Utah!

[Iluvmysilkies]

Not necessarily. Mine hatched on day 23ish with my broody. Perhaps it's the cooler weather?

I was reading how some ppl lifted their hen all the time to check and would even spray the hens belly with a lil water to help with humidity. Im thinking about trying it tomorrow. What do I have to lose, they might already be dead

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I am so sad. I am pretty sure all the 5 chicks are dead in their shells I went ahead and candled them real quick, and to spray dixie's chest to help with humidity since i've heard of people doing that with success. I dont know a hundred percent what a dead chick looks like but I think common sense tells me these look 95% dead to me. I dont see how they could be alive. It looks like some had shifted position a little, probably trying to get into position but the shells on them had dried out even more and there was no signs of life at all. No red veins anywhere and no movement from the chicks AT ALL. I am so bummed. I was so excited and these chicks made it so far. I guess I learned my lesson not to let a hen hatch this time a year because I am guessing it was lack of enough humidity. I have 3 eggs developing in the incubator now and I am definitely going to leave them in there this time and hope for a better outcome. I am so bummed. I really hoped these ones would hatch.

 

[bitsyhorse]

Sorry to hear that Iluv I hope your remaining ones make it. crossing my fingers that maybe 1 makes it from under Dixie

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Sorry to hear that Iluv I hope your remaining ones make it. crossing my fingers that maybe 1 makes it from under Dixie

Thanks, but I really doubt it. They really all looked dead. They looked super dried out inside, that you could see where they chicks had squished to the side going upward like they tried to move around. There was plenty of room that I shouldve been able to see movement and there was none. I am no expert but what I saw looked like it was due to low humidity. I wish I had just left them where they were in the bator instead of giving them to dixie. I only gave them to her cause I thought she'd give them the best chance at hatching, but instead it killed them. All I can do is hope to do a good job hatching these last 3 in the bator.

 

[the-bird-man]

for the main feed i feed my girls i am going the natural route and feeding a mix of whole grain. not only is it cheaper but i like being able to adjust it to meet their needs better as needed. my girls have never looked better. and my feed bill is way down and i know more what is going into my eggs

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Someone just started laying today and look how tiny it is! I couldn't help but laugh. It's so small and narrow compared to Dixie's egg beside it lol. I just bought a bunch of those lay mash bags from cal ranch and they had only been on it a day and it apparently helped one begin laying lol. I have no idea who it is though. I could think of three that could have laid it. Now watch those three girls all begin laying this week due to this food lol.

 

[bitsyhorse]

Someone just started laying today and look how tiny it is! I couldn't help but laugh. It's so small and narrow compared to Dixie's egg beside it lol. I just bought a bunch of those lay mash bags from cal ranch and they had only been on it a day and it apparently helped one begin laying lol. I have no idea who it is though. I could think of three that could have laid it. Now watch those three girls all begin laying this week due to this food lol.

That's what my silkie's eggs look like (the smaller one) nice ivory color but definitely the smallest layer so far. that is until my dutch bantam starts laying.... not sure what do to with her eggs.... lol they're going to be itty bitty!

 

[sundancenbare]

I am so sad. I am pretty sure all the 5 chicks are dead in their shells I went ahead and candled them real quick, and to spray dixie's chest to help with humidity since i've heard of people doing that with success. I dont know a hundred percent what a dead chick looks like but I think common sense tells me these look 95% dead to me. I dont see how they could be alive. It looks like some had shifted position a little, probably trying to get into position but the shells on them had dried out even more and there was no signs of life at all. No red veins anywhere and no movement from the chicks AT ALL. I am so bummed. I was so excited and these chicks made it so far. I guess I learned my lesson not to let a hen hatch this time a year because I am guessing it was lack of enough humidity. I have 3 eggs developing in the incubator now and I am definitely going to leave them in there this time and hope for a better outcome. I am so bummed. I really hoped these ones would hatch.

I'm sorry for your loss. I had a hen that has been sitting on 4 Serama eggs that didn't hatch. The ones that were in the incubator did just fine

 

[Iain Utah]

So, you gonna post the little fuzzballs, Janet? 

Nah. I don't think it will do much good. I am afraid we may wind up having to keep them.

it has been a long time how are you?  I am finally starting to get better.  I'll be leaving for Phoenix in about 4 weeks.  Taking my little Seramas with me and the neighbor is tending my layers.  how are the geese. 

Glad to hear you are on the mend and can escape winter with certain select pets. My geese are quite well, thanks.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I'm sorry for your loss. I had a hen that has been sitting on 4 Serama eggs that didn't hatch. The ones that were in the incubator did just fine

I am really wondering if the humidity just isent right this time of year for hatching outside or something. Maybe its just really dry. I'm just stumped. All I know is all 5 were moving at day 19 so I have no idea what went wrong. Luckily, the breeder is going to send me a brand new batch of eggs to try after halloween. She's determined to get me a bunch of spotted fluffy butts lol. I am going to stick with the incubator. I need to practice anyway. I'll try using a hen again maybe next summer with my own eggs or something. Im going to hopefully have a bunch of chicks over the winter which is going to be interesting lol. But I dont mind. I'm going to keep them all in our insulated shed together anyway, and there's electricity where I can use a lamp. Ideally I want to try to get them accustomed to the winter without additional heat but having chicks out there with them, im going to have no choice so I guess they will all be toasty this winter and then i'll try to go without it the next one. I'll just pray we dont have a power outtage :s What do you do when you hatch chicks this late in the year??