I'm writing because I know you all can sympathize! I think my poor Maryland egg is dead in shell.
It's on day 47 and has only wiggled once, about a week ago. Also it used to have 3 distinct temperature zones, but as of yesterday there's only two (the air cell end, and everything else). No "hot spot" anymore. And "everything else" cools down faster than it used to.
I'll still keep it in the incubator. I'm incubating at ~ 95.5 so theoretically it could hatch as late as day 58. I know that some of you have had eggs you were sure were duds that gave you a big surprise!! But I'm emotionally resigned to this one being a deader.
Meanwhile, I have one more chance, the egg from California (the "sister" to Yoda's egg). Sounds like it will be the big sister -- not only is it 2 days older, it's 92 g heavier!
It is the smallest I have ever incubated 457 grams. It is smaller then my first egg that hatched. I hope this one does hatch out cause I will now know what I need to do to make it survive and live a healthy life.
I keep reading my "Emu Farmer's Handbook" and I found some good words for you
"Usually, first year breeders (two year olds) are most likely to produce really small eggs, 400 g or less. ...An egg can be tiny and still hatch out a perfectly normal chick. It will of course also be very small, but will in many cases eventually catch up to the larger chicks."
Makes me think of my son -- he was a preemie and started out at 2 lbs. Now he's 16 and almost 6' tall. We joke that it's because of all the time he spends in the aviary, the birds pooping on his head gave him a boost of fertilizer so he grew fast
I thought I'd chime in. I'm a first time emu hatcher. I bought 4 eggs from California and I live just south of Boston on the south shore. So they traveled cross country. Today is day 43 and I'm happy to say 3 of the 4 are wiggling like crazy. I've turned them twice a day.....morning and night, and have them in a styrofoam table top incubator so you can imagine how thrilled I am. If all 3 hatch this will be the best hatch rate on shipped eggs I've ever had. I can not wait until Sunday.....that's hatch day!!!!!
It makes me happy to hear that these eggs are doing so well even though they traveled all the way across country -- since one of mine made that trip too...
I know right. My two sons are adopted and our youngest was in foster care on a farm so we're nurturing his love of animals. We have ducks, geese and chickens. I bought the emu eggs on a whim and thought at the very least we'd have some gorgeous eggs to display. I have to be honest, I'm thrilled to meet these 3 little emus. And we'll still have the 4th did egg for display. Anyone with advice on how to preserve it would be appreciated, as well as advice on caring for the chicks once they hatch. I've done TONS of research but hearing from emu people makes me more comfortable than reading 21 different web site. 8 -)
Right with you on that one! We were homeschoolers through middle school and that was a big reason we built the aviary and chicken coop. Otherwise the kid would have disappeared into the computer and never come out
It has really brought out his gentle side. He treats our chickens like puppies!
Quote: Speaking as a complete Newbie, these are the things that have helped me the most!
Down to 5 eggs in my first set that are now 47 days old - 3 are moving when talked to and the other 2 have the "china sound when tapped" - Question should I pull the 2 that I think are duds or leave them in the incubator? They are not smelling bad.
I know right. My two sons are adopted and our youngest was in foster care on a farm so we're nurturing his love of animals. We have ducks, geese and chickens. I bought the emu eggs on a whim and thought at the very least we'd have some gorgeous eggs to display. I have to be honest, I'm thrilled to meet these 3 little emus. And we'll still have the 4th did egg for display. Anyone with advice on how to preserve it would be appreciated, as well as advice on caring for the chicks once they hatch. I've done TONS of research but hearing from emu people makes me more comfortable than reading 21 different web site. 8 -)
Down to 5 eggs in my first set that are now 47 days old - 3 are moving when talked to and the other 2 have the "china sound when tapped" - Question should I pull the 2 that I think are duds or leave them in the incubator? They are not smelling bad.
i would leave them until all the others have hatched.. you just never know if you have a lazy and quiet baby in there until after hatch date has passed. (though they are probably duds.. it's just nice to play it safe if they aren't stinking)
