Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Cerise1924]

Has she been in the same nest her whole brood? Are the big hens squeezing into the nest to try to lay their eggs?

If the answers are Yes, and No, I would leave her where she is. If she is being harassed on a regular basis, I would either take the chance and move her.

The answers are indeed Yes and No. So, I'll take your advice and leave her where she is. Thank you.

 

[Cerise1924]

Why do you think your eggs failed so badly? My eggs from Papa's usually do pretty well.

My eggs from Papa's also usually do well, which is why I am happy to keep ordering from there. I think that either they were roughly handled in transit, or the room I put the incubator in had too much fluctuation in temperature - or both.

 

[WVduckchick]

They're due the 19th or 20th. If you click my 'coop' link, you can see photos of the four I hatched a month ago - I set it up to show development progress, with pictures every two days. Unfortunately, while taking yesterday's pictures, my camera died an ignoble death... and I don't have a backup.

I have a bunch of seramas due at the same time as yours. I set them with OEGBs.

 

[Zinjifrah]

I have a bunch of seramas due at the same time as yours. I set them with OEGBs.

Nice! It'll be a tiny puffball explosion! It's driving me batty just trying to put names to the colors I already have. (If all goes well!)

 

[ijon]

I have incubated quite a few eggs over the years. I am giving them another day then I am going to check them. I suspect they are not fertile.

 

[Morrigan]

Well, my little sussex was back off the nest and lined up with the rest of them for their evening table-scrap/meal worm feeding frenzy. She still puffing up and clucking now and then, so I haven't given up hope. Sometimes a girl has to work her way up to being full broody.

I resisted the siren call of candling today. Tomorrow is Day 5 -- I may have to peek at one or two then.

 

[Morrigan]

My eggs from Papa's also usually do well, which is why I am happy to keep ordering from there. I think that either they were roughly handled in transit, or the room I put the incubator in had too much fluctuation in temperature - or both.

That makes me happy to hear that. I'm not expecting miracles, but would love to get 6 of 15.

 

[WVduckchick]

Gosh, I'm slipping. I haven't candled in at least 3 days, as I was hatching call ducklings.
I better go do that now. I think today is day 14 or maybe 15. I forgot if I set them on a Sunday or Monday.

 

[Kiki]

Gosh, I'm slipping. I haven't candled in at least 3 days, as I was hatching call ducklings.
I better go do that now. I think today is day 14 or maybe 15. I forgot if I set them on a Sunday or Monday.

 

[Cerise1924]

Oh, wow!! It's just Day 4 with my massive batch of replacement eggs from eBay (29 eggs in two little incubators), and I decided to candle just one egg from each incubator. Each egg I looked at had a gorgeous red spiderweb! I love it when it's absolutely clear that a little chickie is forming. Sometimes you just can't tell.

I may have a lot of chicks, if all the eggs look that good. It's nice to know that my equipment and technique are fine. I must have had knocked-around eggs and/or a bad location for my last batch.

Just went out and fed pancakes to my broody who is on day 18, totally devoted. I do hope she has a good egg. She really wants to be a mama.