Adventures in Hatching - When Things Don't Go Quite as Planned

I think this was an awesome story. just to think that she decided to be broody 5 days before INCREDIBLE!!!!!!

Thank you for sharing your sweet story. This article really brings in to perspective how nature takes care of everything.

Love the way this was written... like the storm! Thank you for taking the time to share your crazy (but normal) adventure. Funny how sometimes life finds a way. The pics with eggs and such were fantastic additions to the article. Love the names Butterscotch and Shelly! Also the way you say the first mum tried her best instead of ruling her a bad mum. Very encouraging.

This short story is great and pleasant to read! It had a rough start and it gives me hope for my soon SILKIES I'm going to get- maybe they will like butterscotch!

I enjoyed reading your article. I just had 25 of 26 eggs hatched and I have the last egg only 36 hours and then cracked it open thinking it’s a dud to find a fully formed baby chick inside, to my horror. I’ve learned from your story to be more patient with delayed hatchers and assist them a tiny after a reasonable amount of time has passed. Thank you.

This story is nothing less than wonderful ... and the pictures are great, as well! Thank you for sharing this adventure in hatching with us!

A good article showing that there is more than one path to a successful hatch, and that perseverance combined with knowledge can help to solve problems along the way.

Love this story, it has inspired me to start incubating - which I’ve been wanting to do, but was nervous about. I can’t wait now to make some babies!

I had a hen hatch out 4 and get off the nest and didn't get out to check the eggs I had assumed were dead, with mom off them and cold night time temps, but when i picked one up I heard the cheep in the egg, so instead of just tossing them planned out of 4 eggs still in the nest 2 still had live chicks in them one got out on it's own the other had to have help but because I'd waited so long after momma got off the nest with her chicks it was to late to save the mal-positioned chick, luckily you had Butterscotch, my momma hen wasn't having nothing to do with the 2 day late chick she's incubated. so put it in temp brooder by itself, day time temps allowed to take it out for short periods, and it took me a week to get her to accept the late chick, but was more because the other chicks had accepted the lone chick.

I can't believe all 9 chicks survived! In am planning to incubate chicks and put some under a hen, so I found this very useful. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Grown on, chicks, grown on!

I'm so happy this hatch had a happy ending. I enjoyed reading this.

Glad things worked out for everyone!

I feel sorry for Butterscotch. She just sat down with thoughts of a bit of a rest from the day to day stuff and the next minute she's got an army! Chickens can count you know.
It's not something I would do but I loved the article.

Very well written article, i could not stop reading until i reached the end! Many pictures!