Icelandic Chickens

[kathyinmo]

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31 of 49 = 61%
More should have hatched. I opened only a couple eggs, and they were ready. I am just sure the chill for over 5 hours did them in.

So I guess at this point we need to start doing the crested pullet dance!

That's what I am doing!

 

[Chicken Coach]

I'll be back later. I need to feed and work on my rock wall. Does anybody want to help---i didn't think so---

 

[LarryPQ]

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Since when has it been under 110 during September?

Mahonri: Cronic optimist.

 

[LarryPQ]

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Ok, so the video of the emus running convinced me I didn't need one until I had a real farm.

Then the bathing video made me want one agian.

Mary: You are an emu tease. Seriously, quit it.

 

[Barrdwing]

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I have set eggs two to three weeks old under hens, and gotten some to hatch (I can't recall the exact statistics on these). Up to two weeks old, really, you should be fine: eggs in that age range under broodies have done great at our place. I wish I could give you a comparison with incubator hatches of eggs in that range, but mine is harboring a very nasty little gremlin that likes to play games with the thermostat. I will say that both times that I set eggs, they were all in the 2-14 day old range, and we had great fertility and initial development. In the first batch, we had late quitters scattered all through the second half of incubation and only six chicks hatched. I think that we would have had a much better hatch if that stupid incubator hadn't spiked and troughed all over the place. My second effort is on day 20 and when I candled at day 17, we had only lost four eggs out of 26--two clears, one blood ring, and one late quitter. So incubator issues aside, I'd think your eggs would do well.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
I have set eggs two to three weeks old under hens, and gotten some to hatch (I can't recall the exact statistics on these). Up to two weeks old, really, you should be fine: eggs in that age range under broodies have done great at our place. I wish I could give you a comparison with incubator hatches of eggs in that range, but mine is harboring a very nasty little gremlin that likes to play games with the thermostat. I will say that both times that I set eggs, they were all in the 2-14 day old range, and we had great fertility and initial development. In the first batch, we had late quitters scattered all through the second half of incubation and only six chicks hatched. I think that we would have had a much better hatch if that stupid incubator hadn't spiked and troughed all over the place. My second effort is on day 20 and when I candled at day 17, we had only lost four eggs out of 26--two clears, one blood ring, and one late quitter. So incubator issues aside, I'd think your eggs would do well.

Thanks Barrrd!
It's the "incubatER" that I'm worried about

I'm a greenhorn to say the least. I figure I have nothing to lose so in they'll go!! These will be the first Audun over Anna eggs to hatch if they make it.

That is the only pairing of my four originals I don't have any of yet so I hope that at least the freshest eggs will make it.

Congrats Kathy!! 31 is a great hatch!! I know you'll be posting lots of "crest pics" for all of us to drool over! Let's just hope the crests are on the girls and not the boys like some of mine!! See example below:

 

[AK Michelle]

I am so bummed I could cry. I set a batch of eggs and not a singel one developed.

There was a dozen Icelandics from Mary, a dozen "mystery" eggs from a local swap, 3 from my coop and 2 from my daughter's friend's coop. And not a single one developed. No Blood rings, no quiters, just no development - at all! Nada, zip, zero.

My electric thermo/hygro meter reads the highs and lows, the high was 100.6 and the low was 99.5, so temp shouldn't have been an issue. Every time I checked it the mercury thermometer and the electric both read 100 +/- . The humidity varied from 16% to 70%, I usually keep it around 40 but I don't refill it till it falls, so it's only low for a couple hours till I check it again.

I didn't candle this time, too busy (I know, too busy to candle?!?!?!?) but I was shocked when no one showed up. Then I candled, and now I'm stumped. I've always had such good hatches (probably just jinxed myself there).

I've torn the bator apart and sanitized it thoroughly, so hopefully that will help, but now I have requests for chicks and I don't have any

Thanks for listening to me whine.

 

[The Sheriff]

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Oh Michelle! That is maddening! I just listed four auctions for Icelandic eggs! If they don't sell, I can help you out and could probably even help you out early next week if they do sell. Check your thermometer. I was having lousy hatches only to find out the temp in the Brinsea was 3 degrees lower than it was reading. The Brinsea Spotcheck is an excellent thermometer. I hope you solve the problem soon. Candle next time, then if there is a problem you can catch it sooner and get more eggs.

 

[tazcat70]

I am so sorry about your incubator problems.

Btw I love your signature.

 

[Mahonri]

My brinsea is messed up.

So is my hovabator.

I'm about to bite the bullet and buy a Dickey... Unless I can get a fellow BYCer down Tucson way to make me one.