Griffin Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 (edited) I've got three Silkie eggs in my incubator. I bought six for Tiger Lily who promptly decided she didn't want to be broody on the day they arrived in the post So after my last disasterous hatch where the temperature was too low I fiddled around with it a bit more and put these eggs in, thinking they could start off in there and then go to Tiger if she went broody again. She hasn't and they're still in there One was clear and two have popped their clogs in the last few days leaving three. I can't remember what day I put them in but my friend Graham is incubating some Speckled Sussex and I swear I put mine in the same day as him because I'm brooding the Sussex chicks here and he says they're due Thursday. I thought it was Friday. Well it's soon anyway Mine are bantam though so maybe earlier. He says he stopped turning his last night so this afternoon I thought I'd better stop turning mine and set up the incy as a hatcher. There is one egg in there that looks really manky, it's quite dirty but as I don't wash eggs I left it as it was and thought 'that'll never hatch' but as I was moving them this afternoon I could feel the chick moving inside the egg Daisy held it and she could feel it too If it hatches we'll have to call it Manky Chick Edited May 19, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 Two of them are talking to me And two of their Sussex cousins have pipped in deepest darkest Buckinghamshire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Hurrah! come on chicks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 That is so exciting, keep us posted! I so hope I have talking eggs next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Not much sleep for you tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Exciting!! Its the best and worst bit, knowing they're on their way ... but having to wait hours to see them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 One of their Sussex cousins hatched this evening Mine are wobbling and cheeping but nothing else to report yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Yayyyy here we go here we go here we go . . . . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 4, 2010 Author Share Posted March 4, 2010 One has hatched but it has splayed legs A gorgeous bearded blue splash chickie. The other two eggs are still cheeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 Poor little chick, hope it is alright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 4, 2010 Author Share Posted March 4, 2010 It's such a crushing feeling, one minute absolutely delighted to find the most beautiful chick has hatched during the night and the next feeling like I've been hit by a tonne of bricks because the poor thing isn't right I'll sticky plaster it's legs this morning and put it in the brooder where I can keep a closer eye on it than I can in the incubator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 I'm sure it will be the fittest little thing ever once its little leggies are sorted. Um, piccies soon??? Eh? Eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share Posted March 5, 2010 An eventful day Yesterdays blue splash chick almost commited suicide in the night because he'd wriggled out from under the electric hen and couldn't figure out the way back. When I got up this morning it was stone cold in the corner of the cage and I thought it was dead. I shed a few tears then moved on to chick number two who was half in half out of his shell but had membrane welded to a wing so he couldn't get out. Run him under the tap and freed him. He's now in the brooder with Lazarus, the blue splash who is back from the dead! The girls got him out for a farewell cuddle and he moved! So shoved him back under the electric hen where he warmed up and is now very much alive! Number two is either very dark blue or black but is in need of a bath at some point because it's got gluey membrane stuck on it's head. It's toes are scrunched up so it's now wearing shoes. He walks like Pingu, hence the name. Tonight they're sharing their brooder with six tins of various types of beans so that I could block off most of the exit from the electric hen and now Lazarus can't attempt suicide again. If I can get his legs into the right position I'll then start on straightening his toes. The outlook for them both doesn't look great but we'll try our best. Lazarus: Getting help to stand up: Baby seal impression: Before the plasters: Pingu, with a face only a mother could love: Refusing to stand up in his new shoes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 They are sooo cute! Hopefully they'll both get better over the next couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 Umm Pingu looks ...interesting.. Aww they are both lovely - fingers crossed for them both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 My, Pingu, what big eyes you have! Awwwwww - it looks quite soulful. All hail Lazarus - what a lovely little birdie, makes my eyes water just looking at those legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 Aw give that Pingu time she's going to be another Bacon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 We've said good bye to Lazarus this morning Pingu is going to have another pair of shoes fitted before I go to work. His feet have improved alot. He's been eating and drinking unaided too and looks to have turned a corner I'm due to collect his Sussex friends next Sunday but if he shows signs of being distressed I'll go sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Awww, poor Lazarus - must be hard on the kiddiwinkies. Hope Pingu goes from strength to strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Oh dear poor Lazarus, but we are all hoping Pingu makes it and glad to here its feet are improving. I am still concerned about one of my SL dotte chicks - it can now run but not walk on its legs (a bit like a toddler when they start walking and cannot balance and have to keep going!) - today I saw it eat, but it is now the only one I haven't seen drink - I have managed to get a few drops in, but doesn't fully understand as yet. Good luck. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Good luck with Pingu - seems to be turning a corner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 Pingu looks a lot prettier now S/He is blue I've taken his shoes off this afternoon to see how he's getting on. I don't think his feet are going to get much better than they are now and I want him to start using them properly. He walks almost on his hocks but has used his feet a few times. I'll have to take a video so you can see what I mean. I hope as he strengthens up, gains muscle on his legs, that he'll use them properly. They might never be perfect but as long as he can get around, which he can at the moment, and doesn't seem in pain he can have a chance. I suspect he probably is a boy and if he is he'll be culled sooner rather than later but hopefully he is a girl and I don't mind her staying as long as she's comfortable. He seems happy enough on his own so for now I'll stick with the original plan of collecting the Sussex chicks on Sunday. That way he's got some extra time to gain strength before joining in the rough and tumble. Molly is ever so upset about losing Lazarus She did a brilliant job of nursing him on Saturday while I was working. Life isn't fair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 15, 2010 Author Share Posted March 15, 2010 Yesterday Pingu was joined by two new friends, Luna and Mister Watzisname. The plan was that when I got to my friends house I'd sex the chicks and bring back the girls. Sadly we were both in agreement that he'd managed to hatch three boys and one girl Two of the boys I was definite about but the third one wasn't as boyish so I said I'd give it the benefit of the doubt. Now that they're home I can see we were right, it is a boy I wasn't going to rear any boys for the table for a while but it looks as if Mister Watzisname is here to stay until it's his turn for a go in the oven I couldn't decide on a name so I've named him after a racehorse I like Daisy has called the girl Luna which I think is really pretty. After ignoring his new friends last night Pingu is now delighted they are here. He's had such a big grin on his face as he cuddles up to them and has been copying them feeding which I'm pleased about because he's a scrawny little runt. It's hard to describe the way he walks but over the last couple of days he's been using less and less of his feet until now he's walking just on the outside of one toe. So the shoes have gone back on this morning. I really really hope they make a difference. He's fought so hard, gone through so much in his short life and I want him to prove me wrong, be a girl and have a good life. Mister Watzisname Pingu Pingu and MW MW and Luna, he's behind you! Luna Pingu MW & Luna Pingu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Awwww they're lovely - it's amazing how diddy Pingu looks up against the other two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 What a little poppet Pingu is..........I hope his feet get sorted soon Lovely newbies too of course Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
