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

[Beekissed]

would misting the feathers and then putting them onto work?

In your situation the heat from that lamp is going to dry out things pretty quickly, much like in an actual incubator. It could be that you having your chicks down below with their open water would provide enough humidity for your hatch. I've seen folks just sitting a bowl of water in their incubators for this purpose.

 

[aart]

Great news!!! Just thought I'd candle a couple of random eggs in the clutch and guess what???? I know what you guys are seeing now!!!!! The first two I picked up had veins and a red spot the veins were stemming from. Clear as a bell! The third one I candled looked like something was going on in there but I couldn't see veins...but the yolk was not still a yolk and the air cell on that one had grown.

Something is growing in there, boys and girls!!! This is Day 4.

Cool Beans! The more you candle the more you begin to 'see'.

 

[lazy gardener]

How awesome is that. IMO, day 10 is the best candling day. The chicks are jumping all over the place. after that, they are not as active.

 

[lazy gardener]

How awesome is that. IMO, day 10 is the best candling day. The chicks are jumping all over the place. after that, they are not as active. I just laid my eggs flat. They are on day 17 in a conventional incubator. Unfortunately, there will be more cold and warm spots, but I prefer to let them lay flat for a more natural hatch.

 

[TexasLisa]

Great news!!!

Just thought I'd candle a couple of random eggs in the clutch and guess what???? I know what you guys are seeing now!!!!!

The first two I picked up had veins and a red spot the veins were stemming from. Clear as a bell! The third one I candled looked like something was going on in there but I couldn't see veins...but the yolk was not still a yolk and the air cell on that one had grown.

Something is growing in there, boys and girls!!! This is Day 4.

You know, the eggs gathered in the other nests were laid in extremely cold weather and some had been left in the nests over night, most were not fertile, etc. I'm wondering if the severe cold weather affected fertility and also might have killed embryos already in the make in those eggs. I've been reading on the breeder thread and many of them had the same problem when hatching at that time.

I think this group of eggs will have the best chance I've had since this all began and will be the true test of this method.

Lisa

 

[aussie pete]

good news Bee

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
x2!! And you are doing good with your candling... I about gave up and don't candle till after day 7, then again day 14 and then after any don't hatch at the 24hr late mark (since they are all started the same, I wouldn't do it on a staggered hatch)
My candler isn't exactly scientific.... I took a foil bag from fancy chocolates...my DH has a major dark chocolate weakness, so it is the perfect gift for him LOL.......cut a hole in the bottom, cut a toilet paper roll about 1/2 length and stuck it through hole and taped it in place with duct tape. Hold flashlight in hand, put bag over hand and light, set egg (cupped in hand) on other end of TP roll and see whatever you can. The set up seems to concentrate the light and it shows me enough to be able to pull clear or sloshy eggs.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

Great news!!!  e          Just thought I'd candle a couple of random eggs in the clutch and guess what????  I know what you guys are seeing now!!!!!     The first two I picked up had veins and a red spot the veins were stemming from.  Clear as a bell!  The third one I candled looked like something was going on in there but I couldn't see veins...but the yolk was not still a yolk and the air cell on that one had grown. 

Something is growing in there, boys and girls!!!  This is Day 4. 

You know, the eggs gathered in the other nests were laid in extremely cold weather and some had been left in the nests over night, most were not fertile, etc.  I'm wondering if the severe cold weather affected fertility and also might have killed embryos already in the make in those eggs.  I've been reading on the breeder thread and many of them had the same problem when hatching at that time. 

I think this group of eggs will have the best chance I've had since this all began and will be the true test of this method. 

Whooooo!! Yay! That's awesome! My first real viable group went into lockdown this morning.

 

[TexasLisa]

Whooooo!! Yay! That's awesome! My first real viable group went into lockdown this morning.

How exciting! Good luck!

Lisa

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

How exciting!  Good luck!

Lisa

Thank you