This is my new chick, she was two days early. I think that's what I'll name her, early bird.
aww how sweetBeen away from this thread for a while (many ups & downs in life), but I wanted to stop by with an update on DD's poultry project.
Last night was another candling event: Day 14. DD really enjoys getting to "peek" at the developing embryos & recording their growth. (The egg pictured is her favorite egg - a silver laced sebright - which is developing well.) DD is also very good at predicting which ones will hatch & noticing any abnormalities like air cell detachment or porous shells. Last year, we did the hatching projects together. This year, she's doing most it herself with almost no help. (Well, I had to acquire the fertile eggs & sell or rehome the hatch results.) This year she is testing broody vs. incubator. The same broody hen who was trial #1, volunteered for trial #2. Once again, the results are equal. One incubator egg was clear & the broody smashed one of her eggs on day 5 before 1st candling. It's funny, but both eggs came from the same hen. I'm wondering if there was something wrong with both eggs. Poor broody got egg all over herself. I removed some of the soiled bedding. Then on day 10, broody hen got mixed up & returned to the wrong nest. Eggs are still developing, so neither event caused problems.
DS is also growing more responsible via his big sister's projects. He has taken one of the chicks as HIS. The little chick even follows him when it's not being held. I believe we'll need to name it soon or he'll keep calling it "Chickie." Thankfully, it's showing no roo-like signs at 4-5 weeks, so he may get to keep it.
I hope it is a hen so he can keep it Great work getting the kids involved 
Been away from this thread for a while (many ups & downs in life), but I wanted to stop by with an update on DD's poultry project.
Last night was another candling event: Day 14. DD really enjoys getting to "peek" at the developing embryos & recording their growth. (The egg pictured is her favorite egg - a silver laced sebright - which is developing well.) DD is also very good at predicting which ones will hatch & noticing any abnormalities like air cell detachment or porous shells. Last year, we did the hatching projects together. This year, she's doing most it herself with almost no help. (Well, I had to acquire the fertile eggs & sell or rehome the hatch results.) This year she is testing broody vs. incubator. The same broody hen who was trial #1, volunteered for trial #2. Once again, the results are equal. One incubator egg was clear & the broody smashed one of her eggs on day 5 before 1st candling. It's funny, but both eggs came from the same hen. I'm wondering if there was something wrong with both eggs. Poor broody got egg all over herself. I removed some of the soiled bedding. Then on day 10, broody hen got mixed up & returned to the wrong nest. Eggs are still developing, so neither event caused problems.
DS is also growing more responsible via his big sister's projects. He has taken one of the chicks as HIS. The little chick even follows him when it's not being held. I believe we'll need to name it soon or he'll keep calling it "Chickie." Thankfully, it's showing no roo-like signs at 4-5 weeks, so he may get to keep it.
Brilliant! Thanx!
x2
