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[Tadpole]

Hello All

 

My silkie is sitting on pekin eggs I got from the kent county show. I candled them about 5 days ago and 4 out of 6 looked good. Of course this is my first time candling or hatching so I am guessng.

 

The morning of day 20 (yesterday) one egg had pipped. Yesterday evening I saw 2 chicks.

 

Its just breathtaking the first time you see your own chicks peep out from under the hen

 

My hen is still sitting on the remaining eggs with the chicks underneath. If the rest havn't hatched by now , does that mean they wont ?

 

I had a little peek, didnt want to disturb her to much and the remaining eggs show no sign of holes. She still seems to be turning them and keeping them warm.

 

Can there be a day or two between chicks hatching from the same batch ?

 

How long shall I leave it before removing the remaining eggs ?

 

One chick has kitten like markings, its slate grey with a white bib. The other has a yellow head but its bum is sort of brownish. They both have feathered legs. I have seen one eat chick crumb and drink. My silkie dosnt appear to have left the nest box to eat herself. I have given her a slice of cucumber and a bit of apple which she is devouring, but I am worried because she seems to be chewing it up and trying to feed a chick with it.

 

Will this make the chick ill ?

 

Thank you "a worried mum"

[Raina]

I'm not sure sorry,

 

When my uncle was using a broody to hatch some eggs he waited until the hen stopped sitting on them, Then put them in the bin.

 

I think he said that one of the eggs hatched 2 - 3 days after the others

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I left Buffie to make the decision that the remaining 3 eggs were unviable. 2 of them had pipped but it would appear weren't strong enough to make it out of the shell , sad but even if they had made it out, would they have survived the big bad outside world...this was the tack I took with the children and it has made it much easier to accept.

 

Don't worry too much about the chicks eating, they will have absorbed the yolk & would be ok for at least 24hours after hatching, mum will ensure that the babies eat at her own expense (see post broody Buffie...... post) My broody Buffie has fed her babies for the entire duration of their short lives and doesn't seem to be feeding herself...I am now syringing a sloppy mix into her so I know she's actually getting some food into her, as well as the baytril prescribed by the vet in case she has picked up an infection somewhere along the line. She is much improved since yesterday thankfully. I only mention this because I don't want you to experience the same as I have...it's dreadful thinking you may lose one of your girls and put her babies at risk too .

 

Good luck with your little'uns,

 

Sha x

[Tadpole]

Thank you both, that makes me feel better. I have been to have a little look today, She is still sitting tight. The 2 babies are gorgeous

 

 

 

 

I am closely monitoring the broody. She is eating and drinking and coming out for a stretch now.

 

I hope your hen starts picking up soon Wild Mum.

[teri]

hi tadpole congratulations on your they are loverly

i have recently used a very broody silkie to hatch 7 chicks. like you i had no previous experience, i didn't manage to candle the eggs so i just left my broody to it. six of the chicks hatched on the wednesday when everyone was out! by the time we found them they were already dry and fluffy and walking around! my broody remained sitting on 6 eggs and late on thursday number seven hatched. the following day all seven and mum were up and walking around their run. the remaining 5 eggs were cold so i binned them. be careful when removing the remaining eggs because it they were never fertile they will be very rotten by now and can pop which is completely revolting one of mine did! the easiest way is to pop a carrier bag over your hand as if you were poop scooping that way if they do pop their contents is contained!

trust your broody she will do whats best.