Eggs zipping!

[igorsMistress]

YAY!!!!

I'll be up for a while, keep me posted!

 

[Darlene415]

Patience is definitely a good thing. I agree it's likely the bator and hope those dark eggs hatch for you! I bet you're on pins and needles.

We are going to raise the quail for meat and eggs, totally new experience. Our chickens have been eggs only but if my little NN chick is a roo I'll be hatching some eggs to give him some bigger girls to breed for meat too.

What about you?

For now eggs and pets only, my husband and I have spoken at length on eating them or the next batch but don't know that I can do it, but I know that what I'm getting in the grocery store is garbage and I'm thinking at some point we will change our minds, maybe at a time when we have too may roosters or something...lol I'm a big animal lover, into animal rights (to a point some people get nuts) so the whole slaughtering thing is a mental issue for me, but on the other hand I know how disgusting the mass production places are and that by buying from them I am making them profit therefore I am contributing to animal abuse...cause they are abused in those places, so I know by us raising them, giving them a great life then humanely slaughtering them when due would be a win win for everyone..and I don't have to help the rich chicken farmer get richer, my meat will be healthier and my birds will still be loved and taken care of...so we will see when the time comes, for now I'm just gonna enjoy them as pets cause they are my first of what I know will be many many chickens!

 

[oregonkat]

Sounds like everything is going just fine! Post pics of those littles when you get a chance. I am interested in the dark brown eggs. As soon as you see a pip, please post as I would like to know what the length of time is between external pip and hatch is for you. I hatch these guys and so I find it fun to know how they behave for other people.

 

[igorsMistress]

I completely understand. I had a hard time reconciling myself to eating store bought chicken when I know they live not so great lives. I also become quite attached so I'm working on that. It's tough.

 

[Darlene415]

Sounds like everything is going just fine! Post pics of those littles when you get a chance. I am interested in the dark brown eggs. As soon as you see a pip, please post as I would like to know what the length of time is between external pip and hatch is for you. I hatch these guys and so I find it fun to know how they behave for other people.

Will do, the dark brown ones I have no clue about as being a newbie they were impossible for me to candle in the darkest room with the brightest light i had! Even the dark olive ones i got i could candle but those browns were impossible for me! and i have a feeling oneor both of them are duds..but i hope not! I have 12 total, mixed, a few whites, blues, light brown, really dark brown and really dark olive green, so i'm excited to see how many hatch and what i end up with, i bought them locally to avoid shipping damage, and had the bator set up in advance, i tried to do all going by why i read,although originally i had no egg turner so i bought one and quickly got it in afterthey had been set, but i barely lost any degrees in temp as i was very quick about, same as when i candled, i tried my best to keep my reading to where everyone said they should be but i think my humidity was a little high in the beginning, i msy try the dry method next time, i didnt do any humidity checks when i did duck eggs and no egg turner, but i only did 3, 2 hatched 1 didn't. hoping for the best for my new chicklettes! will def post pics when they are all in brooder or sooner with problems...fingers crossed

 

[oregonkat]

Black Copper Marans eggs which are probably the breed of dark brown eggs that you have there can, indeed, be a little problematic to incubate so dont feel too bad if these guys dont make it. BUT, they may be just fine so don't give up yet! The shells on them are significantly thicker than most other eggs due to the amount of pigment needed to make them that color and yours are quite dark if the picture is true to color. Usually they need a slightly lower humidity in incubation than other eggs because their eggs lose moisture more slowly so the air cell takes a little longer to expand.
Anyway, let us know how it all goes. I am heading to bed now (early to bed, super early to rise) so I will check in in the morning!

 

[Darlene415]

Thank you for your help! I will be up all nite...#3 just hatched #4 trying to pip now. NITE!

 

[WVduckchick]

How’s it going this morning?

 

[igorsMistress]

X 2

 

[Darlene415]

@igorsMistress & @WVduckchick its going great! 4th chick took a little longer then the rest, didn't hatch til about 4am...so there's 4 happy chicks, waiting on the rest, no pipping or movememt as of yet but today is only 20days so im not too worried anymore..was concerned with the 2 that hatched late last nite but they got out ok! It all looked perfect when they came out, yolk absorbed etc..leaving them in bator for now but i may disturb the lockdown for 4 seconds & pick them out later today, but at the same time i want to leave them in bator so their noises and activity encourage the rest of them! Running out to do my cats ( my cats also have their own house) then work on the chicken pen for a while...yeah i know i know, i spent so much damn time reading and researching chickens when beginning this adventure that i havent finished my pen..lol its big 10x30 and i have a few weeks so im not rushing...i prefer to take things slower and get it done right the 1st time...it is highly unlikely u will ever see me post about a predator getting in my pen...im making it near proof! Lol well atleast i hope so!!! Thanks for checking in..i will keep y'all posted as the day goes!! Enjoy!