- Jun 1, 2010
- 587
- 39
- 166
How I colored my chicks. Its usually done 11 to 14 days of incubation. Any later than this and you won't get a nice even coat of color. I did mine on the 11th day of incubation.
Materials-
Thumb tacks
Dye
Disinfectant wipes
Sterile Needles
Sterile Syringes
Liquid cement (or some kind of sealant)
Fertile Eggs!
I practiced a sterile technique. I sterilized the table with clorox and used a new syringe and needle with each egg. The tacks and dye can be boiled for sterilization. ANY germs introduced to the embryo can pose a threat and kill them quickly. I used the liquid cement to seal the small hole in the egg. This I did not sterilize as I wasn't sure if it would be effective after boiling. I did clean the tip with alcohol wipes between each use.
First candle the egg to ensure fertility and proper placement of the needle. You will be working on the SMALL end of the egg opposite the air sac. The chick should be located near the top by the yolk.
Second, using a disinfectant cloth clean the tip of the dye. Use a sterile needle and syringe to draw up 0.5 cc of your desired color. Recap needle while you prepare the egg.
Thirdly, disinfect the small end of the egg and pierce it with a thumb tack. Be very careful and apply slow, steady, firm pressure. You will feel two pops, one through the shell and one through the membrane. The tack does NOT need to be inserted all the way. I only just pierced the membrane.
Fourth, inject the dye SLOWLY so as not to put pressure on the surrounding fluids of the chick. If fluid comes back out stop and withdraw. Only put needle in just below the membrane. If you go too far you may pierce and kill the chick. This is what one of the eggs look like after I injected yellow dye.
Sorry for the slight blur, my 6 year old was taking the pictures. I cleaned the top of the cement with a disinfectant wipe and dabbed a small amount onto the injection site. Do not put pressure on this site until fully dry. Allow to dry for the allotted time on packaging in the incubator.
They are difficult to candle after the dye is injected so I would recommend just locking them all down and use the "wait and see" approach. Mine so far are doing great. It hasn't harmed them at all except one chick is upside down. I'm positive that this incident is not related to the fact that I dyed it since it was so early in incubation and I've treated it the same since. This has been so fun for the kids and I! I'm hoping our chicks HURRY up and finish hatching lol.
Materials-
Thumb tacks
Dye
Disinfectant wipes
Sterile Needles
Sterile Syringes
Liquid cement (or some kind of sealant)
Fertile Eggs!
I practiced a sterile technique. I sterilized the table with clorox and used a new syringe and needle with each egg. The tacks and dye can be boiled for sterilization. ANY germs introduced to the embryo can pose a threat and kill them quickly. I used the liquid cement to seal the small hole in the egg. This I did not sterilize as I wasn't sure if it would be effective after boiling. I did clean the tip with alcohol wipes between each use.
First candle the egg to ensure fertility and proper placement of the needle. You will be working on the SMALL end of the egg opposite the air sac. The chick should be located near the top by the yolk.
Second, using a disinfectant cloth clean the tip of the dye. Use a sterile needle and syringe to draw up 0.5 cc of your desired color. Recap needle while you prepare the egg.
Thirdly, disinfect the small end of the egg and pierce it with a thumb tack. Be very careful and apply slow, steady, firm pressure. You will feel two pops, one through the shell and one through the membrane. The tack does NOT need to be inserted all the way. I only just pierced the membrane.
Fourth, inject the dye SLOWLY so as not to put pressure on the surrounding fluids of the chick. If fluid comes back out stop and withdraw. Only put needle in just below the membrane. If you go too far you may pierce and kill the chick. This is what one of the eggs look like after I injected yellow dye.
Sorry for the slight blur, my 6 year old was taking the pictures. I cleaned the top of the cement with a disinfectant wipe and dabbed a small amount onto the injection site. Do not put pressure on this site until fully dry. Allow to dry for the allotted time on packaging in the incubator.
They are difficult to candle after the dye is injected so I would recommend just locking them all down and use the "wait and see" approach. Mine so far are doing great. It hasn't harmed them at all except one chick is upside down. I'm positive that this incident is not related to the fact that I dyed it since it was so early in incubation and I've treated it the same since. This has been so fun for the kids and I! I'm hoping our chicks HURRY up and finish hatching lol.
