Let the games begin!

[MarkJr]

Broody must have a sixth sense. She’s in full on broody mode starting this morning.

My RIR shipped eggs showed up at 1030. So. 14 RIR eggs, and 41 Delaware over sapphire gems and dominant copper eggs that I am HOPING my young cockerel fertilized at least ten.

Placed these at 230, turner off. I will plug in turner late tomorrow. Hatching eggs are 5 days in transit.

If everything works out, I’ll have a busy broody in 22 days. Thinking she will be able to cover 8-10 chicks. All others I may successfully hatch will be raised the ‘other’ way.

Sure am glad I have another coop.

 

[darkbaysfordays]

Wowza! Best of luck to you and your broody hen!

 

[MarkJr]

Full on zombie mode. Came out this morning, dropped a tennis ball sized poo (I’m exaggerating a little) ate till her crop looked distinct from across the yard, drank her fill, had the fastest dust bath I’ve ever seen and was back in the coop in 20 minutes

 

[MarkJr]

Yescom incubator..... don’t buy one.
Set incubator in closet. Have heater running to maintain 75-80 degrees and it holds 37.5 average for about 6 hours. Heat cycles make it deviate by .1 over and under. Then it moves. Next thing you know it’s creeping on 38.2-38.5. Scramble and adjust. Relax for 6 hours.
Lucky enough.... tractor supply had a NR360. I candled eggs (day 2) and took the darkest ones of the group. Slid ten eggs under mrs broody Bertha in the coop (she was on ceramic eggs). 22 in nurture right.... and this thing is getting shipped back. The NR360 is holding 99.5 under same conditions with almost zero deviation. Hope they didn’t cook. We will know in 8 days! Night everyone.

 

[MarkJr]

Ok. Day 3 was over at 230 pm. I couldn’t help myself so I candled all 22 remaining eggs. I have visible blood vessels in 18. Two with pronounced yolk shadow (if that makes sense) and two that light up between yolk and blood color.

Off to find the fancy chart to compare.

 

[MarkJr]

 

[MarkJr]

Took five pictures..... and this is the best one! Lol. You get the color I’m talking about though.