4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[HENthusiastic]

I am really upset and really angry with myself. I'm ashamed to be writing this, but I need some advice. I have just shut my poor poor Fricky off her eggs for FOUR HOURS!!! Is there any hope or will I have killed them all? they are due to hatch next Wednesday. She has gone straight back on them now. I can not believe I have done this

[Redwing]

These things happen Hen don't beat yourself up

 

I read a similar thing on the Practical Poultry forum and people did say don't give up on the eggs, I think its better to happen later rather than earlier as the chicks inside the eggs can generate more heat than an embryo in the very early days

 

I ahve also read threads where incubator power has gone off etc and eggs subsequently hatched

 

Is the Fricky now back on the eggs happily?

[Lewis]

Theres still hope

 

My incubator was off for 2 or 3 hours when the power cable went and I was trying to fix it, and 9 hatched. I've seen stories of 6+ hours and all chicks hatching, and as its a warm day today it should be better for the eggs.

 

Good luck

[Moozle]

Oh gosh, i'm sure they will be ok

Dont beat youself up over it, if she stays broody over them the next day or so, and doesnt kick any out its a good sign they are fine.

[Griffin]

I lost quite a few eggs during a five hour power cut but that was at night. It hasn't been too cold today, I'd think most will be fine.

[HENthusiastic]

Thanks for your words of reassurance. Its going to be a hard week, waiting to see. And of course, I will blame myself if any /all of them don't hatch!

 

Fricky has gone straight back onto the eggs and flattened herself on them well. I'm sure she was glaring at me. She has got 3 RIRs and 4 light sussex. She went broody 2 days before I went away for a week, so I went to great lengths to get hold of some eggs as fast as I could. I DO SO hope they are okay. I guess all I can do now is wait.

[Griffin]

I've got eggs due to hatch the same day as yours under Tiger Lily. She's on two bantam blue buff columbian Brahmas and four bantam Polands. There were four more but they candled clear last week so I hoiked them out. I was worried that even the last remaining six she was on wouldn't develop because I often look in on her and she one poking out and it's cold but I've candled them and they're definitely still growing so the cold hasn't affected them as much as I thought it would.

[bronze]

yes don't give up hope. I did something similar and one (of 3 eggs) still hatched

[Egluntyne]

The weather is warm, so they might not have cooled down too much. All is not lost.

[The Dogmother]

Fingers crossed HEN.

[HENthusiastic]

I'm feeling quite hopeful now after all your comments. Thank you so much. Whenever I turn her off the nest now, I set my phone alarm for when shes due to go back in. I will make sure it NEVER happens again.

[craftyhunnypie]

I have a feeling that you will have some little chickies very soon. I'm certain they will hatch.

 

Emma.x

[HENthusiastic]

Thanks. I've not got long to wait to find out now eh? . I swear she still glares at me when ever she sees me.

[Tulip]

Don't worry HEN - our serama eggs were stolen and then dumped overnight by a semi-broody. They were reeeeally cold when I found them in the morning (in May) but hatched successfully (a bit too successfully - both boys!)

[HENthusiastic]

I heard cheeping One of her eggs is cheeping Horray, I didn't kill the eggywegg babys

 

Anybody know how long it usually takes between hearing the eggs cheeping and hatching??

[Griffin]

I think if you can hear cheeping it means it's pipped internally.

[The Dogmother]

Usually only a couple of days HEN

[Egluntyne]

Any news?

[HENthusiastic]

One little blond baby light sussex. Born sometime this morning shortly before 9am! So far, no sign of any of the other eggs doing anything . Fricky is at the field. I left there at about 4pm. OH is going to check again mid evening. I was wondering if the RIR eggs might take a little longer to 'cook' because they are so much bigger?

ANyway, one little baby makes me feel happy that I didn't kill them! More would be great. But if its just the one, so be it .

(did I mention Henrietta is sat on 6 eggs due next week??? )

[Redwing]

Thats great news Hen, congratulations

[The Dogmother]

Blimey HEN, it's like a labour ward at your place!

[HENthusiastic]

oh no jennys just gone broody what shall I do???

[Redwing]

ummm, sit on your hands?

 

Seriously, not sure if its a bit late in the year to be hatching under a broody with the cold weather on the way, any chicks will be hatching late Sept, someone will be able to advise i'm sure

[Chook n Boo Mum]

With my limited experience I say, unless they can be housed somewhere quite warm & protected....maybe inside your stable?.....find a bucket of cold water & dunk her .

 

My babies (5wks on Thursday) have been fine outside, but I really wouldn't want to have any unfeathered from here on into autumn, they are so tiny & very vulnerable to the chill of Sept/Oct wind & wet stuff I'd have thought, so would mum if she can't get up & move around & feed properly due to having to keep the chicks warm.

 

I could be totally wrong & an overprotective "first-timer", but that's my feelings, hope they help

 

Congrats on the "first born" by the way

 

Sha x

[The Dogmother]

It will be a bit late HEN; I have hatched this time in September and it was the latest I'd to TBH. It can turn cold quite suddenly and even with having a mummy around, they will need to be big enough to cope with the cold spells.