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Post by choodu247 on Feb 12, 2009 11:34:17 GMT 8
We had a clucky chook so DD got some Aracauna eggs to put under her. I have been a bit worried though with the hot weather and not always being here to check on her. Tuesday night we had 2 little grey chicks. Nothing more yesterday and nothing noticed at 7am this morning but at 9am I went out and found a dead chick half out of it's shell and an egg out of the nest. Removed the dead one but left the egg. Went out an hour later and Mumma was off the nest and having a dust bath. She got back on the nest but was off again next time I went out. She has 7 eggs still in the nest. Is there any chance that these eggs are still any good? Do I leave them there or remove them? Could I open one? Second thoughts, that might not be good...
Two chicks from 12 eggs is not too good but is there a chance more will hatch? How long befor I clean the nest out for her?
So many questions but I know someone here will help.
Thanks,
Barb.
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Post by choodu247 on Feb 12, 2009 11:37:53 GMT 8
Meant to also say that I also have Muscovy ducklings, started hatching yesterday and now have 7 or 9. They hide really quickly when I go out so counting is hard. lol.
Barb.
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Post by lakelands on Feb 12, 2009 13:40:24 GMT 8
Hi chookdo, If you can putt he 2 little chicks in a brooder temporarily the hen may go back onto the eggs that were not hatched. The eggs can stand a certain amount of time going a little cold. In todays weather the eggs should still be pretty warm but you wil have to take the chicks away and put under a lamp until you see what ahppens with the rest. I would only give it a day or so if she doesn't get straight back on the eggs just to make sure the mumma stays clucky and takes the chicks back plus also if the egss are cold any longer than that they would be no good anyway... Or if you have an incubator stick the egss in there for a couple of days and see what happens
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Post by fluffychook on Feb 12, 2009 13:55:23 GMT 8
Hope all goes well choodu, love to see some pictures later
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Feb 12, 2009 13:58:11 GMT 8
It sounds like she's already given up on those eggs but you can still leave them for another day or so. Have you candled those eggs? The hen may have left the eggs already because she knows that they arent viable. At least by candling, you will then know whether there's something in them and if still alive you will see movement.
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Post by choodu247 on Feb 12, 2009 16:16:03 GMT 8
Hubby came home early and removed 3 eggs and looked at them with different lights. One was clear and 2 were dark. No noise and no seeable moving so he opened 2 and though there was a chicken in each they weren't very big. We will remove the other eggs tomorrow and be happy if the 2 chickens that we have survive. We had thunderstorms a week or so ago and I have heard that the pressure dropping can cause death in eggs so maybe that is what happened. It's also been quite hot so that could have played a part. Hardto tell with nature isn't it?
thanks for the replies,
Barb.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Feb 12, 2009 17:11:52 GMT 8
Heat may well have played a part, although hens are usually pretty good at regulating the temperature of their eggs. At least you've hatched those 2 chickies, thats great What colours are they? We'd love to see a piccie
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Post by lakelands on Feb 12, 2009 21:45:07 GMT 8
Don't know about the pressure dropping and I am not sure about the heat but a I had a hen sitting on 10 eggs a few weeks ago when it got really hot over 40 for days out here. Some of the egss exploded and most of the others did not hatch I ended up with 3 chicks. At least you did get 2 hatchand yes we would love to see some pictures
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