The Poultry Keeper

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Norfolk

Over last 24hrs 3 chicks have hatched under my broody. She is still sitting on 6 eggs so hoping for a few more. This is my first lot and all has been left to nature. The eggs are a mix from all 4 of our chickens and all fertalised by our cockerel. Not sure what breed mix he is, but he is a tall, handsome fella, black body with green shimmer and very long, white tail feathers. My broody is a light sussex, other are bovan nera, white star and goldline.

Now for telling which are cockerels and which are not? Any ideas?
Keep smilin
Elly

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1298 Location: Manchester

at hatch you've not got much chance - mine are coming up to 7 weeks and it's getting easier to tell which are definitely male - though some are still in the unsure pile and will be for a few weeks yet!

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Norfolk

Chick number 4 is now here and broody still sitting on 5 eggs. She is doing a great job of looking after chicks and eggs so hoping some more will hatch Smile

Dont want to take others away as they were not all laid on same day as we have let nature run its course. Will probably give them another 48hrs so long as all going well Very Happy

Keep smilin
Elly[/img]

Woodburner · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject:

Try here

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Norfolk

We have 5 lovely chicks now. 1 egg pipped but then all stopped, opened egg today to find all very dry inside with dead chick. Its bottom end looked odd, as iff something that should have been on inside was on outside Question

It also had black looking 'feathers', all the others are mainly yellow Confused

Still eggs in nest but I dont think they are going to hatch, no sign of movement or pipping. Will remove tonight I think.

Keep smilin
Elly

Woodburner · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

Probably the last of the yolk sack. Apparently the last of it is ony absorbed as they are hatching.
Did you try my link (previous post) for sexing?

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Norfolk

I did wonder if that was what it was, but as this is our first time I'm on a learning curve Confused

I looked at the feather sexing link and am still none the wiser Confused

It does not help that 'mum' goes mad when you go near the chicks and makes such a noise we put them back pretty quickly Laughing

The eldest chick, now a week old, is showing some nice white wing feathers and loves testing them. Time to remind it it's a chick and wont be doing much flying Laughing

3 eggs still unhatched, so think I will be removing them today. Out of 10 I have 5 chicks, 2 dead before hatch and the 3 unhatched. I'm really pleased as all has been left to nature. My only worry now is finding they are all cockerels Sad

Keep smilin
Elly