Day 22 - sad, sad day - any help for a newbie?

[Basia]

Oh Prissy please answer this... I wanna know too!

 

[hencackle]

Oiled definitely was the problem. Oil will seal the pores of the eggshell and prevent gas exchange. I'm sure the woman did it to prevent moisture loss from the eggs and prolong freshness. I never wash the eggs that I incubate either because I don't want to disturb the "bloom" deposited by the hen as she lays the egg.

 

[sjutton]

Ok, now...

I'm feeling better since I have a good idea of what went wrong.

Any suggestions for a good site to "show" us what to look for when candling. And can we make a good candleler? What type of flashlight works best?

I wish I had found this site..oh..about 23 days ago!

 

[sgray136]

Oil was definitely the problem. It is an ancient practice preserving the egg by cutting out any additional air and keeping in the moisture. It is a little known fact but if eggs are treated in a special manner with an exterior salve they can be kept up to six months without refrigeration. FYI

Check out this site: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sust...ggs-a-Year-or-More-Without-Refrigeration.aspx

 

[sjutton]

I had a feeling it was some sort of "old wife" knowledge!

She's not old but some of her "knowledge" may be. Ha ha.

 

[Basia]

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=62

This is real good.

 

[Basia]

Where are you located?
What size breed are you looking for?
Egg production? Meat? Friendliness?

 

[Basia]

I found the breed chart... I knew it was around here somewhere LOL
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

If you search "Chicken Breeds" on this forum you will find a wealth of info!

 

[sjutton]

We're in SC.

We want to gather the eggs. Friendliness would be good since our 8 year old is going to do some of the work.

Any suggestions?

 

[sgray136]

I know this really isn't the place for it but I thought I'd post this pic of a candler I made. I purchased the paint can, light ficture, 200w florecent bulb, and toilet bowl plunger from Lowes. I mounted the ficture in the bottom of the can and then cut a whole out of the lid just a bit smaller than the plunger cup. I grooved the edge of the pluger cup so it would pop onto the lid. I then glued four layers of felt around the whole at the top so they would conform to the egg and block the light. I am looking for an old slide projector too as I think it will work better.