs to look this way, but is it going to be a problem at hatch?? I was going to give these to dixie to hatch but now I am reconsidering because I have no idea how these would do laying on their sides trying to hatch. What do you think? I was told it might be safer putting them in a carton with the sides cut down low and then leaning on there sides. That it may help avoid drowning. Just wanted to see what you guys thought. Also does the size of the air cell look ok or are they too large for 10 days? I took back the one I gave dixie to join back with these and I noticed the air cell was also going down very low on one side but it had alot more liquid in it.. and these ones seem to have less liquid. Making me wonder which one it should be. I have been doing the dry hatch like you said 20-30%. Any advice? Thanks

 

[RedIII]

hey red, saw this article on icelantics and thought of you http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...ndic-chickens-zm0z14onzkin.aspx#axzz3FEsV4Hcw

Thanks for the read, Birdman It's fun to see more awareness of the breed surfacing.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Can you guys tell me what I am looking at on my 5 developing eggs? It's day 10 and they seem to be doing well and are moving around. But the air sacks look really funny to me. I figure it's to be expected in shipping eggs to look this way, but is it going to be a problem at hatch?? I was going to give these to dixie to hatch but now I am reconsidering because I have no idea how these would do laying on their sides trying to hatch. What do you think? I was told it might be safer putting them in a carton with the sides cut down low and then leaning on there sides. That it may help avoid drowning. Just wanted to see what you guys thought. Also does the size of the air cell look ok or are they too large for 10 days? I took back the one I gave dixie to join back with these and I noticed the air cell was also going down very low on one side but it had alot more liquid in it.. and these ones seem to have less liquid. Making me wonder which one it should be. I have been doing the dry hatch like you said 20-30%. Any advice? Thanks

Those aircells are awfully big....most look more like full term air cells, so be sure to keep some humidity going for them so they do not dry out too much more. The chicks won't have enough room to turn around at the end. The vessels and chick look good! That is awesome they are developing. When you get ready for lockdown, candle and draw a line on the egg where the air cell is. Set the egg so that the side with the most air cell is facing up. They usually will pip right there on the top where the air cell meets the membrane, make sure you quit turning them early enough for them to get turned the right way, I usually stop turning my silkies 12-24 hours earlier than regular eggs (instead of 3 days before hatch 3 1/2). They have the skulls that can get stuck when turning once they get too big. They grow a lot those last few days. IF the air cell is really wonky and covering the side of the egg you can turn it to the side just a little. (so that is not completely air on the whole top of the egg. )

 

[the-bird-man]

Thanks for the read, Birdman It's fun to see more awareness of the breed surfacing.

you are welcome. i hear people can make good money on hatching eggs/ chicks. and articles like this will just make more of a demand for them.