Hatching Eggs for the first time and very anxious!

Date sort Score sort
CountryHaven said:
Ya.. not gonna lie.. I shed a few tears last night when I think I truly knew.... Just heart broken for my kids they were so excited... I called them feather parents and we had set our due date and everything.. For 11 year old this was a huge deal... So we talked today about the prospect of adopting and they seemed pretty psyched about it too... they just want the experience of the chicks too... I was truly hoping for a few...
Click to expand...
It's stressful enough for us adults, I would hate to have to explain that to kids
 
CountryHaven said:
Ya.. not gonna lie.. I shed a few tears last night when I think I truly knew.... Just heart broken for my kids they were so excited... I called them feather parents and we had set our due date and everything.. For 11 year old this was a huge deal... So we talked today about the prospect of adopting and they seemed pretty psyched about it too... they just want the experience of the chicks too... I was truly hoping for a few...
Click to expand...
I got into hatching/raising last fall as a science project for our Oviparous animal study (We homeschool, and my son is 7 now, was 6 then.) and it was an awesome experience seeing the growth and developement when we candled and the movement was awesome. We had a bad hatch and only one made it (bad thermometer). I felt awful. He was a bit dissapointed, but I think the one survivor lightened it a bit. We weren't planning on keeping chicks, my sister, whom I borrowed the bator and got the eggs from, was supposed to take any chicks. We were only doing it as a learning experience. Well, we couldn't let our litle guy go and after a couple of weeks we talked it over and decided we wanted to raise our own chickens and to give it a second try. I armed myself with three new thermometers, and did a whole lot of research and learned about humidity and how to incubate in these touchy styrofoam bators and we set our second hatch. We now have 5 laying hens, and two roos that started the flock (plus my special needs roo from the first botched hatch) and 31 chicks in the bator that hatched out the week before Easter.
 
AmyLynn2374 said:
I got into hatching/raising last fall as a science project for our Oviparous animal study (We homeschool, and my son is 7 now, was 6 then.) and it was an awesome experience seeing the growth and developement when we candled and the movement was awesome. We had a bad hatch and only one made it (bad thermometer). I felt awful. He was a bit dissapointed, but I think the one survivor lightened it a bit. We weren't planning on keeping chicks, my sister, whom I borrowed the bator and got the eggs from, was supposed to take any chicks. We were only doing it as a learning experience. Well, we couldn't let our litle guy go and after a couple of weeks we talked it over and decided we wanted to raise our own chickens and to give it a second try. I armed myself with three new thermometers, and did a whole lot of research and learned about humidity and how to incubate in these touchy styrofoam bators and we set our second hatch. We now have 5 laying hens, and two roos that started the flock (plus my special needs roo from the first botched hatch) and 31 chicks in the bator that hatched out the week before Easter.
Click to expand...
Wow!! That is awesome..I would definitely do it again and maybe get my own incubator and do a lot more research from this experience. I'll start with some day olds this year though...and We just bought 9 acres in the niagara region.. ( close to fort erie.. like 40 mins away) and are doing a 2-3 acre organic veggie garden and chickens.. we are huge animal lovers and hoping to expand to goats and maybe some horses once we build a bigger barn. I am so excited to be more self sufficient .. starting with eggs.. not to sure about meat birds as I have a soft heart and don't eat much meat anyways lol. We are looking to do 20-30 chickens gonna start on our coop project the next few weeks..on top our clearing out our field for the garden!! So looking forward to eggs and having a bunch of crazy chickens running around!!! A chocolate lab and a 14 year old one eyed shi tzu!! No kids yet but we will have those running around too sometime in the near future!
 
CountryHaven said:
Wow!! That is awesome..I would definitely do it again and maybe get my own incubator and do a lot more research from this experience. I'll start with some day olds this year though...and We just bought 9 acres in the niagara region.. ( close to fort erie.. like 40 mins away) and are doing a 2-3 acre organic veggie garden and chickens.. we are huge animal lovers and hoping to expand to goats and maybe some horses once we build a bigger barn. I am so excited to be more self sufficient .. starting with eggs.. not to sure about meat birds as I have a soft heart and don't eat much meat anyways lol. We are looking to do 20-30 chickens gonna start on our coop project the next few weeks..on top our clearing out our field for the garden!! So looking forward to eggs and having a bunch of crazy chickens running around!!! A chocolate lab and a 14 year old one eyed shi tzu!! No kids yet but we will have those running around too sometime in the near future!
Click to expand...
I could not eat my birds. It would be easier if I could, then I wouldn't have to worry about what to do wit the roos, but I just can't. I can't do farm fresh meat. I love chicken, but it has to be boneless skinless chicken breast from the store...lol (or KFC...lol)
I can't eat an animal I've met and I don't like fresh meat or eating anything from a bone! lol Fresh eggs are another story though...lol Good luck!! I hope it all works out for you. That's a great plan!
 
CountryHaven said:
Ya.. not gonna lie.. I shed a few tears last night when I think I truly knew.... Just heart broken for my kids they were so excited... I called them feather parents and we had set our due date and everything.. For 11 year old this was a huge deal... So we talked today about the prospect of adopting and they seemed pretty psyched about it too... they just want the experience of the chicks too... I was truly hoping for a few...
Click to expand...

Very sad. I'm sorry for your loss, and for the kids' loss. So have you taken all the eggs out now? Day 23 is not uncommon for some breeds, and maybe its just one or two eggs smelling?? I'm just seeing this thread, and was hoping for a better conclusion for you. But I have to ask, since you are a teacher... If you have taken the eggs out, did you open them up and perform an "eggtopsy"? I'm not sure if its appropriate for 11-year-olds, but it is an awesome learning experience. I would highly recommend it, for you at least, if you haven't already discarded the eggs. There are some great threads on here that can show you almost to the day, what day your chick died, by its growth.

Best wishes to you and your class.
 
AmyLynn2374 said:
I could not eat my birds. It would be easier if I could, then I wouldn't have to worry about what to do wit the roos, but I just can't. I can't do farm fresh meat. I love chicken, but it has to be boneless skinless chicken breast from the store...lol (or KFC...lol)
I can't eat an animal I've met and I don't like fresh meat or eating anything from a bone! lol Fresh eggs are another story though...lol Good luck!! I hope it all works out for you. That's a great plan!
Click to expand...
I know!! I feel the same! I figured if I filled our coop this year with egg layers then there would be no room for meat birds even if he wanted too lol... I had someone willing to take the roos... becasue my husband said they would disappear if they stayed around
hmm.png
.. so I found someone who would take them.. I didn't ask what for.....just knew they had somewhere to go...I only eat boneless skinless chicken breast.... seafood.. and an occasional burger with bacon,, but no beef or pork really to speak of..and def nothing i raised from a baby.. that is where my husband and I differ.. will be an interesting next couple of years!! Hope it all works out too.. Thanks for all the convo!!
 
WVduckchick said:
Very sad. I'm sorry for your loss, and for the kids' loss. So have you taken all the eggs out now? Day 23 is not uncommon for some breeds, and maybe its just one or two eggs smelling?? I'm just seeing this thread, and was hoping for a better conclusion for you. But I have to ask, since you are a teacher... If you have taken the eggs out, did you open them up and perform an "eggtopsy"? I'm not sure if its appropriate for 11-year-olds, but it is an awesome learning experience. I would highly recommend it, for you at least, if you haven't already discarded the eggs. There are some great threads on here that can show you almost to the day, what day your chick died, by its growth.

Best wishes to you and your class.
Click to expand...
I haven't taken them out yet.. but even when we candled them on day 18 I was worried about the development.. .. we are going to break them open OUTSIDE on monday for a eggtopsy for those who would like to see... I am going to give the option.. I think that way we can take some learning from the experience!! I Def learned a lot!! Going to do some research this weekend so I am prepped to do it monday!! Half my kids are dying to see what is inside so should be good!
 
CountryHaven said:
I haven't taken them out yet.. but even when we candled them on day 18 I was worried about the development.. .. we are going to break them open OUTSIDE on monday for a eggtopsy for those who would like to see... I am going to give the option.. I think that way we can take some learning from the experience!! I Def learned a lot!! Going to do some research this weekend so I am prepped to do it monday!! Half my kids are dying to see what is inside so should be good!
Click to expand...
I would consider taking the bator home with you for the weekend and keeping it plugged in, just in case- you never know....
 

Similar threads

H
    • Like
Day 23 .. 1 hatch day 21
2
Replies
11
Views
1K
Debbie292d
Debbie292d
TournZero
    • Like
my first attempt
Replies
4
Views
203
Jasonpruiett04
Jasonpruiett04
Chickhawk
Very early chick
Replies
8
Views
568
Tex452
Tex452
B
Expectant first time coturnix quail mommy, egg help please?!?
Replies
2
Views
394
becomingquailmommy
B
The Bougie Coop
    • Love
    • Like
First Hatch: time-lapse of bantam Salmon Faverolles
Replies
1
Views
3K
BoundlessLove
BoundlessLove

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom