Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Cerise1924]

I think there are few of us on Day 18 today. @Morrigan - so sorry about your low development rate on those shipped eggs. I admire your thorough analysis, and want to add that the birds that I have hatched from Papa's eggs are just lovely chickens. Any Orpingtons or Marans that hatch this week are sure to become favourites, I think.

 

[Morrigan]

I think there are few of us on Day 18 today. @Morrigan - so sorry about your low development rate on those shipped eggs. I admire your thorough analysis, and want to add that the birds that I have hatched from Papa's eggs are just lovely chickens. Any Orpingtons or Marans that hatch this week are sure to become favourites, I think.

Thanks!

A couple of beautiful birds will make this whole process worthwhile.

 

[Cerise1924]

Lockdown time!

Of the 29 shipped eggs I set, 13 are making it into lockdown.

-Swart Honas: Onyx, Jet, Shadow and Coal
(yes, I name my hatching eggs)
-Silver Sebrights: Luna, Diamond, Pearl, Moonglow and Chandra. Pearl looks just perfect!
-Appenzeller Spitzhaubens: Flurina and Chantal. Flurina is a live wire! Every time I candle s/he is jumping all around.
-Dwarf Olandsk/Cream Legbar cross: Hanna and Cecelia

That's only two of the eleven shipped Legbar X eggs that have made it this far, and they don't look that great. I don't think I should count on any blue egg layers from this hatch, but I am pretty sure I'll get a cute little Sebright hen, at least.

A few of my eggs still have wobbly air cells on Day 18, but the chicks are active. Some of the chicks don't look like they are filling the egg as much as they should by now. Has anyone noticed a variation in chick size at lockdown (chick relative to egg, that is)?

Still deciding if I should keep the incubators where they are (kitchen), or move them to the back room where the brooder will be, to keep them safer from nosy cats/dogs should they start hatching when I'm not home. I think I'll move them.

Does anyone else move incubators at lockdown?

Good luck, everyone!

-Cerise

 

[Morrigan]

How exciting that you have svart hona eggs! I tried to buy some from Papa's, but he had just sold his breeding flock and put his last eggs in his own incubator.

Next year I'm going to try to get my hands on some SH eggs.

I'm on pins and needles for lockdown. Can't wait to hear how your hatch goes.

Edited: auto spell just will NOT let me type out svart hona.

 

[Cerise1924]

How exciting that you have svart bona eggs! I tried to buy some from Papa's, but he had just sold his breeding flock and put his last eggs in his own incubator.

Next year I'm going to try to get my hands on some SV eggs.

I'm on pins and needles for lockdown. Can't wait to hear how your hatch goes.

I think the eBay seller sold me excellent eggs. Despite the distance, they've fared very well.

Thanks, I am excited, too! I have May 30 and June 1 off work but on Day 21 (May 31) I have to work in the morning. I hope I don't miss all the action! I hope a little chick doesn't get into trouble with no one to help. Lol, we are all mother hens, now. Pins and needles, yes.

-Cerise

 

[Morrigan]

It's just barely Day 18 and I'm already staring holes in these eggs, waiting to see one start to rock. Ugg, I need to step away.

 

[Cerise1924]

It's just barely Day 18 and I'm already staring holes in these eggs, waiting to see one start to rock. Ugg, I need to step away.

Netflix.

 

[Kiki]

Netflix.

Specifically Sherlock!

 

[Cerise1924]

I'm not staring at eggs, but I am obsessing on Day 18. The UC Davis Veterinary School says:
"An 18-day egg should be entirely dark except for the air cell. Blood vessels may still be apparently in some areas or may not be visible due to the embryo filling the egg and blocking the light. The growing chick may even move in response to your light!"

Well all the eggs have visible blood vessels and every chick moved when I candled the eggs. However, few of the eggs are entirely dark. I guess many of the eggs look more like Day 15 eggs. Now I'm wondering if I have small chicks who will be too weak to hatch... or if I'll get feeble chicks that do hatch and don't make it (boo hoo!) or if maybe they will hatch on Day 22 or 23 or later? Or if I'll just get bantams!

I need to stop thinking about this, because there isn't anything I can do.

 

[Kiki]

I'm not staring at eggs, but I am obsessing on Day 18. The UC Davis Veterinary School says:
"An 18-day egg should be entirely dark except for the air cell. Blood vessels may still be apparently in some areas or may not be visible due to the embryo filling the egg and blocking the light. The growing chick may even move in response to your light!"

Well all the eggs have visible blood vessels and every chick moved when I candled the eggs. However, few of the eggs are entirely dark. I guess many of the eggs look more like Day 15 eggs. Now I'm wondering if I have small chicks who will be too weak to hatch... or if I'll get feeble chicks that do hatch and don't make it (boo hoo!) or if maybe they will hatch on Day 22 or 23 or later? Or if I'll just get bantams!

I need to stop thinking about this, because there isn't anything I can do.

Netflix.