Putting eggs in the bator on July 25, does anyone wanna hatch along???

[cluckitall]

Reedgirl, how cool! Yeah, I hadn't paid particular attention, I just remember reading mention of some quail breed hatching at 17-18 days or so. And NICE!!!! Brinsea octagon!

I've got a homemade incubator I cobbled out of a leftover cooler and bits and scraps. You're going in style, girl! I wouldn't be surprised if you need that extra cage...

 

[farmer boy]

thats kinda mean don't you think ??? putting the chicks through that .... all the light can kill or destroy the embryo so i would be careful if you want any to live .... mine is never a learning thing i let nature do what it is best at kill and create ... but if i can help i will help as much as i can .... i am trading one of my chicks for a frizzle chick ... they want a ee so i can trade that for a frizzle i can't wait

 

[cluckitall]

Well, I don't know. I don't actually think my flashlight is much (if any) brighter than the bulb in the incubator, and they're exposed to it for far less time -- although granted, the light from the bulb in the incubator reflects off the shells more as they're lying there, so doesn't penetrate the egg to the extent the light from the flashlight does. It doesn't cast heat, so they're not getting cooked. I candle at night so all I have to do is turn out the lights, sit by the incubator, take them out one by one and candle them which takes approximately 10-20 seconds per egg. The entire process adds at most 3 minutes to the time it takes me to turn them before going to bed, so no, I don't think it's unduly cruel - although undoubtedly it's not good for them. And while I understand (truly!) your point of view and value your compassion for your animals, for me, yes, this is very much a learning experience and I am indulging my interest and curiosity as well as my desire for more eggs

I'd been thinking about the light issue when I was building my incubator, actually -- obviously, light-heated incubators work and have worked for a long time, but being exposed to light during incubation isn't natural, and it got me wondering if chicks that are incubated in light aren't working at a disadvantage, developmentally. Now that would be an interesting experiment to take on! One that unfortunately would require more resources and time (not to mention knowledge) than I have. One outcome of my mulling, though, was to start setting my homemade water wiggler on top of the eggs, providing conduction heat directly to the top of the eggs. No idea if it actually makes any difference or not!

And that's wonderful on the frizzle! They're such delightful-looking birds

 

[thejohnsie]

Deer aren't much of a problem right where I am, although a few miles further out they are. Here my main problem was... the chickens! Had to build them a run for growing season after they decimated my peppers. Next year, rather than fencing the chickens, I might fence the garden. They're all clipped and none of them seem very intent on trying to fly unless something (like me) is spooking them!

My chickens tried to eat all of my tomatoes this year. I had to fence my garden and it works fine but they still try to get in.

 

[thejohnsie]

Going with a broody is so hard. I am to nosey it would drive me crazy not being able to peek.

It does drive me crazy. I have only candled once at 6 days and I am trying to let nature do its thing HOWEVER I want to look so bad. It is easier to leave well enough alone when the broody is so ******!

I only started chicken keeping in April when I got some production reds from TSC. *WARNING CHICKEN MATH AHEAD*

------Then I got my broody in June from a guy who wanted to sell her due to her being broody all the time. She was in this little cage with a rooster where she couldn't walk around. It was so pitiful. I brought her home to the good life of free ranging and mealworms! She went broody and I went and got some eggs a couple of days later so we will see if she is a good mama. So far she is perfect! On another note, I am waiting on my first eggs from my production reds that I got in April.

I look in the nest boxes 15 times a day, so I guess that keeps me from wanting to candle as much.

 

[Ranny]

Ok been busy working but wanted to check in. I set my eggs on the 24th and candled on the 4th I am happy to report 18 out of the 24 are very active not sure about number 19 left it in and will check it in the morning. So ready for lock down. We got two new Buff rooster 5 months old monster big. Sweet birds, will post pictures soon of our flock.

 

[dandydoodle]

Deer aren't much of a problem right where I am, although a few miles further out they are. Here my main problem was... the chickens! Had to build them a run for growing season after they decimated my peppers. Next year, rather than fencing the chickens, I might fence the garden. They're all clipped and none of them seem very intent on trying to fly unless something (like me) is spooking them!

We live on a lake here in Georgia and the deer are horrible. I am so glad our chickens don't mess with the garden. We haven't decided if we are gonna do deer fence or electric fence for next year. We will have to fence in our garden one way or another next season or it would be a whole lot of work for nothing. On a normal day we see at least 10 deer on our road, somedays more and some days less. They are pretty I just wish they would stay out of the garden.

 

[dandydoodle]

Yeah, but on the other hand I kinda like the idea of sitting back and letting mama hen do all the work! Hopefully eventually I'll get to try it both ways...

I am sure going with a broody is they way to go. I only gone through with a broody hatch once and that because, I am scared the other chickens will mess with the babies. I don't know how you prevent the other birds from messing with them.

 

[dandydoodle]

Ok, I'm late to this thread but figured I would post anyway. This is my first ever hatch and I put in 50 bobwhite quail on July 27. Am so excited I candled for the first time last night and saw veins and movement in all but 5-6.
Newbie question.....how often can you safely candle an egg?

Welcome!!!

 

[dandydoodle]

And hey, the 27th! I put mine in the morning of the 28th. Dang, if I remember right, quail eggs take four or five days less than chicken eggs, so yours are gonna hatch first, too!

Everybody's gonna have chicks before me...

If you candled last night for the first time, that should put you at day 8 and just about right on schedule. 44-45 out of 50 is a GREAT percentage!!! And heck, your eggs must be just about halfway through their incubation! VERY cool!!!

Hey Clucktail, don't you worry even though I am gonna hatch first I am gonna stick around to see your baby pics.