So the hatching finally ended this morning, on day 23. Last night my last Black Copper was having some terrible troubles hatching, as it didn't quite zip all the way, and was trying to just bust out. So, bad little me snuck in as quick as I could, despite it being lockdown, and popped the little'uns cap right off. Well, trouble still occured. I wanted to go to sleep as soon as the chick started acting normally and waddling around the incubator, but it didn't. . . It couldn't even stand up, and was upside down or on its side most of the time. The other chicks wanted to use it as a pillow, and almost suffocated it!!
Well, since there was only one other egg with a pip that was sitting there for HOURS, I had to help. . . I grabbed all the other chicks, put them in the brooder, and let the poor thing gather its strength by itself. There was nothing more I could do.
Luckily, by the next morning, it did indeed gather its strength - And I also had my last Wheaten hatched and joined with it! How'd that one hatch? . . . Well, I helped it too. In the middle of the night I noticed its pip just never went anywhere, so I just HAD to help it too. Sigh. I peeled off the chipped peice of shell, then carefully cut a small nick into the membrane. The chick was breathing!! So, I quickly closed the incubator and left it be with the last 6 other eggs in there. The next morning, it had hatched and was waddling around with the last Black Copper. Sadly, I tried seeing if pipping the other eggs would help, but all the remaining Black Coppers were dead in their shells, and the last 3 Wheatens were either dead and underdeveloped, alive and underdeveloped (SO sad to see. . .) or not even a visible chick, but just yolk and a fetus.
Well, here's the resulting chicks, all dry and chipper now. There are a total of 10. Now I'm just waiting for my staggered hatch of 4 to hatch. . . Hoping to see 3 Brahma crosses and one New Hampshire pop out!!
Aren't they ADORABLE?!
The yellow one is a Wheaten or Blue Wheaten Marans. In real life, it is the most vibrant color of white with a hint of bright, lemon meringue-y yellow on its head and shoulders. The black one with white spots is a Black Copper Marans. The Blue one with the fanny pointing towards you is a Blue Ameraucana.
Out of this hatch, I got 5 Black Copper Marans, 3 Wheaten/Blue Wheaten Marans, 2 Black Ameraucanas, and 1 Blue Ameraucana.
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