Just in the 'bator 17 Delaware, 4 Barred Rock, 4 BBS Orpingtons...more

[Laney]

In the 'bator today from Speckledhen, 17 Delaware, 4 Barred Rock, and 4 BBS Orpingtons. They all arrived yesterday in beautiful condition. They were packed in mini-Fort Knox. I don't believe an egg could have moved in this box if it had tried. Provided no one at the Post office played Dodge Ball or Monkey in the Middle with the box, my eggs should be in great shape. Non cracked, dingged or damaged.

I put them in my new R-com Suro King 20 incubator, which I ran for 12 hours first just to "see how it worked" after all the putting together.

Since I got 25 eggs and only had room in the R-com for 24, I had to go get some friends for the lonely single egg that would be in my old incubator. So I pulled 4 of my own Delaware eggs out of the Fridge, and ran to Whole Foods and bought some loose eggs that I know are Java's. Hatchability won't be as good, but it will make running the other incubator worth it. Once I candle at day 7 I can consolidate the two incubators into one.

Laney

 

[speckledhen]

Best of luck to you, Laney! Did you also get the other little bonus I packed in your box?

 

[Laney]

I did! It was right on top! I got so excited about the eggs I forgot my manners! Thank you so much! It is so cute, I don't know where to put it now. Maybe on my bator, or on my barn..... or on one of the coops...or or or.... I just love the sunglasses on the chicks!!!

And I am always Chillin' with my Peeps!

Laney

 

[kathyinmo]

So, is today day 1 ..... due on March 3 ? Keep us updated and entertained!

 

[Laney]

Yes today is day 1 for the R-com, and tomorrow will be day 1 for the Hovabator even if I get them in tonight. So we will have a March 3rd/4th Hatching.

I will post everything I can, about candling etc. I hope there will be no temp or humidity abnormalities on either incubator!

I didn't post who I got eggs from earlier, but I have Gracie, Georgie, Kira, and Ellie I think for Dels, Fern, Lexie and Becca for Barred Rocks, Dusty and Smokey for BBS Orps..I know I'm missing some, but I'm doing this from memory. Some of the Del eggs didn't have names on them so I'm assuming the girls weren't cooperating and laying them where they were supposed to on those. I'll be adding in Helen's (my hen) eggs to the Hovabator as well as the store bought Java's. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to get some more White Java's out of those eggs.

The majority of the Del eggs came from Gracie, I think she is the best layer right now, isn't she Cyn? 2 big ones from Kira, I hope they hatch as you said she wasn't feeling well right now. Ellie sent 4 I think, and Georgie 2 big beautiful brown ones, the rest didn't have a hen name on them.

I did get 2 Fern eggs!!!!! Yay! I want both of those to hatch, I just have to have Fern babies to cuddle and love!! My daughter is most excited about the Barred Rocks. She calls those HER eggs. I'll be lucky to ever get a cuddle on those. But I'm going to sneak in those Fern baby cuddles.

Laney


Laney

 

[Laney]

Just finishing day 3...and I will not candle...I will not candle! I am trying to let these eggs do their own thing. Last hatch I had a few early quitters and I have no idea what caused this, but I want to eliminate all possible causes...including too much candling/opening of the bator.

So, I will not candle at all until day 7. A lot of the time I'll candle at day 3 to try to give myself an idea of what is going on...but not this time.

I also went out and got some silicone hose and "wired" it in through the vent hole in my hovabator so that it will drip into the plastic tray. Then I have attached a 30 cc syringe to it on the outside. I fill the syringe up and flush the water through the tubing into the 'bator without opening it when the humidity gets low. This way I can increase the humidity whenever it gets a few points low without opening anything. It's not automatic, but at least I'm not disturbing the atmosphere inside the incubator anymore than I absolutely have to. I read about this method somewhere on BYC. I've covered the opening with a cloth around the tubing so that extra humidity isn't escaping.

I just have to remember, I will not candle, I will not candle!!!!!!

Laney

Just 3 1/2 more days until I can candle...

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! I wouldn't encourage you to candle early or anything...

...but how can you resist!

Lisa

 

[Laney]

My husband may have to resort to duct tape...I'm not sure if I mean on me, or on the 'bators..... but we'll see...

Laney

 

[jeremy]

So exciting, I hope you have a great hatch!

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Some of the eggs didn't have names because I wasn't entirely sure who laid them, but I think you got all the names in your list above. You can sometimes guess who laid the Del eggs since Georgie's are often very dark, but Ellie's are on occasion non-speckled or very speckled, and Gracie is the youngest and a fairly new layer, as you can see from her egg size, so naturally, she is the best layer at the moment.