Webcam in the bator...hatch done...cam in the brooder - Thanks all!

[arlee453]

yep - i still see movement in there... just being slow, I hope!

 

[earthnut]

Poor little tired chick! I see an occasional beak poking through the shell, but the crack hasn't developed at all!

 

[annrich]

hmmmmmmmmm.. Were did the baby go. I just seen it taken by a hand.... First there was an egg. Now it's gone.

 

[arlee453]

Made the decision to intervene in both the remaining chick. We're 1/2 way into day 24 for both of them.

The BR had not progressed at all in over 12 hours, and the buff longer than that. I honestly did not think the buff would still be alive this morning.

When I went to work on them, their membranes were totally stuck to them.

Hopefully they will be OK - I'll leave them in the bator until they have a chance to dry out and finish absorbing any yolk, etc.

I think the other 4 are quitters - I candled really well last night and saw absolutely no movement or evidence they were in the air cell.

So, once these guys dry, I'll move the cam over to the brooder so you all can see the end result!

 

[annrich]

I hope they will be OK. Thanks so much for doing this arlee. I think its great. I have never bought any chickens under 3 weeks. I might try hatching a few this spring. (maybe).

 

[arlee453]

Well everyone - thank you SO much for all your kind words and appreciation! I've had such a blast with this whole project from start to finish - from the beginning working with the kids each week, to the final hatch that I was able to share with everyone through the wonders of the internet!

I've moved the cam to the brooder now - you can watch the little guys running around being cute!

Final tally...

15 Barred Rocks went in the bator - 13 made it through to day 18 and all 13 hatched. These were Lisa (Dipsy Doodle Doo) and they were lively and strong from the minute I could candle them - not to mention they were packed expertly! Thank you thank you Lisa for sending such wonderful eggs!!

I had to help the last one today and he's still resting in the bator, but I hope

he'll pull through to join his friends over in the brooder. He's looking pretty lively - just has a little bit of a wet naval, so am giving him extra time to get that to dry up so the others don't peck at him.

So, final hatch % on those - 87%

14 Buff Orps from the other guys. Those eggs were well packed and arrived safely, but were an interesting mix of sizes and colors and porosity. From the start, they did not look as lively as Lisa's BRs when I candled, and always seemed to be a day behind in development as compared to the BRs.

12 made it through to day 19 - but 2 of those were iffy - showed development, but no movement, but figured I'd leave them just in case. Of those 12, 7 hatched on their own, and #8 hatched with a lot of help. That last one is not looking so good - seems very weak and I don't know if he'll make it or not.

So, 8 of 12 there - 75%.

I feel sure 3 of the bunch would not have been able to completely hatch with out help, but of the 3, 2 of them look good - just the last BO looks iffy at this point, and ya never know...

Thanks again for sharing the fun, everyone - I really can't remember anything in a long time that I got this excited about - and I really needed something like this to end a rather difficult year on a positive note!

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Awesome job incubating and hatching, Susan. I'm glad the kids got to experience hatching

It was a great idea to put the webcam in so everyone else ('cept me, I never could get my computer to cooperate) could share in the hatch.

Now for the big Q --- do they look BR-ish?

Lisa

 

[arlee453]

Well, Lisa - they are all black with yellowish spots on their heads and white/yellowish tummies...

Does that sound right?? LOL?

 

[Blisschick]

Yellow spots--looks like you got yourself some girls there!

They are so cute! I'm sitting here watching them laughing. I don't know what it is about chicks, but they are almost comical in the random movements they make. You can tell they are baby birdbrains at work.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

One of the BR babies looks a little unBRish, it's smaller and has some yellow or white on it's face...

They are all sleeping, too cute!!