Very small air cells on day 16 - Please help me save these babies.

[calichickies]

IT is amazing how fast they can zip--busy little bees, seems like they are very heal3thy ad about the right water weight-- not sure how to call it, maybe birth weight?

Putting black copper marans into lockdown--today is day 18. Lately I've been not paying attention and they hatch in the incubator, but I"m on top of the timing for this batch.

I did put 2 duck eggs into the hatcher because the air cell is too big and wanted to slow down/stop air cell development. WIll see if that works.

Otherwise I'm coming to the ens of hatching for the year--I keep making a mental picture of a house without chicks in every bathroom. I'm hoping for good weather tonight I want to put two groups outside in new coop for the night. Pray it works.

I hope the weather out your way is cooperating for you and the chickies. I'm sure they are very excited to get outside!
Good luck on getting your house back to a chick free zone.

 

[calichickies]

This is what we had on day 16:


And this is what we've got now... day 20 hatches... all out except 3 still in the bator.


Yes... there's 3 ducks in there.

 

[Arielle]

I'm still awed that an egg can go from yolk and stick albumen to a chick that can break out of the shell. Always interesting to watch.

I see 2 dark eggs--are those yours, or at least non-shipped eggs? DId they hatch? He last two may just need a little more time, wait and see if they can make it. Hopefully they will be along soon.

I have 2 grow out pens, and they each get to free range every other day. With the new additions, they will have to stay in for a few days to learn where home is. WHen they free range they have to cope with the older stock who terrorize them at times. I feel bad for them, but they do have room to run away.

Well, You have had quite an exciting hatch this go round. Just a couple more days to see if the last ones will make it through.

 

[calichickies]

Totally awe inspiring indeed!

The dark eggs are so unusual. They are from a friend's hen, she's brown. I have asked him and he can not remember the breed.
He only has one, I'll try to find a pic of her. Those eggs seem like they should be from an eagle, or dragon or something totally exotic.

The last two chicks with totally minimal air cells have hatched! One at noon and the next one came at 2:20. The first one was peeping it's head off and really calling the next one out.

I've just got 1 more duck to go.

 

[calichickies]

I'm still awed that an egg can go from yolk and stick albumen to a chick that can break out of the shell. Always interesting to watch.

I see 2 dark eggs--are those yours, or at least non-shipped eggs? DId they hatch? He last two may just need a little more time, wait and see if they can make it. Hopefully they will be along soon.

I have 2 grow out pens, and they each get to free range every other day. With the new additions, they will have to stay in for a few days to learn where home is. WHen they free range they have to cope with the older stock who terrorize them at times. I feel bad for them, but they do have room to run away.

Well, You have had quite an exciting hatch this go round. Just a couple more days to see if the last ones will make it through.

Here's a pic of the 'brown' hen that laid those dark chocolate speckled eggs. The chicks are chipmunk/ameraucana colored so far.



And behind her is her Ameraucana roo.

Sorry they aren't great but that's all I have, she's not mine and her owner lives an hour away.
Do you have any idea what breed she is? I think he bought her at a feed store so I believe she's a purebred something??

 

[calichickies]

I'm still awed that an egg can go from yolk and stick albumen to a chick that can break out of the shell. Always interesting to watch.

I see 2 dark eggs--are those yours, or at least non-shipped eggs? DId they hatch? He last two may just need a little more time, wait and see if they can make it. Hopefully they will be along soon.

I have 2 grow out pens, and they each get to free range every other day. With the new additions, they will have to stay in for a few days to learn where home is. WHen they free range they have to cope with the older stock who terrorize them at times. I feel bad for them, but they do have room to run away.

Well, You have had quite an exciting hatch this go round. Just a couple more days to see if the last ones will make it through.

That is so wonderful that they can free range like that! How much land do you have? We have a big fenced run for ours. We only have a 1/4 acre, but in California- that's huge- Ha!

 

[Arielle]

For all the space they could cruise they seem to limit themselves to around our side door, the one we are in and out of the most!! LOL

Some do go off to the woods a bit, others need a little encouragement.

Predators can be a problems at times. But we try to live and let live. I can deal with the predators over neighbors any day. LOL

OKay one last duck--some on duckie!

 

[calichickies]

Yay!!
Duckie finally flopped out of her egg at 8pm with a little help. She had made her 'egg cap' a little too small and was bent over like a taco trying to get out of this too small hole butt first. She was all messed up in there, but looked perfect once we made it easier for her to get out on her own. *whew!*

So after all that worry... a 100% hatch rate was obtained.

Yay!!

Boy did I learn a lot. I don't know if I can exactly put it into words, what *exactly* I learned. But I learned that all that stuff I read in the books was pretty much all crap. Ugghh... I really want some good information here. But as we all know it's from our own experience and personal journey that we learn the MOST valuable information.


Thanks SO much for your support! I really appreciate it!!
Good Luck on your hatch- I hope you get a super high hatch rate!

p.s. Any thoughts on that hen pictured above? What is she? Thx

 

[Chick N Haus]

The only breeds I think that are supposed to lay those super dark chocolate eggs are Marans or Welsummer. You can compare pictures on the hatchery sites.

 

[Chick N Haus]

I'd vote for Welsummer.