when to start counting?

[imaturtlefan]

I put eggs under my broody, it was middle of the day/evening... do you count the first day? or from the time? So I would say today at like 5 or 6pm would be day 20, and we are on day 19 till then? Just curious... still no pipping...my first time doing this, she got the eggs kinda messy once, and I cleaned them, so Im not sure they will hatch anyway, but hoping to get a few anyway

I have more eggs to try again if not.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Quote:
For me I count the next day as day 1 if I have set eggs in the afternoon/evening. I don't candle or bother my broodys when they are setting on eggs, they know more about natures hatching methods than I ever would.

 

[dretd]

The easiest way to do it is to not count days, but weeks. Look at your calendar and if you set the eggs, say on Saturday April 2nd, count 3 weeks ahead to Saturday April 23rd. If you set them at 6 pm, then the 21st day would start at 6pm on the 23rd.

If you count it out, then start counting day 1 as 24 hours after you set them so day one would be 6pm on the 24th and so on until you get to day 21 which will be 6 pm on the 23rd (21 days+2 day of the month=23rd). Two ways of counting the same thing.

 

[imaturtlefan]

I havent really messed with the eggs too much, but she refuses to leave her nest for anything. She wont even get up to go to the bathroom, so I had to get her off the nest everyday for a few minutes so she would go. One day that I didnt make her get off, she "leaked a little" I think she was doing her best to continue holding... it certainly wasnt a full bowel movement, but as soon as I picked her up and set her down it all came out. So, shes very committed, maybe to her own, and her eggs demise?

Thanks guys for the help on the counting... and I just checked again and re counted the days, looks like Easter is the 21st day!

Funny, I had a dream last night that all but 1 egg hatched, wonder if my hen dreams about the same things, lol. Ok, Im pathetic, I know.

 

[dretd]

Quote:
Good luck on the Easter hatch!
We have a pair of 2 month old chicks and eggs in the incubator due in 9 days. My daughter told me this morning she dreamt that 2 of the eggs hatched out fully feathered clones of the Millie and Soleil and she couldn't tell them apart! You are in good company!

 

[imaturtlefan]

I see my first pip!

The reason I see it, is because my broody decided to get off the nest, now... and the eggs have cooled substantially...not cold, but I put her back on, she settled back in...hope they are ok

 

[dretd]

Quote:
I am sure they will be fine--don't stress about it! There wouldn't be any chickens around if it didn't work out for them

 

[imaturtlefan]

I can hear the eggs peeping! at least a couple...

 

[imaturtlefan]

4 sizzles and 3 easter eggers! Only 1 egg didnt hatch, and I was fairly sure it wasnt fertile anyway...