Hatching ISA Browns

After a lot of hatching of Quails. I finally had a go at hatching Chickens.

This time it was Isa Brown chickens. My initial purchase via the mail didn't go well as 5 of 12 eggs ended up cracked arriving on Jan 21. Of the 5 eggs remaining, I had to throw 4 of them out as they started smelling bad and seeping puss. They would have for sure exploded and contaminated my incubator. I threw them on the road outside my house and none of them had developed any embryos or anything. 

I then ventured out to Green Valley, to the buyer who was kind enough to give me another set of replacement eggs for free. I had initially paid $15.00 for a dozen eggs + shipping so around $30 all up. Green Valley was quite a hike as it took me on public transport about 4 hours to get there and back from Toongabbie.

Anyway, I added the additional 12 eggs, in the incubator on January 24 when I got home. Eventually, I ended up with just 13 eggs in the incubator one from 21st and the other 12. In my JN5-60 I did a dry hatch no water at the start. I turned by hand 2-3 times a day. Sometimes I forgot or turned them more. I don't think that mattered too much in the end.

Quail Eggs go into lockdown on Day 15 (0 is the first day) and usually hatch around Day 17-19. Chicken eggs being bigger had to go onto lockdown on Day 18. As I only had one egg from 21 I prioritized lockdown for the other eggs. This was February 11 (Day 18). 

I had no peeps or anything. So I was worried and thoughts ran through my head. I had done several continuous incubations of quails without washing the incubator? What if the eggs I added had contaminated the other eggs? If it was a bad batch of infertile eggs. Day 21 still nothing no noise no pips. Then came Day 22 and I saw cracks in the eggs. So on Day 22 and 23 7 of the 13 eggs have hatched so far. I really should make it 7 of 12 I doubt the egg from 21st of January cracked batch in the mail will hatch.

One of my hens 'Blackie' a Black Australcorp is broody right now I'm considering if I can create a  safe environment for the 7 chicks If Blackie can raise them. Of course, I have to modify the chicken run and separate the two other chickens from Blackie. I plan to slip them under Blackie at night. What do you all think Should I brooder raise or let Blackie have a go raising them? What type of setup would I need?.

TOTAL COUNT -

12 EGGS (DISREGARDING #13)

7 HATCHED
1 HATCHED WITH SOME HELP PEELED EGG A LITTLE AND LET IT ZIP OUT
EGGTOPSIED LAST 4 EGGS AT 24 DAYS.
1 VERY EARLY STAGE FETUS DEATH
3 INFERTILE

= 8 VERY ENERGETIC BABY CHICKENS
BASED ON COLORS PROBABLY 5 HENS AND 3 ROOSTERS

To Buy Quail Eggs and Birds