The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 (edited) My cleo has been sitting on fertilised eggs for about 19 days now, i read that they should be hatching tomorrow and i just went out to find one of them with most of the shell cracked off but the membrane still in tact. i don't know if she's cracked it herself by sitting on it or if its hatching do i help it by breaking the membrane or just leave it to itself? it didn't seem to be moving much. ive never hatched eggs before and im pretty clueless.. and don't worry, ive already got someone on hand to deal with any males that may be born. thanks for any advice you can give jem xxxx Edited June 8, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Glad to see you back Jem - was wondering where you were. They often take a whole line of shell off round the middle - like a mini equator - but I haven't heard of this before. It can take up to 24 hours for a chick to go from pipping to totally out of the shell. Is it cheeping or moving? It might just be having a little rest before the final push. If she's not still sitting on it then the membrane may have become too dry. Where's the egg now Jem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 it's like the top side of the eggs shell has cracked off but the membrane is completely in tact.(made me think she'd just sat on it. ) the membrane looks very thick though which is why i was wondering if i should help. i put the egg back under cleo but unnder her wing so its warm but not squished. EDIT: oh yeah and it didn't look like it was moving and couldnt hear any noise. i think i saw it twitching slightly. cleos a first time mum, i put the egg in front of her to see if she knew what to do and she pecked at it lightly then went back into her brood trance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Well, from what I have read, sussex's make excellent broodies so your little egg is in the best of hands (wings). My instinct with our hatch was to just let the broodies get on with it and whatever will be, will be. I really don't know what you should do Jem, probably Claret, Lesley or Crafthunnypie are your best bet, they have much more experience of hatching. Sorry I can't help but I don't want to advise you wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 It's not a good idea to help the chick hatch. If it hasn't got the strength to do it for itself, then it is unlikely to be here for long. Have you got separate accommodation set up for mum and babies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 yeah that sounds good, its cleo's first clutch but i she seems to know what she's doing. yeah i've got a little wooden run buried in the ground slightly with very small mesh so the chicks can't get out and its quite a small run so they can stay lose to cleo. it has a ramp up to the bed area, will they be able to climb this do you think? and can i move her nesting area once they've hatched? her nest is in another house. also, can she keep them warm enough herself? she just sits there in a trance 24/7 and wouldn't get off the nest unless i took her off and practically poured food down her throat. i hope she changes when /if the chicks arrive. sorry about the delay in reply, i had to go catch the ducks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Yes they will be plenty warm enough - they go broody at this time of year as it's the perfect conditions to give the chicks the best chance. My pekin chicks were small enough to get through the bars of an eglu run (like little bumble bees!) but they only tried it once. They will stay close to mum and if they go too far she will call them back. Once the chicks have started hatching she will start looking after them. That was the problem with our hatch, we had an early one on the Tuesday and the girls abandoned the nest that friday to look after the chicks, leaving cheeping eggs to go cold, which nearly broke my heart, but they were doing what nature dictates. Better than neglecting the chicks to sit on dud eggs but really tough to see it happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 aww that's so sad, but as you say the chickens know what's best. i didn't know eggs cheeped, i guess that means that one is probably not going to hatch, it's silent. oh well, she'd got 15 more eggs to go and its only day 18 on the eggs. fingers crossed. i was worried that the chickens might escape the eglu so i think ill keep them in my other run, its got like mesh wire so they definitely won't fit through. i might bring a few inside in a cage though if she proves to be a bad mum. that's how i looked after new born chicks at woodside and they seemed fine. i can break the old heat lamp out again, only jusy put it away from looking after ducklings. i don't have much luck with chicksn with all the roosters ive had and fox attacks etc. i hope this goes okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 going to get an early night now and hope there are some more posotive signs in the morning. thanks very much for all advice and support. chicken keepers are so lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Pimlott Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 do not help it if you dont know what you are doing as the chick will bleed to death if you tear the membrane. Chicken eggs will hatch at day 21 from day 18 onward they absorb the yoke. if the shell has been crushed then humidity is lost & the membrane will become tough & stick to the chick plus the fact the air supply has gone. I am afaid the outcome for this little chick is not good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 hooray! just went out to give cleo her morning feed and heard a little peeping, she's got one beautiful little grey chick underneath her and another egg has a hole in it and more peeping from inside. its so exciting. :dance: i can't beleive my silly bunch of chickens have managed to create something so beautiful. i think it must be an orpington bantam chick, bella and snapes baby. unfortunately you were right about the crushed egg from last night, looks like that chick didn't make it. should i remove the egg and throw it away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 I would. In this hot weather it wouldn't be a good idea to have it lying around. Good news about the little grey chick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Pimlott Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 yes she will just leave it any way or peck at it. congrats even after many years of hatching LOTS & LOTS of chicks i still get excited at hatch time it amazes me how they fit in the egg sometimes. enjoy you babies they grow so fast!!! Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 thankyou, i will. gonna go clean out and disinfect her new run and try and convince her to move. she couldn't have set up her nest in the right place ofcourse. or should i wait till more have hatched before trying to get her to move? the babies dont seem like theyre going anywhere anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 Can't give you any advice but Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 thanks:D i just checked on her and another has hatched. oo it's so exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 How many have hatched out now then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 2 out now and had a quick look at the eggs and i can see 3 more with holes being pecked in them. she was sitting on 16 eggs, 1 has died, 2 have hatched. 13 more to go. i was wondering though, some of them i think are a cross between light sussex and a maran and others i think are a cross between bantam orpington and a maran. will these hatch? i didn't know if all breeds could mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 It must be very exciting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 Pictures of the chicks. well, only one of them would poke his head out. im so proud of cleo! I think that is a pure blue orpington bantam and i've got another one that i think is a black rock maran cross. super excited about maybe more atching overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 aww how cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 Gorgeous Gorgeous pictures!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bexiboo Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 How sweet is that chick and her proud Mummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 I bet you're glad Cleo chose to come and live with you! Well done that hen! Jo x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 How lovely, I don't know HOW I've missed this thread, we've both been hatching chicks at the same time! We've got five so far with two eggs from our original clutch still left, I've a feeling they won't hatch now as the other five all hatched the same day. I'm desperate to clean the run too but I'm going to wait until everything that's going to hatch has hatched, then wait til any chicks are at least a couple of days old before I go in, ours are so much bolder after just 24 hours! I'll never forget seeing that first tiny head - even though I've been looking forward to it and waiting and waiting it still took me COMPLETELY by surprise. How fab is hatching chicks under a broody Here's our line up - fabulously looked after by OUR first timer too!! Speckle. Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
