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!