AndreaT Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 (edited) Pipers first hatch is due on Saturday so the countdown has started! The non-slip mat has arrived so I plan on putting that in tomorrow afternoon after doing a final clean and I'll also be making a trip to the feed store to pick up chick crumb. I'm going to put link-a-board round the bottom of the run later in the week and I might move the whole thing slightly so it's on fresh grass that hasn't been broody poo'd on! Just a quick question; when should she be in lockdown from? Should I just leave her to it after I shut her in on Thursday? Friday is day 20. Piper has done really well but we did have a bit of a set back last night. When I went to open the coop and check on her this morning she had broken one of the wellsummer eggs. I didn't examine it too closely but it was definitely fertile. 7 eggs left though so fingers crossed they all make it. Edited June 10, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Day 18 is usually the best time to go into lock down. That way, any early arrivals can't wander off and get lost and Mum has at least a day or so to get used to the slightly more confined conditions. Good luck! Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted May 14, 2013 Author Share Posted May 14, 2013 Thanks Andrew. I'm slightly concerned now as when I got home today she wasn't sat on a couple of the eggs and they were cool. I did the clean out and she's back on them all but I've no idea how long they were left. Just have to wait and see what happens now and keep everything crossed It's very stressful this hatching business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 Eek! Just went to check on the mum to be and there was half an empty shell next to her Couldn't see or hear any chicks so I'm just going to leave her to it. It's so difficult trying not to peep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 Yeah, that's a good sign. There will be a chick under mum . Don't worry if you can't hear it yet, mum will muffle the sound. Also don't worry if the shell disappears, mum will often eat it, as its a good source of nutrients. When you do lift mum out be careful, the chick(s) could be tucked under her or inside a wing. You don't want them dropping out. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 Woohoo, Piper has three lovely fluffy chicks I'll get some pics once she lets me see them again! Question is what do I do with the remaining eggs? When I checked on her just now see wasn't sat on a couple of them (there's four remaining) so I shook them very gently and the definitely sounded a bit sloshy. I'm guessing that means they're not going to hatch and I should take them away? She tucked them back under her so she's still wanting to sit on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Congrats. Well from my new experience, let the chicken make that choice. She will decide when she has had enough. I found one of my chickens remaining egg in the eglu run yesterday - she somehow threw it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 I've taken the decision to remove the remaining eggs as the were all sloshy But here are the three lovely chicks I have a welsummer, a black silkie and I think the other is a home grown GL orp x australorp. Does anyone know if the welsummer is a boy or a girl? I may need to get a better picture of its eyeliner! Unfortunately the orpingtons didn't hatch, which are what I really wanted. Fortunately Crisatal is broody so I may just have to get her some orp eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 26, 2013 Share Posted May 26, 2013 Very cute! Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted May 26, 2013 Share Posted May 26, 2013 They are very sweet Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Pipers chicks are now 3 weeks old and I can't believe how much they've grown! I've got a feeling that at least two are boys, the other's a silkie so it could be a while until I know about that one. This little one loves hitching a ride on mum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Wow they're tiny compared to my 4 week old La Bresse, I guess why they're used as meat birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
