The Poultry Keeper

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I seem to remember a long time ago there was something to do with your shutting blue in before the egg hatching day, but I can't remember why you did it ? I've looked through the forum, but there doesn't seem to be anything old enough ~ only back to mid april. If you shut her in, why did you?

NannyP · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject:

I kept Blue seperate throughout her confinement, so as to avoid her being pestered by the other hens. She had the Ark to herself, and I don't think I restricted her anymore on the day of hatching, she had her normal access to the run if she wanted. I think i even let her off for a stroll, and a pooh, in fact I did, cos I was able to take these photos of the pipping eggs

Hope this helps Very Happy

Knobby · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

Are u hatching eggs Summayah ????

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

not me personally ....no. But I have 6 eggs under a welsummer and I think it might be 21 days on monday (gallery/thread ~ chicks in waiting). However on another forum someone said that they had 36 eggs from the place I got mine from and only 3 hatched..oops. But at least nutmeg has sat on them and she's happy ~ producing chicks is a bit more of a worry, something I hadn't planned until she insisted on sitting on all the eggs in the nest box all the time

Knobby · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:07 pm Post subject:

Ooooo....exciting !! Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:21 pm Post subject:

what sort of eggs did you get for her?

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I have 2 pekins ~ silver partridge dad and silver partridge or lavender or cuckoo mum, 2 silkie bantams ~ honey or black dad and honey or black mum, 1 blue wyandotte bantam and 1 new holland blue ~ that's a large fowl , never heard of it before but it's a bit like a maran to look at I believe. I just picked whatever was the newest eggs and these were all about 1 week old ~ some were up to 3 wks old !!

Knobby · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 10:28 pm Post subject:

Good Luck !!! Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject: mojo here

i am sure this has come up before but cant find the thread..Whats is the oldest egg you or your broody has hatched ?Pierre says 3 weeks old and chick lived ok any comment please...i seem to use a week old as max can i use older with any chance of chicks

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

mine haven't hatched yet, mojo, not due till the beginning of next week I think. The oldest one was 9 days old. From what I remember there are a few threads other forums where people have set older eggs and had success, maybe not the 100% they would have got with younger eggs but still respectable. If you think of a bird laying it's clutch and then having a think abaout whether to sit or not, it could be 14 days old couldn't it, as they don't all lay every day. You have to give them a go

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

here you go mojo, this is the thread I think you wre looking for
http://www.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=600