Five Days Until Hatch Day...
In two days, I will begin preparing the incubator for Hatch Day, which is called "lockdown", due to the rule that you aren't supposed to open the incubator from that particular day until the final chick hatches. Roughly 2 1/2 weeks ago, 28 eggs were placed inside for my very first experience with incubating eggs of any kind. I've candled them consistently, probably a little too much, but from the research I've done this is normal for many people who are incubating! Through the process, some of the eggs were removed due to infertility, failure to develop, and even a small crack. Though there are a few that are still too dark to see through while candling, I believe there are around 21 eggs that are developing normally. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the next five days, because I've read about so many things going wrong towards the end. Out of all the eggs, 18 were shipped, which reduces their hatch rate to around 50%. However, at this point, I have removed 1-2 of the "bad eggs" from our own, and the others were from the shipped eggs, so right now my percentages appear to be above average. I'm very happy about this, but I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch!
In this particular incubation period, the eggs that are developing the best, and have had the least amount of casualties were our own, and those of the Rhode Island Reds. Both of these are brown-shelled though, which makes them easier to observe when candling. This may be part of the problem as far as the blue-shelled eggs that I am still unsure about. Like I mentioned earlier, we lost 1-2 of our own, and there were 10 starting out. We received a total of 6 Rhode Island Reds, and all of them seem to be developing normally. I am only able to see through one of the Cream Legbar eggs to confirm a moving embryo. Out of the 6 Ameraucana eggs, there are four left, and I can confirm moving embryos in 3 of them. Before lockdown, I will attempt to determine if the eggs I have been unsure about are developing. If I can't tell, I will only leave them through lockdown if they do not have any signs of cracks or other odd features. Photos of candling on Day 18 (lockdown) will be posted later that day. It's amazing that I thought time would move so slow!
In this particular incubation period, the eggs that are developing the best, and have had the least amount of casualties were our own, and those of the Rhode Island Reds. Both of these are brown-shelled though, which makes them easier to observe when candling. This may be part of the problem as far as the blue-shelled eggs that I am still unsure about. Like I mentioned earlier, we lost 1-2 of our own, and there were 10 starting out. We received a total of 6 Rhode Island Reds, and all of them seem to be developing normally. I am only able to see through one of the Cream Legbar eggs to confirm a moving embryo. Out of the 6 Ameraucana eggs, there are four left, and I can confirm moving embryos in 3 of them. Before lockdown, I will attempt to determine if the eggs I have been unsure about are developing. If I can't tell, I will only leave them through lockdown if they do not have any signs of cracks or other odd features. Photos of candling on Day 18 (lockdown) will be posted later that day. It's amazing that I thought time would move so slow!
Candling - Day 7 - Pt. 2 (plus hen update)
Yesterday evening I checked the remaining eggs in the incubator, and was happy to see that almost all of them are developing! One Blue Wheaten Ameraucana egg was removed due to a detached air cell, which I read is common in shipped eggs. I marked a few to check again next time, as they were either too dark, or showed signs that they may be a quitter. Next time I candle, I should be able to easily tell who is growing and who isn't. I could see veins and a dark mass in most, and movement in more than a few! The eggs from our own hens and the Rhode Island Red eggs seem to be the hardiest and quickest in developing.
In other news, both of our hens are back to laying. They laid through the cold season, but when the coop was built and they were moved in, stress or some other factor (maybe just needing a break!), one of them stopped producing eggs. Considering they starting laying around midsummer, and turned a year old last month, I think they are doing a great job. I hope that as the six red pullets grow and become laying hens, along with whatever hens make it through incubation, that I will be able to have enough eggs to sell whatever we don't use locally.
In other news, both of our hens are back to laying. They laid through the cold season, but when the coop was built and they were moved in, stress or some other factor (maybe just needing a break!), one of them stopped producing eggs. Considering they starting laying around midsummer, and turned a year old last month, I think they are doing a great job. I hope that as the six red pullets grow and become laying hens, along with whatever hens make it through incubation, that I will be able to have enough eggs to sell whatever we don't use locally.
Candling - Day 7 - Pt. 1
Today makes 7 days since I put 28 eggs in the incubator for my first ever try at incubation. On day 5, I attempted to candle with a heavy duty flashlight, but it was nowhere near bright enough. Due to that variable, I couldn't see much of anything. Of course I've been a nervous wreck, considering that 18 of the eggs plus shipping were around $40! The other 10, like I mentioned in the first post, came from our own hens and rooster. I'm only a 1/3rd of the way through, but a few minutes ago I discovered that I actually must be doing a decent job!
This morning, the bulb in the flash light was replaced, which had it working blindingly. I've been trying to be patient until this evening, but of course curiosity got the best of me. I grabbed one of the eggs (of our own) and took it into the dark bathroom to candle. At first I thought I saw some veins, but it was nowhere near as clear as I have seen in pictures online. I was thinking to myself that maybe this was a mistake, and the eggs really weren't being incubated correctly.... until the tiny eye of an embryo rubbed against the side of the shell! I'm pretty sure my mouth fell open in awe. As I watched, it wriggled and danced back and forth in the glow of the light. Remembering that it didn't need to cool down long, I returned it to the incubator and grabbed one more from our hens' batch. Same thing!
I feel so relieved, and I plan to check the rest later this evening so I can stay by the incubator while I candle. If I can pick it up, I will snap some photos or video and post them. It's like watching a tiny ultrasound!
This morning, the bulb in the flash light was replaced, which had it working blindingly. I've been trying to be patient until this evening, but of course curiosity got the best of me. I grabbed one of the eggs (of our own) and took it into the dark bathroom to candle. At first I thought I saw some veins, but it was nowhere near as clear as I have seen in pictures online. I was thinking to myself that maybe this was a mistake, and the eggs really weren't being incubated correctly.... until the tiny eye of an embryo rubbed against the side of the shell! I'm pretty sure my mouth fell open in awe. As I watched, it wriggled and danced back and forth in the glow of the light. Remembering that it didn't need to cool down long, I returned it to the incubator and grabbed one more from our hens' batch. Same thing!
I feel so relieved, and I plan to check the rest later this evening so I can stay by the incubator while I candle. If I can pick it up, I will snap some photos or video and post them. It's like watching a tiny ultrasound!
The New Guy
A few days ago I was browsing my Facebook news feed and came across a listing for a Polish rooster. His mate had died after being attacked by a hawk, and he was being picked on by the other chickens being alone and of a different breed. It seemed as though nobody was close enough to his owner to pick him up, and I did tag a rescue trying to find him a home. After talking it over, we decided to get him ourselves. Being myself, I estimated the time to go pick him up as being about an hour, when it was more like two! We took the scenic route, and before we knew it, we were pulling up to bring him home. He was sleeping when we picked him up, but immediately awoke and had a friendly disposition. We admired the coop and chickens at his former home, and even got a show of watching his owner fight with a stubborn cow. They were very nice and even gave us a few Welsummer eggs along with the Polish. Darkness set as we made it home, and he was put in the henhouse where we had previously separated out our rooster to avoid any altercations. The top of his poor head was already bald from his coop mates pulling them out! I worried that he would be out of sorts this morning, after an evening trip and waking up in an unfamiliar coop, but he was up bright and early chasing the hens and crowing up a storm. My mother said he should be called Pepe Le Pew, due to his vain appearance, and how the hens run from him as he tries to share his new found affection.
I hope that he will continue to adjust well, and when the red pullets are old enough to be outside with a rooster, we plan to introduce them to him and let Chuck Norris (the other rooster, but that's another story) visit back with his girlfriends. Meanwhile I just enjoy looking at him! I've never seen a Polish in person before now, and as handsome as he is, he isn't even quite a year, so his tail will continue to span out as he grows.
I hope that he will continue to adjust well, and when the red pullets are old enough to be outside with a rooster, we plan to introduce them to him and let Chuck Norris (the other rooster, but that's another story) visit back with his girlfriends. Meanwhile I just enjoy looking at him! I've never seen a Polish in person before now, and as handsome as he is, he isn't even quite a year, so his tail will continue to span out as he grows.
Welcome!
Welcome to Just So Homegrown! The goal of this blog is to show my family's journey towards being more self-sustainable and all the bumps that we encounter along the way. I was born and raised in South Carolina, and have always had a love for the outdoors and animals. When I was younger, my mother raised chickens from time to time, along with fainting goats. Once I moved out, I didn't ever have more than "furry" pets until about a year ago. We purchased six pullets from Tractor Supply, and got a rooster from a family members. The pullets were raised inside, and made it to being put outdoors, but through a "series of unfortunate events", we lost all hens but two. This was their first winter and they have laid all the way through.
Recently we were in Tractor Supply (yes, we were looking at chicks!) and the Little Giant Still Air Incubator 9200 caught my eye. After talking it over, we purchased it, and the automatic egg turner. Within a few days, I had found a hatchery in North Carolina that had some hatching eggs coming available. I put in an order for a dozen. I ordered four each of the Cream Legbars, the Rhode Island Reds, and the Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas, but she included two extra eggs for each breed in case any of the dozen were not fertile. That brought me to a total of 18, and in the meantime, I had been collecting our hens fertilized eggs. While waiting for the hatchery shipment, we managed to get 10 of our own eggs. 28 eggs...
We should take a moment to talk about my research. (SIGH) Since this idea of incubating my own eggs came to be, I have just about looked at every single site that talks about the brand of incubator that I have. I've seen the good and the bad as far as experiences and reviews. Stressing has been an understatement. What did I get myself into? I don't even know what I'm doing. Also, what happens if they don't hatch, or only a few hatch? Was ordering eggs over just using my own the first batch a good decision? Well. They're here, and this evening is the beginning of the incubation period. I have 3 thermometers and one is the kind that checks humidity as well. Currently temperature is 99% regulated. Egg turner is plugged in... and I'm just going to hold on for the ride.
No, this blog isn't going to be -ALL- about chickens and hatching eggs, but that was what inspired me to start a blog in the first place! I hope that this journey opens one door after another for myself and my family. It feels good when you don't have the urgency to rely on others for some of your basic needs. Knowing that your ideas and work go into providing for everyone is a very rewarding feeling.
Please feel free to share any tips or stories that you have on hatching eggs, or anything homestead-related. I hope that sharing my experience may inspire any of you that may be thinking of taking a leap into modern-day homesteading in some form or fashion to do so, and with an idea of what challenges and rewards come along with the lifestyle.
Recently we were in Tractor Supply (yes, we were looking at chicks!) and the Little Giant Still Air Incubator 9200 caught my eye. After talking it over, we purchased it, and the automatic egg turner. Within a few days, I had found a hatchery in North Carolina that had some hatching eggs coming available. I put in an order for a dozen. I ordered four each of the Cream Legbars, the Rhode Island Reds, and the Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas, but she included two extra eggs for each breed in case any of the dozen were not fertile. That brought me to a total of 18, and in the meantime, I had been collecting our hens fertilized eggs. While waiting for the hatchery shipment, we managed to get 10 of our own eggs. 28 eggs...
We should take a moment to talk about my research. (SIGH) Since this idea of incubating my own eggs came to be, I have just about looked at every single site that talks about the brand of incubator that I have. I've seen the good and the bad as far as experiences and reviews. Stressing has been an understatement. What did I get myself into? I don't even know what I'm doing. Also, what happens if they don't hatch, or only a few hatch? Was ordering eggs over just using my own the first batch a good decision? Well. They're here, and this evening is the beginning of the incubation period. I have 3 thermometers and one is the kind that checks humidity as well. Currently temperature is 99% regulated. Egg turner is plugged in... and I'm just going to hold on for the ride.
No, this blog isn't going to be -ALL- about chickens and hatching eggs, but that was what inspired me to start a blog in the first place! I hope that this journey opens one door after another for myself and my family. It feels good when you don't have the urgency to rely on others for some of your basic needs. Knowing that your ideas and work go into providing for everyone is a very rewarding feeling.
Please feel free to share any tips or stories that you have on hatching eggs, or anything homestead-related. I hope that sharing my experience may inspire any of you that may be thinking of taking a leap into modern-day homesteading in some form or fashion to do so, and with an idea of what challenges and rewards come along with the lifestyle.