All Set for January 4th (Its over...)

[usschicago1]

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I need to practice what I preach! Day 4 and I candeled I broke my own code!!! Heres wishing you the best of candeling on Monday. Lets see Monday will be day 9 so Ill candle with you

 

[vfem]

Yes, day 9 sounds like you will get a better view on everything. Veining and dark spots should be clear to see.

I got a little LED flashlight in my stocking, and I saw someone post they could see through the darkest of dark eggs with it, so I'm going to give it a try on the EE egg. My neighbor's want all the standard size birds that hatch, and they want a green egg layer more then anything (I gave them one as a gift actually, but she lays brown eggs). I really hope it makes it!

Hubby is already building the addition to the coop and extension to the run, so these lucky birds have it made.

I'm even creating a broody box added on to the new run so in the spring, I can seperate my broody's but still give them access to the run.

Can't wait to see the look on the chick's little peepers. They'll going to be the most spoiled batch EVER.

 

[sonew123]

love it! Dh and I were just outside-its 35 out...yeah. coop cleaning day. Also added a sand box in each coop for dirt bathes and loaded it with DE too. Added heaters to each to try and dry them out a little -too much humidity and wetness. I think thats why my duck is sick-hes recouping in my tub right now Ill send results from my candeling Monday

 

[vfem]

35!? ARGH! This is why I shall NEVER move back north... so long CT, I shall never return!!!!!!

It was like 56 today, and I decided to work on setting up a new garden bed for spring, clean the coop, rip out dead annual vines, put in a small brick platform where we keep the trash cans and move the compost bins. There were a ton of other yard chores we managed to get done today too. Nothing better then 1 or 2 mild winter days here and there to get ahead on spring chores.

But all day long I kept checking on my broody girls! I am getting nervous already... I keep looking at the calender and thinking about January 4th! UGH! Will they make it that much longer, what will happen if they decide to give up? You gotta remember, my girls have been broody since November... this is pushing their limits of pure will power!!!! So far, the longest they have gone broody was 55 days... and THAT was on nothing, so I had nothing to lose. If the quit now or give up I have no incubator to save the little ones!!!

*ok... end panic*

Anyways, I candled again tonight with the better mini light. I STILL can't see a thing in the EE egg. However, I could manage to see into one of the brown eggs, and sadly it was an iffy one to start with. It was scrambled as well. I also found one of the silkie eggs had been kicked out from under one of the silkies on Christmas... I tucked it back under her. However she kicked it out again today (same one) and I found that one never started to develop either. Weird how the birds just KNEW that one was a dud.

Anyways.... so we're down to 8, 5 silkie eggs and 3 unknown eggs and 8 days! Today, the day of 8 we wait!

 

[sonew123]

you cheated too??? I just candeled with my youngest who loves to hatch with me!

out of 26 eggs set
1 was cracked-chucked it
2 polish-never developed chucked tonight
23 eggs growing like weeds! The EE eggs have grown so much in their eggs I can see why you cant see them! It took me a while but I finally got some shots and saw movement. The silkies all had movement too--bring on the babies!!!!! You have to wait until the 4th Im stuck waiting for the 9th!!! It was 40 today and all my birds free ranged all day-I love that! they loved that! yeah...supposed to be 5 on Tuesday:-( Dh put a heater in the garage/coop where the silkies are and it is 50 degrees in there! Man my electric bill is going to rot!!! LOL..

 

[vfem]

lol.... I do not heat for my birds... I'd be running electrical cord for at least 1/2 an acre to get to the coop!

We're going to install a shed and attach a greenhouse to that. I'm thinking of at least adding a 'broody room' to the greenhouse so my broodies can have the warmest spot outside during the winters.

Funny how all my husband's plans for the yard eventually involve CHICKENS!

Poor man...

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I was not going to heat it but DH felt bad! So cute I guess...

 

[vfem]

Thats a man with a huge heart!

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
yes he is! He kinda put his foot down late fall and said no more chicks-I was incubated out -so to speak anyway- so I agreed then after 3-4 months the bug was getting to me real bad and I joked around 2 weeks ago and said I was sooo sad selling all the eggs I want to incubate-so he pretty much just said well...pick some out and do it! yeah.....He loves our pets but between the two dogs and 2 cats and 45 birds-and 2 kids I cant believe he said those magic words-"go ahead!"