Candled my NYD eggs today, and of the 12 Barnyard Mixes, 10 look great, 2 iffy but I left them as I do see veins, just not excellent, so those two may be quitters. Of the 15 Silkie eggs, 8 were clear (infertile) - young inexperienced male in one pen, so not a surprise, the eggs from the other pen look great; so of the original 27, 19 remain in the incubator.
I also broke my own rule and candled the eggs I set just a week ago - what the heck, I had the incubator open, had my new MiniMag which does an outstanding job of candling, and only 3 of the 35 local eggs I picked up last week are infertile (one was from the refrigerated group), rest are developing nicely; of the 7 Silkie eggs set that day, there were 4 infertile, rest developing nicely. Clears were from the pen with the young male, but so was one developing egg, so he isn't infertile, I think his inexperience coupled with the fact a couple of his girls only started laying in the last month is the issue, and expect their fertility rate to improve.
The hen that went broody the 14th is sitting tight, and now I have 2 girls in the other pen sharing a nest. They have 4 eggs. The first to lay is the one who started, and then another joined her. Since this will be their first time hatching I'll be keeping a close eye on them.
I received my two thermometers from ThermoWorks last night, checked them in an ice bath, and placed them into ventilation holes in the two styro bators, had to make small adjustments to temp, but nothing like the 2.5 degrees off I had before.
Lastly, my new Brinsea with turning cradle is clicking. I called Brinsea yesterday, and they are sending me a new clutch and motor for the turner. It isn't overloaded at all, isn't impeded in any way, just probably a bum clutch. They could not have been nicer. I told the woman who answered my name and what I had purchased, and she knew right away who I was, and reminded me to register my products to keep the warranty in force for two years, and told me where I could locate the serial number on the incubator.
I am feeling much better about hatching now that my temps seem to be more in line. I also put a humidifier in the room, I figure it can only help, it is so dry here.
Oh - one more bit of news I almost forgot - my Egyptian Fayoumi hen, who had gone on strike about a month and a half ago, started laying again this week
She is a March hatched hen, so I was surprised she quit so early, but I know they are a desert breed, and figured diminishing light + cold = no eggs from her. I take it as a sign the days have actually begun to lengthen already. Maybe I can wish spring here ...
It never ceases to shock me how horrible people are capable of being. I hope you are able to quickly build your flock back to its former glory.
