Mums to be...

[snakeshack]

finally got 6 out of 18 of the e-bay eggs to hatch,one with yukky yolk-sac which I pts,one found dead in brooder,so the 4 chicks I have left are 2 black orpingtons a welsummer and one gold silkie,have cracked open the remaing 8 all fully developed but dead in shell (should have hatched last saturday.
have now bought 12 more eggs on e-bay,4 burford browns,4 cream legbar and 4 cotswold legbar.
I will be setting these tomorrow morning after their 24 hr rest,these eggs are noticably bigger than the last ones and the burford browns are HUGE

[jessmorris]

Burford Brown, haven't heard of them...(goes off to Google them immediately!!)

[Jimmy Glasgow]

Getting labour pains now, just reading this.

[sqweek01]

Hello,

My ladies have have got 3 days (including today) left to sit. I think I managed to time the hatch okay as I've got the next four weeks off. This is the time of year when working in school catering pays off!

I've only got 6 (duck) eggs but I have 2 chooks sat on them! I listened to the eggs for the first time this morning & I got 2 or 3 cheeps & scratches, which is quite positive considering I've found 3 eggs outside of the nestbox.

Regards

Clare

[gillian62]

We are struggling with our eggs. Our 2 eggs that started pipping on Friday still haven't fully hatched. Still breathing and tweeting, but the membranes seem to be getting too tough for them to move. One has a foot out though now. The other 6 eggs, no movement with them at all. I am a little upset, as my 12 year old son has had a couple of sleepless nights worrying about them, as the chickens are our project.

Not sure what to do with the hatching eggs, about 1/2 cracked open by chicks.

[Suechooks]

Make sure the membrane hasn't dried out as it gets too tough for them to break through. I put a couple of drops of warm water on mine when that happened. Just be careful not to overdo it.

[kirsty b]

Hi Guys,

been busy so not been online very much.....candled my eggs and I think 5 out of the 12 are fertile. Not brilliant but better than expected for eggs bought from a roadside honesty box for �2!!

[Glutton4...]

LOL Kirsty!

My first Broody is still sitting tight on the twelve assorted eggs. The second can't make her mind up, so I've sin-binned her. She was only on 'crock' eggs, as I wasn't sure of her commitment, so is now in my Dog cage (which I bought to transport Chooks), up on blocks, so has plenty of air round her. She has pellets and water - and a NASTY disposition at the moment, but I'm sure she'll cool down in a day or so.

Today is Day Twelve. I'm not a nervous wreck, yet!

Will I need to get the chicks a heat lamp?

[sheena]

I should imagine you would need a heat lamp if broody is raising babies, just cos she's sitting on the eggs, don't mean to say she would give up being mum after the event.
Although I feel I should of done that with my DS (x3) when they were born :P Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Word to the wise.. keep chickens instead! lol

[Nicos]

Day 5 on my 2 Marans egg-my tiny bantam Betty is sooo chuffed with herself!...horizontal wings with an egg tucked under each armpit!!!!

..boy does she let the geese know to keep well away!!!!!....good gal- I knew she'd be the best for the job!

[vicky]

Hooray - we have one! This little one hatched this afternoon, there's another pipping behind and another egg is cheeping!
The other eggs aren't due till wed so hopefully she'll sit for a few more days.
Would have put this up sooner but spent the afternoon at A&E with the 3 year old (note I also sent last weekend at A&E with him too...)

[sqweek01]

Yay, I have a hatchee!

Mum hasn't moved much yet but I have seen a tiny leg & some yellow fluff. There's plenty of cheeping, a broken eggshell & I've seen another egg pipping too. I can't believe it!

Congrats to you other Mums

Regards

Clare

[Glutton4...]

Good luck with the hatches, ladies!

Wassup with your three-year old Vicky!?

[RichmondHens]

Will I need to get the chicks a heat lamp?

No - Mum will cover them all. They will hatch knowing where the heat source is, ie mum, and automatically burrow into her feathers each time they feel cold.

[RichmondHens]

We are struggling with our eggs. Our 2 eggs that started pipping on Friday still haven't fully hatched. Still breathing and tweeting, but the membranes seem to be getting too tough for them to move. One has a foot out though now. The other 6 eggs, no movement with them at all. I am a little upset, as my 12 year old son has had a couple of sleepless nights worrying about them, as the chickens are our project.

Not sure what to do with the hatching eggs, about 1/2 cracked open by chicks.

How are they doing? The one with the foot out might make it. Like Sue says, wet the shells a little to stop the membranes getting too dry. If they have been pipped since Friday though their chances are not great. They may by now be too weak to get any further. Sorry. I usually give mine 24 hrs to get out by themselves then assist if they are not making progress.