Our first baby has hatched today.

 

 

Is it just my imagination or do fertile eggs look different to clear eggs? Last week our first clutch from another hen didn't hatch and they were a dull cream color. This hens are all a shiny white in color.

Its a fair indercation,they are fertile if they are pearly white, as a clear white if they are not.

After looking at a nest or 2 of fertile & clear you will be able to tell with out haveing to put a

light on them, to see if they are fertile,

ohh congrats!!!

you must be very excited (i know i was)... wont be long and it will be all fluffy and jumping out of the nest box!

congrats :budgiedance:

The outside appearance of an egg can indicate if it is fertile or not but the use of a small penlight will give you a much better result . if the hen has many eggs and some are infertile the clear ones can be removed so that she does have so many to sit on and all her energy is going towards eggs that will hatch . Saying that it is somtimes handy to have a hen sitting on clear eggs so you can use her for a foster if needed . The use of a torch to indicate which eggs are viable helps making these decisions .

Bubbles.

Good news Denise. Look forward to the ongoing story

Second one hatched over night and her 3 other eggs look good too. She is very protective it is hard to get a look to see if she is feeding them, but from what I can see they look good.

 

I don't want her to go a second round so what do I do to stop that?

I don't want her to go a second round so what do I do to stop that?

It depends on when she decides to start laying again. Some hens begin before the last chicks leave the nest. Others wait until the chicks leave the nest. If she waits, then block off the nestbox entry or remove the nestbox depending on your setup. If the chicks are out dad can finish feeding and raising them and you can remove the hen from the breeding cabinet entirely. Give the hen a rest in a separate place before she goes back in the flight area with others and try not to have her within calling distance of chicks and cock. If she begins laying while chicks are still in the nest...that too...depends. If you have other pairs on eggs you can transfer the eggs to the other pair. Or you can addle the eggs. Often the chicks still in the box will addle the eggs by kicking them around as well.

Another hatched today and still 2 eggs to go. All 3 have beautiful full crops and are squawking away

That's cool, can't wait to see them

Just an update on our babies. 4 have hatched and 1 to go. All coming along very well and the Mum is doing a great job.

 

Took this quick shot when Mum had finished feeding them after she'd had a huge feed of silverbeet, hard to believe that there is 4 babies and an egg all huddle in there....(Laughing out loud)

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Mum and Dad - I'm supposing they will be all blue babies

 

Mum - Violet Cinnamon Opaline

 

 

Dad - Cobalt Normal

Edited November 10, 200717 yr by Denise

Looking good Denise, yes it’s amazing how they stack themselves, with the littlest underneath, but still they get fed.

I keep putting shavings in the bottom of the box but the hen just throws them all out.

I keep putting shavings in the bottom of the box but the hen just throws them all out.

 

Most hens stop throwing it out once the chicks hatch or even after they start laying eggs. Good to try putting a little in anyway to help keep it dry.

they all look great Denise congratulations

Fifth one hatched this morning, so we got 5/5 not bad for her first clutch I didn't think. Mum is looking pretty ragged, seems to only be eating silverbeet mainly. I've put a millet spray in the nest box with her too.

Silver beet is a good green food, but I wouldn’t give her that much that, that is all she is feeding. I would give her enough that she soon eats it all in the morning & then later in the day again, so that she has to eat grain etc as well.

Oldest 3 look to have dark colored wings like the Dad so far.

 

It is the Dad that is throwing the shavings out of the box not the Mum - is that normal?

It is the Dad that is throwing the shavings out of the box not the Mum - is that normal?

 

Some Dads are in touch with their feminine side

5/5? you must have a great pair congratulations

Edited November 15, 200717 yr by shaunx

It is the Dad that is throwing the shavings out of the box not the Mum - is that normal?

 

Some Dads are in touch with their feminine side

 

I like that Kaz...(Laughing out loud)... :(Laughing out loud):