FINGERS CROSSED!! - PHOTOS PG 2!!!

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Poppy7

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So, after splitting my hens the buff Pekin is now back to her usual self and broken of her brooding as. My lavender is still sitting tight on all 10 eggs and we are on day 18. I AM SO EXCITED!!!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that at least 1 or 2 eggs will hatch. More for my children than me. They have been so patient and it would be wonderful to have just a few chicks hatch out of 10. They would be delighted if this happened.

Any tips now we are on day 18? I don't know what I'll do if none hatch (I'll be so disappointed....).
 
Sure some will hatch Poppy7. The only problem I can see is, because she has so many eggs to cover, some perfectly good ones will have not had as much heat so will hatch late and be abandoned. Best have an incubator set up on standby, if you have one. The late hatchers can then be added afterwards. I think the more eggs you give them, the smaller percentage of them are successful.
 
Thanks guys :-)17

Good point about the amount of eggs Chris....hadn't thought of that. I bought them when both hens were broody so they could have 5 each....I then learnt that separating them and have one broody would be better.

I tried candling to see if I could filter any bad eggs out but I was useless :oops: decided to play it safe and just leave her with all 10.

I don't have an incubator so nature will just have to take its course now.

When you are counting the days until hatching do you count the evening that you put them under the hen as a day? If yes we will be on day 21 tomorrow. If not we have 2 days left. Do bantam eggs hatch earlier than larger eggs?

Many thanks.
 
The first 24 hours' incubation is Day 0 and becomes Day 1 once 24 hours has passed. This is like a baby only becoming 1 when his first year is complete. So 2 days left, although sometimes they may be a few hours earlier or a day or so later, depending on various factors such as temperature and humidity, also coverage by the hen, as Chris says.
 
Thanks Marigold. I'm panicking now as we are due to go away on Fridays afternoon and return on Sunday. Will it be safe to leave her to it or should I postpone the trip?
 
Best to let her get on with it undisturbed I would think. At least she hasn't got to give birth to them herself, and if anything should go wrong with the hatch of any of the eggs there would be very little you could do anyway. You won't know in advance whether or not she will know how to look after the chicks - it's not unknown for a new mum to kill them because she doesn't realise what they are - not wanting to frighten you, but again, if his did happen there wouldn't be anything could do if you didn't have a brooder ready warmed up to take them.
Will somebody be coming in to check that the two hens are OK whilst you're away? They could perhaps text or phone to let you know what is happening.
 
I thought the same Marigold. I don't intend to intervene at all so what will be will be. My brother always looks after chooks, rabbits and mouse when were away so he'll pop in once a day starting from Friday evening until Sunday morning.

I hope a chick or two arrives before we leave though!
 
I've checked on the hen today and noticed at least two of the eggs pipping!! I couldn't resist a look but tried not to disturb her too much.

We have now left the house but before we left I gave her a big drink and some food. I put a brick against the opening of the door. That way I thought the mum could jump out but then chicks won't be able to. There's a step back in to the house so i didn't want them getting stuck outside (hope that was the right thing to do).

My brother is going to be checking on them but i can't wait to get back home on Sunday to see what has happened.

If my brother looks and there are any dead chicks should he remove them? I think I'll ask him to leave any un hatched eggs as they may still hatch!!
 
Yes remove any dead chicks, no point leaving them, especially this warm weather. But I hope there won't be any dead ones!
Bet you will be dying to get back ASAP on Sunday.
 
We are homeward bound and very excited!!

I spoke to my brother yesterday and he could hear chicks under the hen. He couldn't see them as he didn't want to disturb her but he could hear at least two cheeping!!

I'll update later when I get home :) How long should I leave the broody with any unhatched eggs?
 
We have 3 chicks!!

Two beautiful lavender Pekins and a black mottled Pekin with frizzle parentage...

I'm assuming its a black mottled frizzle....the egg had BFMP written on it?....

Hen has left the eggs for the last 3 hours but is back on them again now. Any tips? Should I remove the remaining 7 un hatched eggs?
 
Well done! What a lovely result! Is she being a good mum?
You could leave the unhatched ones for another 24 hours, they will do no harm and you just might get another chick.
Pictures, please!
 
It may be about 8 hours before the unhatched chicks are killed by the cold Poppy7. You never know she may hang around long enough for another to hatch.
 
She's a wonderful mum :-)17 Chicks are such time wasters though!!! I could sit for hours and watch them. She's taught them to eat and drink already. I just love the way they snuggle under her feathers. She's been teaching them to scratch around but sometimes they get in the way and cheep noisily at her when they get caught by her foot!

I had a good look at the eggs earlier and couldn't see any more pip holes but I'll leave them until tomorrow now to see what happens. I have some adorable photos of the children giving them a cuddle. They have named the chicks "sherif Callie", "grug" and "huggle monster" :lol: I'll try and upload photos.
 
Photos as promised.
 

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I'm glad you like them :D

The other eggs still haven't hatched so I think tonight I'll remove them and be brave and open them.....
 
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