Late Hatchers

[RichmondHens]

It's happened to me too ..........

Over three weeks ago I set 12 indian game eggs (bought in) under two broody bantams. Unfortunately after candling 8 turned out to be infertile. The remaining four looked like they were developing so we left them under one hen and returned the other hen to the main flock.

Day 21 came and went - nothing.
Day 22 came and went - nothing.
Day 23 - a pipping egg, which hatched 3 hours later, a strong healthy chick.
Day 24 (today) - another pipping egg. Not hatched yet but looking ok so far.

No sign of life from the other two, but am prepared to be surprised now - maybe tomorrow, at the current rate!

[julesapple]

Well, you just never know! Fingers crossed for the best, keep us posted.

I have to candle Morag Scots-Dumpy's 8 eggs today so fingers crossed for them too.

Jules

[RichmondHens]

I've got another clutch due to hatch today too, but nothing doing with those yet. Can hear sounds inside though so something definitely going on. I haven't candled these as they are our own eggs (bar one) and fertility is good, so have every hope they will hatch ok.

Oops, have I just sealed their fate by saying that?

[RichmondHens]

The saga continues:

Well I still have just the one indian game chick. The other didn't get out of the shell and when I opened the two unhatched ones they had died (and gone bad - stinky!!)

Now the chick is feathering up buff coloured (!!!) when I thought it was going to be a dark indian game. So out of 12 dark indian game eggs I get one buff coloured chick. Ho hum.

My own set of hatchlings all came out with no problem (2 Welsummer, one Orpington and one Sussex cross) and at less than 24 hrs old were running out on the grass just fine.