Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

http://americastestkitchen.tumblr.com/post/3363014744/slow-cooker-week-bachelor-beef-stew

the above link is for a beef stew recipe that looks so nice I had to share it...

and my hatchaholic friend finally messaged me last night about the Marans eggs and hatching/humidity.

• Because marans "paint" the color on the eggs it is like a vapor barrier and the egg doesn't lose moisture as quickly as it should. I kept my humidity at 35% and let it fall to 20% and stay there a day, then brought it back up to 35% and let it fall again until the last three days when I brought it up to 70% and kept it there until hatch. Temp was as close to 99.5 as I could keep it.
  
  ​
• ​
  

  
  

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  with a small air cell (if it doesn't evaporate enough) the chick gets so big it can't move enough to hatch.
  
  ​
  I had a mix of eggs including bantams and they all did well with that method.

 

[mortie]

I may or may not have used the following in an email to my youngest child's teacher this afternoon:

Considering moving to a far away tropical island and communicating with my family only via carrier pigeon.

She may or may not have responded that she would like to join me. Apparently kindergartners can get a little squirrely when cooped up for weeks on end because they don't go outside when it's below zero.

 

[chickenlindz]

I had to go to the vet today! I weigh 20 lbs

 

[okallthis4eggs]

I had to go to the vet today! I weigh 20 lbs

I need to go get my eyes checked. I can't find any PIE anymore.

 

[showbarnmom]

What are you keeping your humidity at for hatching?  I'm terrified of my chicks making it all the way to lockdown and then dying because I got the humidity wrong...

I use 55-59% during incubation, than 65-70% during lock down. It was the recommendation by my mentor.

All 14 have hatched that I locked down I have a staggered hatch. So still have 17 to go, but they are due Saturday.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I may or may not have used the following in an email to my youngest child's teacher this afternoon:

Considering moving to a far away tropical island and communicating with my family only via carrier pigeon.

She may or may not have responded that she would like to join me. Apparently kindergartners can get a little squirrely when cooped up for weeks on end because they don't go outside when it's below zero.

Kindergarten is one of the hardest grades to teach. It's like herding cats!

 

[lindz8504]

Shew, its been a long day.... the kids were on a 3-hour delay. It totally threw our day out of wack. My aunt-in-law texted me and said that the customer she picked up eggs for yesterday wanted 8 dozen instead of 4.... I am about to the point of not having enough eggs! My dad called this morning asking if I wanted 14-15 hens and a couple of roosters. A guy that is working for him said that his grandma had some she was giving away because something had gotten into them and killed several, and she isn't able to fix her coop to predator proof it. SO..... I guess I will be getting some RIR's in the near future. Part of them will be going to my aunt-in-law when she gets her coop finished. I am hoping that we finish the big coop this weekend, so I can put my girls and guys into the big coop and put the new kids into the little coop. Always fun trying to figure out rearrangements!

Rawley is adorable Clindz!

Mortie.... I understand completely, my 4 kiddos are driving me bonkers this winter! Its worse this week, because they were able to be out this past weekend, but now are cooped back up!

 

[Scrambles55]

YAY!!!!! Thats awesome! I was wondering how that was going to work! That is going to be an adventure though!!!! Can you imagine stopping at a motel and then waking up to all those boys crowing in the truck in the parking lot!

Or IN THE MOTEL ROOM!!!!!!

 

[Whoops]

http://americastestkitchen.tumblr.com/post/3363014744/slow-cooker-week-bachelor-beef-stew

the above link is for a beef stew recipe that looks so nice I had to share it...

and my hatchaholic friend finally messaged me last night about the Marans eggs and hatching/humidity.

• Because marans "paint" the color on the eggs it is like a vapor barrier and the egg doesn't lose moisture as quickly as it should. I kept my humidity at 35% and let it fall to 20% and stay there a day, then brought it back up to 35% and let it fall again until the last three days when I brought it up to 70% and kept it there until hatch. Temp was as close to 99.5 as I could keep it.
  
  ​

• ​
  • ​
    

    
    

    ​
    with a small air cell (if it doesn't evaporate enough) the chick gets so big it can't move enough to hatch.
    
    ​
    I had a mix of eggs including bantams and they all did well with that method.

I think this was my problem. I am going to give it a try with local eggs (hopefully CCL) for Easter and I have a scale that is digital and sensitive enough to track weight loss. Thank you for posting.

 

[Artful Codger]

Bear with me, first post.

Inspired by Mortie.

THE FARMERS LAMENT

In the depths of this our nation
Nearly dead with constipation
Farmers wait with anticipation
For that first egg creation

What made me choose this avocation?
Was it just imagination
Product of speculation
That revels in hallucination.

Chickens with determination
Shotguns, whips, recrimination
Won't keep us from our destination
Omelets, quiche, inebriation.

Produced in collaboration
With chickens in a yard location
With the help of mass libation
Just for your edification

Chickens in a tight formation
Without the art of persuasion
Demanding in loud ovation
WHERE'S OUR PIE???