How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Help!

Good heavens, I sent that LAST night! Where's it been?
Sometimes Yahoo does that to me.

Diane S.

----- Original Message -----
From: Straight
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 12:30 AM
Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Help!

They are absorbing the last of the yolk, building up their strength, it will nourish them for 2 or 3 days. Just hang on and keep an eye on the moisure level, don't let them get too wet, and try to keep them right side up when the already hatched ones stumble around and into the other eggs.

That probably does not happen under mother hen, tucked in her feathers, but it does in an incubator, and they are delicate and can drown in the moisture draining out of the egg. Cannot right themselves until they are out, obviously.

Yes, the suspense will drive you nuts! They can be SO slow, but then suddenly it cracks in half and they pop out almost instantly. Sopping wet, ready to go, and looking like they're drunk, trying to get their land legs. And just one will tend to peep like mad. Chicks do NOT like to be alone! Although you probably already noticed that...............loud, aren't they?

You keep this storytelling up and I'm going to have to go down cellar and bring that incubator up and raise a few myself, just for the fun of it!! Mostly my Marans are laying, they look like big chocolate Easter eggs.

Laughing, and enjoying it all!
Diane S.