Jan./Feb. 2014 hatch a long

[Cynthia12]

I just put eggs in this past Sunday. I made a separate post under hatch-a-longs. Still figuring all this out! Maybe I'll try to move the post here

If it's the Jan. one..I started that..and came here. More action was going on here..didn't notice it until after I started it. So, good thing anyway, I will now have eggs hatching in Feb. too.

 

[AmericanMom]

That's funny, because that's about the same age I started to need reading glasses. I soo know where you are at with that now.
Sure was hard to get used to having those things. Only needed them then, so I tried all sorts of things to keep them near. Tucked in the shirt, then got those silly looking glass neck holders, then finally got bad enough that I needed bi-focales. (spelling is as bad as my eyes.) So, then I had them on all the time. It's been years. Used to glassed now. Can't live without them!

My optometrist told me this last summer that in a couple more years I would need bifocals...i'll be 45 this spring

 

[Cynthia12]

So, I just candled my eggs at 6 days, and 8 out of 12 eggs are growing! Yay

There was one egg I didn't incubate because of poop I couldn't wipe off, and three were clear/infertile. This time when I candled, I didn't turn them upside down and kept the big end up. These are splash ameraucana. Here's some pix:

Lil' bean

Many of the pics look like this with very clear veining.

This egg is one of the darker ones. Have any of you seen anything like this light spot on eggs before? What is it? It doesn't appear to be a crack. Thanks for any input

It appears that you have the pointy end down? Maybe it's just my bad eyes! Pointy end up.

 

[Cynthia12]

My optometrist told me this last summer that in a couple more years I would need bifocals...i'll be 45 this spring

You're almost young enough to be my youngin. Actually, if I had started a few years earlier, you could be, I have a 40 year old daughter. Oh to be 40 again. Enjoy it, it's a great age.

 

[jan12]

It appears that you have the pointy end down?  Maybe it's just my bad eyes!  Pointy end up.  

You're right - the pointy end is down and a little light is showing through at the bottom. But there's another light spot on the egg, almost like a small round window. It looks so strange! I've seen porous eggs, and it's not that. There's only one spot. Have you seen something like that?

I decided to candle pointy-side down this time because I wanted to keep the eggs as undisturbed as possible. Since I'm incubating with the air cell end up, I feel like flipping them upside down to candle them might disturb them more than necessary. It's just something I'm trying to get my hatch rate up. These are shipped eggs. Hoping for a good hatch!!

 

[JDchicks]

this is not my information, I saved all this info from BYC user @DMRippy
BUTCHER, SOAK, BRINE, SLOW & LOW
Heritage breeds are not like store chicken. We actually let out birds out of a small cage and even some of us let them walk around on green grass. Leg muscles and breast muscles are actually developed and have flavor and texture instead of mush. The older the bird the longer it should be *rested* after butchering. My older males I rest in ice salt water or applejuice for 4-5 days before cooking. My 10-12 week olds I rest and ice bath for 2 days. If i am doing cornish hens at 6 week or younger I rest for 12 hours. each age group has its own muscle development and needs to be butchered or soaked or rested it own special way.

Young Birds
6-8 weeks you can fry or bake on a lower temp and have tender juicy chicken

8-12 week you need to low temp bake with moisture and make special preperation to keep the breast meat from drying out before leg meat is done. You can cover the breast to help.

12-24 weeks you need to low slow roast with moisture for longer time. 160 degrees for a few hours ..I like to soak the chicken in milk over night before baking.

Some slow cookers low temps are too hot for older birds and can dry them out and can make them fiber string..ugh..make sure you use low temps for long times. Cooking in the oven at 280 degrees for 3 hours using two cups of applejuice and water for a 5 lb bird makes a tasty tender bird. The stock left in the pan will make the best soups you have ever made. My mouth is watering.

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/cookingwheritagechicken.pdf


Turkey
I brine my turkey's for the holidays..... equal amounts of sugar and Kosher salt. I use fruit juices (cranberry and orange usually) some herbs to taste. Usually brine for 3-4 days... the more the better.

My son keeps asking me "WHY IS YOUR TURKEY ALWAYS SO JUICY AND NOBODY ELSE CAN DO THAT?" ...... Very tasty too.



Old/Adult Birds
Lets talk about old males..This 14lb 3 year old Orpington..I used a 5 gallon cooler.

rinsed and placed the bird inside the cooler. Cover with ice and add...(1/2 cup kosher salt and 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup apple juice cooked on the stove to dissolve the sugar and salt). I just added ice every day and kept the bird covered in liquid for 5 days.

Baked with 1/2 apple juice and 1/2 cup water 300 for 3 hours. 325 for one hour 400 for 15 minutes to brown the skin.

I use glass for old birds. I do not want to reflect more heat.


DMRippy on BYC

Awesome , will have to try this.

 

[chicken pickin]

You're right - the pointy end is down and a little light is showing through at the bottom. But there's another light spot on the egg, almost like a small round window. It looks so strange! I've seen porous eggs, and it's not that. There's only one spot. Have you seen something like that?

I decided to candle pointy-side down this time because I wanted to keep the eggs as undisturbed as possible. Since I'm incubating with the air cell end up, I feel like flipping them upside down to candle them might disturb them more than necessary. It's just something I'm trying to get my hatch rate up. These are shipped eggs. Hoping for a good hatch!!

I always candle pointy side down. Ive never flipped the egg over to candle.

 

[jan12]

I always candle pointy side down. Ive never flipped the egg over to candle.

Good to know - thanks! I just started hatching eggs last year, and I never read anything about how to orient the eggs when candling. I wish I would have known earlier! Maybe my hatch rate would have been better. Last year I got 30-60% hatch rate on shipped eggs. - mostly on the lower end.

 

[Farmer Viola]

I too have just received posted/ shipped eggs and I only had 2 of the 6 with detached air sacks and only plan on doing what I have listed.

ahh, ok

. So I let them sit ( cool room ) for 24hrs. Then warm them to room temp. Then put them in the bator for another 1-2 days not turning them. I will give this ago thanks.
Do I have to lower the temp of that bator when I first put the eggs in then slowly increase it up to 37.5? or can I just put them straight from room temp to 37.5???

I'm in Aus and we say posted, but it doesn't really matter.lol.

Yes, I understand about the air sack, the level like bubble on the side when it's detached. I just didn't know you had to do so much. As I listed above ( read the other quotes above this ) I only have those steps.
The lady whom I purchased these eggs off even said she has had success with chicks hatching from detached air sacks at day 18.

well, surely you don't "have" to, this is just my plan this time around

I have had several detached shipments with varying amounts of luck.... the list does seem long looking at it now, I guess I have just added to it over time, and now it's really detailed. each experience made me change how I did something. I figured by posting my plan here, maybe someone else can benefit along the way! but you do not HAVE to do any of it

 

[Cynthia12]

Really guys? I have never candled pointy end down. Interesting. This is the first I've heard of it being done. Will have to look into this.