I feel guilty even asking these questions as I've been a lurker for the most part. You all have taught me loads and you don't even know it. I'm sorry about that, but I've got to ask now since I've got eggs in the bator and the hatch date is the 12th. This is my first batch. They're mutts that I'm hatching for a girlfriend and it's practice for me. There are about a dozen and a half of OEG hens, Easter Eggers (2) and brown layers (4) could be Speckled Sussex or any number of other hens and there are several roosters to pick from, so who knows. Anyway, the owners of the eggs are very excited about the upcoming event and that is all that matters. They have a good home to go to.
Now my questions, I'm gathering that if the hatch date is the 12th, lock down is tomorrow, or would it be today?
Next question, Is the lack of rotten egg smell a guarantee that nothing will explode. I've candled the eggs twice and tossed two eggs at a little over a week that looked exactly like the pictures of the rotten egg pictures. The small white eggs (OEG) have all been easy to see into and looked fertile and continued to develop well all along. The brown ones have not been so easy, but I thought they looked OK so I have kept them and the Easter Eggers without knowing much of what is going on inside. The EA are impossible to see into. They've looked like little rocks from the beginning. I can say there has never has been a bad smell in the bator. I don't mind if I have some that don't hatch, but I don't want any to explode. I've never actually picked up any of the eggs and sniffed them since there has never been a bad smell when I opened the lid. They all feel quite heavy except for maybe one of the OEG eggs, but I'm not totally sure about that one. If it died, I would say it's been recently.
One other thing, and this may not belong here, if not I'll post it where you tell me to, but does anyone vaccinate their chicks, and if you do, for what and where do you get it.
I'm getting terribly nervous. I don't want to do anything wrong and through my ignorance hurt the babies. The hatch date came up on me awfully quick. It seems like I just set them. I guess I've just been really busy building coops and runs for my chickens. It is the biggest project I've ever taken on by myself.
I guess that's it. Thanks for any help you can give me.
Now my questions, I'm gathering that if the hatch date is the 12th, lock down is tomorrow, or would it be today?
Next question, Is the lack of rotten egg smell a guarantee that nothing will explode. I've candled the eggs twice and tossed two eggs at a little over a week that looked exactly like the pictures of the rotten egg pictures. The small white eggs (OEG) have all been easy to see into and looked fertile and continued to develop well all along. The brown ones have not been so easy, but I thought they looked OK so I have kept them and the Easter Eggers without knowing much of what is going on inside. The EA are impossible to see into. They've looked like little rocks from the beginning. I can say there has never has been a bad smell in the bator. I don't mind if I have some that don't hatch, but I don't want any to explode. I've never actually picked up any of the eggs and sniffed them since there has never been a bad smell when I opened the lid. They all feel quite heavy except for maybe one of the OEG eggs, but I'm not totally sure about that one. If it died, I would say it's been recently.
One other thing, and this may not belong here, if not I'll post it where you tell me to, but does anyone vaccinate their chicks, and if you do, for what and where do you get it.
I'm getting terribly nervous. I don't want to do anything wrong and through my ignorance hurt the babies. The hatch date came up on me awfully quick. It seems like I just set them. I guess I've just been really busy building coops and runs for my chickens. It is the biggest project I've ever taken on by myself.
I guess that's it. Thanks for any help you can give me.
