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!