Snowy Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) It's finally arrived! Hatching day Lulu has been a brilliant little broody - she has sat tight, taking herself off the nest once a day to poo then settling back on her nest. Saturday I took the advice of Dancing in the Dark and filled up the eglu with aubiose and added a chick drinker and a bowl of chick crumb. This morning I finally heard sounds of cheaping coming from the eggs, so took the final step of closing the eglu door and adding more aubiose to bring the level up to the edge of the nest box. This evening I checked again and found this little one tucked under her skirts! How amazing! A quick peek and I can see that another has pipped. I think this first one is a barred wyandotte - so there are 2 more dotty eggs to go, plus 4 lemon cuckoo pekins. I am at work all day tomorrow - how frustrating! I will post updates as things progress Edited August 7, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 That is good news. Yesterday I was just wondering how your eggs were getting on. Shame you have to go to work. The two hatches I have done I have tried to time so OH was at home, as he is away most weeks but this hatch is due in a frotnight so he will probably miss it this time. Looking forward to hearing an update later. Love the photos Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 What a pretty Lulu Fingers crossed you get 6 out of 6.....and they are all girls Its just the best time, watching the babies play around Mum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Ooo lovely! Any more chicks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I am glad you seem happy with my advice, and that I managed to explain it right. The chick looks great and lulu is beautiful, it's so hard not to disturb her too much, but it's for the babies own good! I am so jealous, I love the babies I have, but if I have a spare eglu......(I have two very broody girls at the moment) It'll be great when they get outside and start diving in and out from mummy's feathers after a warming session! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Just got home from work and had a quick check - the one dark chick and two yellow chicks with feathery feet! Adorable! There are still 2 dotty eggs and 2 pekin eggs unhatched, I presume as this is day 21 that they are best left a bit longer to see if they will hatch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 What beautiful pics! Enjoy watching them grow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 I went out to have another look at Lulu and noticed she was clucking and pecking at a stem of grass that was growing up the inside of the eglu! So I dropped a handful of chick crumb under her beak and she got stuck in. Suddenly a little head popped up from inside her feathers, had a look around and decided to join Mum for supper! It must be a he, it's too precocious! Click on the pic to see a short video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 How cute! Love the little cheeping in the video, it's so sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Ahhhh they are so cute Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Awww god Snowy - they are so cute!! Nothing sweeter than a hen & her chicks. My little madams are unreliable this year! I like the eyeliner on the dotty - surely wearing eyeliner is a girls thing? Ha ha ha! I love the little yellow Peepo chick! Adorable exactly. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 lovely chicks Thats not a barred Wyandotte though..... from above it looks like one but they dont have gold on their faces, its possibly a gold laced wyandotte - goodness knows where that came from! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 lovely chicks Thats not a barred Wyandotte though..... from above it looks like one but they dont have gold on their faces, its possibly a gold laced wyandotte - goodness knows where that came from! And there was me relying on you to ID it! Oh well, it's gorgeous anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 8, 2012 Author Share Posted August 8, 2012 Checked the unhatched 4 eggs this morning - gave them a gentle shake and could hear sloshing sounds. Just to check I put them into a clear plastic bag and knotted the neck before breaking the shells! All infertile, just yellow yolk inside. I'm quite pleased with that - was dreading finding one dead in shell. I wasn't sure about this egg so left it a bit longer, but Lulu decided she'd had enough and chose that moment to abandon the nest and show her babies where the food was! She started to seem a bit restless cooped up inside the eglu, so I spent some time chick proofing the run and opened the eglu door. She did come out for a bit, but the chicks didn't brave the outdoors. They seemed happy paddling in their food dish I've just been out and shut them in again for the evening - Lulu has settled down with them all tucked into her skirts. The two lemon cuckoo pekin chicks: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Awww they are georgeous Lulu looks like she is being a very attentive mum. Lovely pictures. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 So so sooo gorgeous! I absolutely adore your photos. You have a lovely mummy hen and such sweet chicks!! I am too new to chickens to be thinking about hatching but this has made me want to invest in buying bits and bobs so I am able to hatch in the future. Fab Can't wait to see how they grow x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 Ohhhhh they are sooooo cute. I am very Love all the pics and the video is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Very cute! Think they've got the best chick-friendly run ever, looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Gorgeous pics! Had thought I probably wouldn't hatch again after my one nearly catastrophic go this year (only one hatchling who got cocci, but survived it thank goodness) - but having seen your pics I'm having second thoughts!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Oo they are sooo sweet. I loved the little squeeking and cheeping video. Awww. Adorable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 16, 2012 Author Share Posted August 16, 2012 They are growing ever so fast! Getting their little winglets already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Ohhh can't believe how cute they are - making me very broody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 Oh and they have names now - the dark one is Bolt and the yellow ones are Mo and Jess. Bit of an olympic theme going on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 They are so cute, look at their little wing feathers growing. I love the names, we have only just named ours from Easter, we had named a few characters but knew some would go back so didn't name them all, we still need a name for the gold laced wyandotte They look lovely with their mummy If any of the silkies hatch next week and are girls for Tumble I may try hatching with a broody next year Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Oh and they have names now - the dark one is Bolt and the yellow ones are Mo and Jess. Bit of an olympic theme going on Love their names! The photos are fantastic! I can't wait to get more chook experience so I can hatch in the future...the chicks are just adorable and it's great to see them grow up! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
