NY chicken lover!!!!

[Omani]

Well I did it. I put some eggs in the incubator yesterday. My DH got me an egg turner for Valentine's day. Isn't he romantic? I put three of each in; leghorn,partridge rock and comet. I'm hoping a couple hatch. Some of them should be fertile. I know the rooster was giving it his best shot, so to speak.
Do I have to candle them at 7 day intervals? Or can I just do it once about half way through and be done with it til they hatch? Barring any indescribable stench that is.

 

[ancona91]

Hello, Omani!!!
I'm glad you put some eggs in the bator.......fantastic!!! Some of them are bound to be fertile. Egg turners are great...they save a lot of time and ensure the embryos get the proper "exercise". Turning a full bator full of eggs 3 times a day(minimum) can be very time-consuming. Currently I have 48 eggs incubating........11 are the Delawares from NJ and the rest are assorted chicken and duck eggs from my flock. Most will be hybrids.....but they should be very pretty. I've been putting in 2 or 3 eggs a day......I just mark the date on top of each egg.
I usually candle the eggs on day 7.......by then you can usually see the embryo developing......a dark spot with a network of blood vessels branching out from it. I give eggs 11 days before I discard them as infertile......some larger eggs take a bit longer to develop. When to candle is a matter of personal preference.....but you don't want to leave contaminated or rotting eggs in the bator; they give off harmful gasses and can ruin all the eggs in the bator.......plus they can occasionally explode, making a stinky gooey mess. I like to candle at least once a week....sometimes twice.
Another word of advice. Sometimes those candlers can get very hot. Avoid holding it for too long on the egg....it can damage or kill the embryo. Hope I've been able to help you out a bit!!!!
Have a great night, everyone!!!
Kathy

 

[Omani]

Very helpful Kathy. I don't have a candler, per se. I intended to use a light box for embossing/stenciling. I figured I could use a box lid with a hole in it right on top. I've read that you can use a flashlight, so this should be ok.
LovinMyPeeps:
Sorry to hear the others didn't make it. But you did get two. Glass half full, right?

 

[LovinMyPeeps]

The glass is definately half full. I love my two little peeps. Hopefully they will have friends soon!! In the meantime I plan to play with my chicklets and enjoy their "small" time

 

[ancona91]

Omani,
Glad I could be of assistance!! Over the past 8+ years I've hatched quite a few little ones.....mostly ducklings, until last Spring when I caught "chicken fever"(smile)!!! If you have a really good flashlight, you should be able to use it as a candler.......I've never tried this but some of my friends have done so. I'd try candling the eggs on day 5 or 6.....you should be able to see if the embryo is developing by then. Let us know what happens!!!
Wishing everyone a fantastic night!!!!
Regards, Kathy

 

[aveca]

Quote:
Hi Peggy,
Im just about 30 miles below Ithaca , way on down in Waverly....
What a small world

 

[finallychickens]

I'm in Lodi. Nice to meet everybody! Diane

 

[rancher hicks]

Don't know if I'm logged in to this post. I'm in East Syracuse.
Just had a broody hatch out two nice chicks, one DEl and one CM. Got two in the brooder I hatched in the incu, one Del and one DEl/slw . Got a broody in the pen with 10 eggs, Dels and CM's and 9 in the bator 4 Dels and 5 CM's. Any questions?

Rancher

 

[Omani]

Evening everybody. Just thought I'd post to put NY on the front page again.

LovinMyPeeps: How goes the house hunt? Any word on where things stand with that beautiful farm you had your eye on?
Gotta go. Young, athletic men in skin tight uniforms on TV. Oh to be young again.

 

[chicken stalker]

Just chiming in to let you know I just posted some Lavender/Split Lavender Ameraucana eggs on BST.