cluckingmad Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Am so excited... Nutmeg has been an absolute trooper and has sat faithfully on her 8 eggs for 20 days as of this morning making tomorrow day 21 - in theory, due date How do I sleep tonight please?! Haven't heard any pipping today, poor girl was attacked by mites over the Bank Holiday so we waited till she came off the nest for her daily feed/drink/poop then very gently moved the eggs and took the eglu apart for a darn good anti-mite clean/spray. Eggs were replaced within 10mins and she was back on them within seconds, she's had a dose of noromectin from the vet to make sure any wee beasties are most definitely dead before chicks arrive. So, now alls done that can be done and I have to leave nature to it. And I want to keep listening at the coop!!! Did I mention that I was excited?! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Good luck. Just remember the first day your Nutmeg started sitting was day 0, not day 1. Either way, you should have a result to report to us by the end of the weekend. We've all got our finger crossed for you . Camera at the ready? Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 How exciting, I wouldn't be able to sleep either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Ahhhh, that was my next question - is the first day counted as day 1 or day 0 Really hope it happens over the weekend, my 2yr old has to go into hospital for an MRI scan on Monday so it'll be something to take our minds off that!! So, I'm gonna have to behave and leave her to it for a bit longer, I can wait!! We've popped a dish of crumb and a saucer of water with marbles in it near her in the coop so she doesn't have to move far, do we need to lock her down in the coop or just let her get up and off as she wants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 We've popped a dish of crumb and a saucer of water with marbles in it near her in the coop so she doesn't have to move far, do we need to lock her down in the coop or just let her get up and off as she wants? You need to ensure that any chicks that hatch can't stray very far from mum, especially if they hatch during the hours of darkness. They need the constant warmth of mum for the first 48hrs, if they wander off in the night they will get lost and cold and could perish. During the day, Mum is able to keep a better eye on things. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Thats great, thanks She's always shut into the eglu at night, theres a gap by the door which I intend to shore up tomorrow x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 How exciting for you. I have hatched three times but with an incubator and it was a wonderful experience. Keep us posted on what is happening and we love photos if you can manage it. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 WE HAVE PIPPING!!! Very excited now, thank goodness I'm not in work today Just been out to check on Mum to be and she's in great shape, she came off the nest herself to get a drink and could see the shell starting to be pipped, and can hear cheeping... hope they all make it out safely However, on a not-so-great note, we have mites again Evil little b........ ahem. Now then, Mum has had a dose of noromectin yesterday, and I've sprayed all visible crawlies with total mite kill. Am slightly horrified to see some crawling on MEEEEEEE!!! They have now been squished, rapidly. How can I protect the babies once they hatch as they'll be sitting ducks (well, chicks)? Plan is to wait till they venture out with Mum then strip the coop again and rescrub/spray. Can we dust the chicks with mite/louse powders at only a day or two old? Don't want them to go through hatching only to succumb to mites xxx Currently 8 under Nutmeg. 1 pipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 Well, am the proudest chicken Granny in the world! We so far have one little girl chick, peeping out from under Mum Mum very protective and clucking away gently to the other eggs so have made sure she has water close by and have left her to it. Gonna be a long and anxious wait till the evening when I'll pop up to her again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Fantastic news . Mum will sit tight on the remaining eggs for at least another two or three days. No need to worry about the first chick not obviously feeding or drinking, they have enough internal food reserve for at least two days. Mum will step in if she senses refreshment is needed after that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 Nutmeg is such a clever girl Four beautiful little babies seen happily chirruping today, two boys and two girls (thank goodness for autosexing breeds!)... 4 eggs left under her, she doesn't want to leave the nest yet so will see how she is tomorrow, may have to encourage her off and candle any remaining ones x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
