Chicken Math: Ameraucana Hatching Eggs Ordered!

[abenardini]

Well, I'm at it again. This time, I've ordered from Deer Run Farm - https://www.deerrunfarmmd.com/. Their Ameraucanas look gorgeous and they state they breed for quality, which does seem to show in their birds. I should have my eggs in the next week I believe, based on the "process date" of 9/20. As usual, will post pics when they're received, into the incubator, and throughout incubation, to hopeful great hatch rates!

Please whisper a prayer to the "please don't scramble my fertile eggs in the mail" shipping gods. ;-)

 

[sourland]

Good luck for a successful incubation and hatch.

 

[sourland]

I clicked on their website - looks like a great place.

 

[abenardini]

I clicked on their website - looks like a great place.

Thanks - appreciate the vote of confidence.

Their customer reviews on Google are absolutely stellar as well, only two less than 5 stars. Hoping to get a cockerel out of this lot.

 

[abenardini]

They're here! Eggs were packed beautifully. They sent 15 eggs instead of the 12 I ordered, so love that!

Sadly, sometimes no matter what happens, eggs break...one egg was cracked....BUT, the membrane was intact. I'm going to try and salvage it. I've used newskin for minor cracks in the past but this one is pretty good real-estate wise. I've also had a success with using the sticky part of a bandaid in the past as well, so going to try this route this time. If it doesn't look good at day 4-5, I'll toss it. If it makes to hatch day, I'll take the bandaid off carefully.

If it makes it all the way through, probably have to name it Curad or something .

There are some detached air cells in these (in the yellow cut down egg crate side). The rest appear to have good air cells. Doing one last calibration of the incubator and they'll be off to the races.

 

[Cawagula]

Congrats, wishing you luck. In the past clear nail polish has worked great for me at sealing cracks as well.

 

[abenardini]

Congrats, wishing you luck. In the past clear nail polish has worked great for me at sealing cracks as well.

Yeah I’ve done that too but this crack has a large dent as well. I don’t think it’ll make it but maybe!

 

[Cawagula]

Yeah I’ve done that too but this crack has a large dent as well. I don’t think it’ll make it but maybe!

If someone can hatch a chicken after removing the shell and placing it in a cup I'm sure your's has a shot. I just had a cracked egg my last hatch but it didn't make it. Was one kf my Copper Marans eggs, looked great up till about day 14 when none of my lights could really penetrate it but could still see veins. Day 23 still didn't hatch, opened it and it looked scrambled. Got a new incubator though, temp wasn't holding consistent anymore and the rollers weren't turning the eggs right anymore, was just like shifting them all down and only turning 1/4 of the way. Got one more fertile egg from her though, on day 16 now and still looking good. My Marans is secretly one of my top two favorites - keeps the flock in line and always watching for hawks, we have a nest of red tails a block a way. Wish she'd go broody so I could give it to her along with a few opal legbars I got going lol.

 

[abenardini]

Update: Nearly all of the eggs look great. Candled tonight and see early evidence of cell division. I will post pics on day 4-5 of the eggs to show how they're doing for others that are curious.

I will note: I procured these eggs because I really, really, really, want true Ameraucanas and see a big difference in egg color between the original small hatchery from the new one (which is GOOD). Every one of these eggs is a beautiful sky blue, not tinted with any greenish color whatsoever. Will keep ya'll posted!

 

[abenardini]

I candled the eggs tonight and am very happy with the current development! 10 eggs have great early development. Pray it continues!