May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[Dinoroar]

I have to sleep in a sports bra which keeps the “ladies” in place pretty decently. I sleep on my back or side and am not particularly well endowed so that might help? It’s kind of hurting in the incubation department bc more tata=more body heat.

But I wrap the egg in tissue to keep it from getting any oils or sweat on it and it goes kinda under one side. Change out the tissue as needed. I’ve been taking the temperature and it fluctuates between 98.6 and 99.5 so far.

I have a fairly sedentary job (teaching) so even though I’m on my feet or sitting at a desk during day, not a ton of jumping or shaking going on.

Fascinating. I’m 100% sure I would crush an egg if I put it in my bra. I’m almost tempted to try it just to see how long it takes but I have enough messes to clean up.

Next question… do your students know you have an egg in your bra?

 

[FeatherProfessor]

Fascinating. I’m 100% sure I would crush an egg if I put it in my bra. I’m almost tempted to try it just to see how long it takes but I have enough messes to clean up.

Next question… do your students know you have an egg in your bra?

Absolutely not that would raise too many questions. The May term classes may find out but probably not. I’m planning to move the egg to the incubator for lockdown if it makes it that far.

I thought I’d crush it too! Surprised myself honestly so far. The inspiration lady said the majority of cracks and breaks happened during tissue replacement when the eggs jumped out of hands. But hey! Give it a go if you’re curious. The tissue will make clean up easier. (And I got a $5 Walmart bra on clearance just in case)

 

[Dinoroar]

Absolutely not that would raise too many questions. The May term classes may find out but probably not. I’m planning to move the egg to the incubator for lockdown if it makes it that far.

I thought I’d crush it too! Surprised myself honestly so far. The inspiration lady said the majority of cracks and breaks happened during tissue replacement when the eggs jumped out of hands. But hey! Give it a go if you’re curious. The tissue will make clean up easier. (And I got a $5 Walmart bra on clearance just in case)

maybe a quail egg… smaller and pretty thick shelled…

 

[Kikilu]

Day 17 for my only two surviving Orpington's from my April shipped eggs both look like they will make it but one far more shadowed than the other.
12 local BBS Marans on day 6 and I’d say one may be clear and the other potential blood ring.
I don’t plan on doing a lockdown for the two orps since they are in with the rest. Maybe keep the humidity a bit higher at 60. I’ll see how it goes and hope for the best.

 

[Kikilu]

Also I think my dogs been too obsessed with the chickens. She apparently tried to incubate the cat tonight and for some reason he didn’t mind at all lol

 

[Waterfaery]

I have to sleep in a sports bra which keeps the “ladies” in place pretty decently. I sleep on my back or side and am not particularly well endowed so that might help? It’s kind of hurting in the incubation department bc more tata=more body heat.

But I wrap the egg in tissue to keep it from getting any oils or sweat on it and it goes kinda under one side. Change out the tissue as needed. I’ve been taking the temperature and it fluctuates between 98.6 and 99.5 so far.

I have a fairly sedentary job (teaching) so even though I’m on my feet or sitting at a desk during day, not a ton of jumping or shaking going on.

I'm so interested in your experiment. It's fascinating! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[Kwoka]

I finally candled today, day 10. Only 4/7 had development, the other three either weren’t fertilized, or quit very early, hard to tell. Gonna cook them up and feed them to the 1295768943579 chicks I already have

Mozzarella (im)patiently waited for me to finish candling, then she hopped back on the nest. My precious pancake

 

[Waterfaery]

I managed to candle Moonsparkle's eggs today and I'm afraid it's not good news. One was cracked open. Four look totally clear. One has what looks like early development but there are no veins and the "chick" is too small for day 10 so it's probably a quitter. The final one has a small dark patch on one side and no veins so another quitter, I think. So that's 0 out of 7 eggs developing.

I removed the cracked one and now she's sitting on 6 eggs that won't ever hatch. I don't really know what to do. I could give her more eggs but she's already been sitting for 10 days so I'm worried about prolonging her time sitting as I don't want to compromise her health.

I'm also concerned that her current nesting situation isn't ideal because there are 5 Australorps who bully her out of her nest to lay in it every day, even though they have lots of other nesting space. I could move her to a smaller, separate area and then give her new eggs but by the time I get her settled somewhere else, it will be adding even more time onto her sitting.

I have 15 chicks in the brooder who are 5 days old and I contemplated giving her some of them but I'm nervous and I don't know what to expect if she rejects them. They are thriving so far where they are so I would hate to put them into any sort of risky situation.

It's a tricky decision and I'm working with zero experience.

 

[Kwoka]

I managed to candle Moonsparkle's eggs today and I'm afraid it's not good news. One was cracked open. Four look totally clear. One has what looks like early development but there are no veins and the "chick" is too small for day 10 so it's probably a quitter. The final one has a small dark patch on one side and no veins so another quitter, I think. So that's 0 out of 7 eggs developing.

I removed the cracked one and now she's sitting on 6 eggs that won't ever hatch. I don't really know what to do. I could give her more eggs but she's already been sitting for 10 days so I'm worried about prolonging her time sitting as I don't want to compromise her health.

I'm also concerned that her current nesting situation isn't ideal because there are 5 Australorps who bully her out of her nest to lay in it every day, even though they have lots of other nesting space. I could move her to a smaller, separate area and then give her new eggs but by the time I get her settled somewhere else, it will be adding even more time onto her sitting.

I have 15 chicks in the brooder who are 5 days old and I contemplated giving her some of them but I'm nervous and I don't know what to expect if she rejects them. They are thriving so far where they are so I would hate to put them into any sort of risky situation.

It's a tricky decision and I'm working with zero experience.

That’s a real bummer are there any locals or hatcheries selling day old chicks? I was reading that if you’re going to do the old “switcharoo” with a broody, it should be within 1-2 days max, but maybe others have different experiences . I was already contemplating this, just in case Mozza fails with the eggs. I still want her to have some babies and give her a chance. I’m also prepared to “broody break” if can’t get any, but I’d rather not…

 

[Waterfaery]

That’s a real bummer are there any locals or hatcheries selling day old chicks? I was reading that if you’re going to do the old “switcharoo” with a broody, it should be within 1-2 days max, but maybe others have different experiences . I was already contemplating this, just in case Mozza fails with the eggs. I still want her to have some babies and give her a chance. I’m also prepared to “broody break” if can’t get any, but I’d rather not…

Thanks. No, there wouldn't be anything like that here and anyway, I'm careful about keeping a closed flock so I won't bring in live birds, even chicks.

I've also heard that before about them having to be less than 3 days old but I've also heard of people giving much older chicks to broody hens, although that would have been to very experienced, proven broodys. I'm not sure about a first time broody. And I also don't know anything about the potential consequences if it doesn't go well.

I wonder if the best thing is to move her anyway. If she breaks, that might not be so bad. I don't really need any more chicks anyway (I have 37 currently) ; I just wanted her to succeed for her own sake. If she accepts the move, I'll have to think about which way to go next. I've got lots of fertile eggs ready anyway and I'll try to do some more research about the chick thing so I can be prepared either way. I'll do a search on here but if anyone has any links to threads or articles that would be good to start with or has any experience to share, that would be great.

It looks like Mozzarella's doing well anyway so hopefully all 4 will hatch for her. She is lovely. I can't remember if you said which breed she is?