Simulated Natural Nest Incubation~Experiment #1 So it begins....

[ocap]

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Bee, just wanted to say that even though our personal choices are very different, you have my utmost respect as a person. Let the naysayers fall by the wayside... If there is one thing I think we can both agree on it is that lives have a beginning and an end and it is our responsibility to make the inbetween great and the end swift. It is not being part of a peanut gallery to demand respect for living things! It is our responsibility as good people. And heck, even if there were newbies in this thread, perhaps they could receive a bit of guidance and understanding that all animals deserve a good life and a peaceful end... And if they cant do that maybe they should reconsider why they are getting an animal in the first place.

I know why I got birds... Because I wanted the food I eat to come from healthy happy animals and to not support industrial cruel chicken farms. If I wanted chickens for funsies it would be much easier to just get a silkie, put it in a diaper and keep it in my house like a rabbit. And I also know that many local "free range" egg people around are not much better than the grocery eggs... So I wanted to take responsibility for the food I eat and if I let my chickens suffer for any reason that kind of defeats the purpose. It would not be very responsible of me. Why would I even bother to keep a flock at that point if I am not making a difference anyhow?

In any case, Bee, I think you have it right. I saw once someone spent $50,000 to save 1000 battery hens and ship them across the country to a chicken retirement farm in like California where they have a vet euthenize all the birds when they get too sick/old to walk. All I could think about was how those hens were gonna live like another year or two each, tops, when they could have gone on to feed someone or some pet and that money could go towards something more worthwhile... It could even go to fighting for more humane conditions for all future battery hens. Tender hearts at their worst. It should always be about doing what is right, not what sounds cute and sweet.

 

[Aacre]

When I removed the bad eggs from the nest last night my temps dropped pretty quickly and went all the way to 95 before I realized it, so clicked the control to the next setting up and gathered the remaining eggs into a smaller clutch next to the water wiggler.  Temps are now stable and everything is good there. 

Anyone else out there doing this experiment and are removing candled eggs, watch those temps for changes. 

I also candled my eggs today and tossed 2 of them. I've been having temperature fluctuations since then. Ahhhh! I don't want to smell them stinking though.

Just saw a chick moving in Egg #11!!!!  e                      :yiipchick          Couldn't see much in eggs 6 and 7 but dark areas.  One has a well defined aircell but the other does not or I just cannot see it, but don't know why.  Who knows what is going on in those eggs!  Egg #5 is a quitter but I'm leaving it in place to hold heat.  I gave them all a really good sniff and no bad smells, so they all stay where they are.  Who knows?  Might just get one chick from all this..... 

Yay! Doing the happy dance for you!!

 

[Beekissed]

Bee, just wanted to say that even though our personal choices are very different, you have my utmost respect as a person. Let the naysayers fall by the wayside... If there is one thing I think we can both agree on it is that lives have a beginning and an end and it is our responsibility to make the inbetween great and the end swift. It is not being part of a peanut gallery to demand respect for living things! It is our responsibility as good people. And heck, even if there were newbies in this thread, perhaps they could receive a bit of guidance and understanding that all animals deserve a good life and a peaceful end... And if they cant do that maybe they should reconsider why they are getting an animal in the first place.

I know why I got birds... Because I wanted the food I eat to come from healthy happy animals and to not support industrial cruel chicken farms. If I wanted chickens for funsies it would be much easier to just get a silkie, put it in a diaper and keep it in my house like a rabbit. And I also know that many local "free range" egg people around are not much better than the grocery eggs... So I wanted to take responsibility for the food I eat and if I let my chickens suffer for any reason that kind of defeats the purpose. It would not be very responsible of me. Why would I even bother to keep a flock at that point if I am not making a difference anyhow?

In any case, Bee, I think you have it right. I saw once someone spent $50,000 to save 1000 battery hens and ship them across the country to a chicken retirement farm in like California where they have a vet euthenize all the birds when they get too sick/old to walk. All I could think about was how those hens were gonna live like another year or two each, tops, when they could have gone on to feed someone or some pet and that money could go towards something more worthwhile... It could even go to fighting for more humane conditions for all future battery hens. Tender hearts at their worst. It should always be about doing what is right, not what sounds cute and sweet.

I agree! Just think of the kids that money could have fed, clothed, educated, sheltered or provided clean water for? Chickens? They are food, first and foremost...for us, for other animals and eventually, for the bugs and worms. As are we. Folks need to wrap their minds around that concept...everything dies, but what manners is the quality of the living and even the quality of the dying.

All that other stuff is done for self, not for the chickens.

 

[AandAranch]

Tomtommom, I get calls all the time from folks that has bought peafowl from me needing advice. Didn't mind it at first but it does get tiring as the numbers grow. I try so hard to sell to only good homes. I discourage those I don't believe will care for my birds properly and ofter start a conversation with the buyer inquiring that the birds are already spoke for ........ then chat and get information from them about living conditions, how much property they have, etc; If they pass the interigaton I call them back and say I've decided to sell birds I had planned on keeping or the other people changed their minds, etc; Peahens incubate their eggs 28 days. I get numerous calls from people wanting peahens because the ones they had were killed by predators yet being questioned they still intend to let the peahens free range. I don't sell to those people. They have to say they intend to pen the peafowl during breeding season where they are safe. That starts my questions as to if their pen will be adequate, LOL!!! I turn down as many buyers as I sell to. That's why I now have too many peafowl, LOL!!! Now they've become pets and I'm even more concerned about them so almost impossible to find that great home for them. I ran an ad on craigslist to sell some rarer peafowl for 3 months. Cost was $425 a pair. Had many calls/emails. Could have sold them to 3 different people but didn't like their answers to my questions. My husband says I'm crazy and maybe I am. I feel I brought these gorgeous birds into this world and I'm responsible for them to live out their potentially 20 years relitively safe and happy. Can't help it.....it's just me!!

I gave 6 peachicks to a man that has a 1,200 acre ranch not far from me. He seemed so sincere about wanting peafowl again on his land. I believed in him so strongly I didn't charge him for the chicks. He and his foreman have become friends. They call with questions and just to tell me about the birds which are all grown and doing well. They did what I suggested and put out feed so the birds will hang around the homestead and not go completely wild. These 2 men look to me and my experience to lead them to success at getting an established flock free ranging on their gorgeous property with the Guadalupe Rive running through it. I go to the ranch often. My intention is to see how those 6 peafowl do in the next year and if all goes well I'll release some of my peafowl there. My only concern is if the birds can survive the predators. Many years ago they had a large flock but the flood from hell we all saw on TV with damns breaking and houses floating down the river wiped out them out. Hopefully the peafowl escaped the waters and relocated. There are wild peafowl in this area. I'll be hatching some more free chicks for him this summer and some guinea fowl which he'll raise together then release.

Sorry....I'm totally off subject and rambling on and on! My apologies!

That's not crazy at all! I would be the exact same way if I sold my chicken's offspring. They are my pets and I care very much for them and that includes the chicks that come from them. I would love to have property full of peafowl. That's my dream. A large ranch with guineas, peafowl, chickens, ducks geese, and possible emus and african crown cranes. Maybe one day....

 

[1000yearoldeggs]

Just saw a chick moving in Egg #11!!!!

Couldn't see much in eggs 6 and 7 but dark areas. One has a well defined aircell but the other does not or I just cannot see it, but don't know why. Who knows what is going on in those eggs! Egg #5 is a quitter but I'm leaving it in place to hold heat. I gave them all a really good sniff and no bad smells, so they all stay where they are. Who knows? Might just get one chick from all this.....

Seeing movement is really exciting! I hope you hatch more than one though...I wouldn't want the chick to be lonely.

Wow, only ten more days already...That's great! Hang in there.

 

[morrisonmanor]

I really would like to follow bees best experiment. Please enough of the bickering.

Bee- you have inspired me. I'm figuring it in my mind how I can do this same hatching method as you! Thanks

 

[Beekissed]

I really would like to follow bees best experiment. Please enough of the bickering.

Bee- you have inspired me. I'm figuring it in my mind how I can do this same hatching method as you! Thanks

I keep hoping that someone will do this and succeed where I have not. It would be so gratifying to see this method work because I just have a big faith that it will work if we just learn how to work it.

I think I will keep trying it on this spring to see if I can perfect it in some way. I really want this to work!

Please let us know here if you do this and how it went?

 

[1000yearoldeggs]

I always get uncomfortable when stuff like this happens. This is why I'm usually a lurker on forums. It won't stop me from seeing how this experiment works out though. Still hoping this hatch works out good.

I'm glad you're still here, BeeKissed. I still want to see how this works out

 

[Beekissed]

I always get uncomfortable when stuff like this happens. This is why I'm usually a lurker on forums. It won't stop me from seeing how this experiment works out though. Still hoping this hatch works out good.

Believe me, so do I. A chicken forum is no place to get emotional and start acting out but it invariably happens now and again as some folks can't help bringing their need for drama to the forums. I'd just like to talk about chickens and have a good time.