***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[ashtree]

What causes rotten eggs in the incubator? I have some shipped eggs in there (some were 12 days old when they got here) and they were stinking today. I ended up pulling 2 that were previously developing. I've had eggs stop developing before but never THAT smell. Could it be the age of the eggs I set? I kept checking my poor toddlers diaper thinking he was the "rotten egg". Glad I found the culprits! He is too.

@HeyBigRhondaq Not all my kids love LOVE the chickens/ducks. My oldest likes 1 chicken a lot but couldn't name more than 3 in our yard. Arlo could tell you everyone's name, favorite snack and where they stand in the pecking order. The others like them but no where near as much as that boy.

 

[Titanpaul726]

I've read it's caused by bacteria that has found its way inside the egg before incubation starts. How it gets in there I don't remember.

 

[cscigu]

On the question of the Blue Marans chicks:


I've hatched 3 broods of Black Copper Marans, and those sure look "Maran-ish" to me. These marans chicks impress me with their calm demeanor. Look at the chicks in this link:

http://www.chickenscratchpoultry.com/french_blue_copper_marans

 

[TipihlowLadies]

Any idea what causes that?

I was told my roo and hens were TO close relatives so I got new rooster that's not the problem i will read up on it.TO high temperature and or low humidity and not turned 5times per day.

 

[greybird123]

Hello fellow Okies

 

[mjgigax]

The black and blue salvia from the chicken gathering last summer is coming up looking really good.

I've got more if anyone wants some. It blooms most of the summer.

 

[mjgigax]

Jealous!! Wish I could get out and find some but I just had a baby 2 weeks ago and I can't really take her into the woods.

Out of my dozen mixed orpington eggs from the auction I have 11 going into lock down. Unfortunate that not all the eggs he sold were good but glad my are. Now let's just see how many hatch.
Stephanie, two of the isbar eggs are going into lockdown. The other 2 never developed.

Looks like 15 of the 24 that I bought are growing.

 

[mjgigax]

RIP Hank. Our faithful rooster was taken by dogs (I'm pretty sure it was dogs) a couple of days ago. He was such a good boy and had lost all his tail feathers a couple of times over the last few years in defense of his girls. I can't decide if I should replace him or wait to see if we have roos it the group we just got as chicks from Atwoods.

Sad that he is gone. I love gallant roosters.

 

[Kyzmette]

I've read it's caused by bacteria that has found its way inside the egg before incubation starts.  How it gets in there I don't remember.

Any number of ways, most common because the egg was soiled and got wet. Eggshell is a semi-permeable membrane, so water will carry bacteria in.

 

[NanaKat]

What causes rotten eggs in the incubator? I have some shipped eggs in there (some were 12 days old when they got here) and they were stinking today. I ended up pulling 2 that were previously developing. I've had eggs stop developing before but never THAT smell. Could it be the age of the eggs I set? I kept checking my poor toddlers diaper thinking he was the "rotten egg". Glad I found the culprits! He is too.

Quote: Ashtree, When I've set eggs that were shipped to me, I candle them before I set them. Sometimes they may have tiny cracks in the shell that will result in a bad egg. Also if the egg was scrambled in shipping, it can go bad. If the eggs were washed before shipping, the bloom was removed and can lead to bacteria.
Hen eggs have a bloom on them that helps protect against bacteria, but bacteria can pass thru the shell if the egg is damp, or cold and brought into a warm room. As the egg warms, it will draw in bacteria thru the shell. Also a warm egg set in a turner in a cool room to wait for incubation can draw in bacteria as it cools. You can help avoid that problem, by spritzing the eggs with Oxine diluted in water. I keep a spray bottle next to my egg turner just for that reason. Oxine is anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. When I candle eggs, if I picked them up, I have transferred what was on my hands to the egg shell....so I spritz the eggs before I close the incubator.
Eggs under a hen will eventually lose their bloom and yet they will still successfully hatch...An incubator is certainly not the same as the nest under a hen....but the constant moist heated environment of the incubator just breeds bacteria we cant see.
Fortunately you found the eggs and removed them before one exploded in the incubator. Now that is really bad!

Hello fellow Okies

Hello and

Quote:
Hmmmm, I may have to swap you some LF Cochin chicks for some of that.....


Kassaundra...did you ever get any Moringa seed? I ordered some and got more than I will possibly need.

Oh we are getting asparagus from the garden too. Had some for dinner tonight.