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

[Lacy Blues]

I wouldn't tape them all together Bee. If you do that, then you only have two sides toward the heat and they need those other two sides as well. I've read that we should wash our hands really well before touching hatching eggs as we tend to get bacteria on them and then transfer them to the egg shell that is being kept nice and warm... perfect for growth. I don't know though. Maybe some latex or rubber gloves for the turning might be something you'd be able to do. I know, hens don't turn their eggs with rubber gloves but they probably have different bacteria on their beaks and bellies than we get on our hands. Just a thought.

Humidity is an issue normanack. She applied humidity to the soil when she started. What she said was she didn't have to worry about measuring humidity.

 

[fisherlady]

Bee, you mentioned the tucked shells and asked if that was typical.... I do know I find them that way more than half the time when I am removing them from under a broody. I think with the limited space under there the chicks push the shells around (and I KNOW the broody does to, because I've seen them do it)... so since the space is limited the halves seem to settle in together.

 

[enola]

Oooooops! Didn't quote the right quote......

 

[Beekissed]

I'm not sure about this (novice here), but if humidity isn't an issue, I don't think candling air cells is necessary. One less thing to worry about.

I'd only check air cells to find which way to lay the eggs when I stopped turning on the 18th day.

I don't actually measure them for humidity reasons, just to track progress and for my own education. Now that I know what I have learned, I will no longer be tracking progress....just that tilt so that I can lay the eggs face up for hatching.

I wouldn't tape them all together Bee. If you do that, then you only have two sides toward the heat and they need those other two sides as well. I've read that we should wash our hands really well before touching hatching eggs as we tend to get bacteria on them and then transfer them to the egg shell that is being kept nice and warm... perfect for growth. I don't know though. Maybe some latex or rubber gloves for the turning might be something you'd be able to do. I know, hens don't turn their eggs with rubber gloves but they probably have different bacteria on their beaks and bellies than we get on our hands. Just a thought.

Humidity is an issue normanack. She applied humidity to the soil when she started. What she said was she didn't have to worry about measuring humidity.

What about the poo on the hen's feet and bum? That's a big germ fest! I turned the eggs like you folks did, one side to the other....number side, no number side...didn't do all sides. Must have gotten that confused. Why do folks do an X and an O if they don't just turn them completely from side to side?

Bee, you mentioned the tucked shells and asked if that was typical.... I do know I find them that way more than half the time when I am removing them from under a broody. I think with the limited space under there the chicks push the shells around (and I KNOW the broody does to, because I've seen them do it)... so since the space is limited the halves seem to settle in together.

That makes perfect sense!

Two more pips and a rocking egg!

So far Hootie 2 and No Name chick are out, loud and proud and Hootie is up in the coop with the "We are the world" crew of ducks, chicks and meaty chicks in recovery from accidents. New chick is heading to the coop in a minute...he's too loud to stay here. Expanded the brooder last night and am using the heat lamp because both heating pads are currently in use...one on the hatching eggs and the other under my tomato seedlings.

 

[lazy gardener]

From my travels on the BYC site, I know there will be a lot of chicken keepers in Heaven! It stands to reason, that if one puts much thought into the way living organisms are designed and function, that there has to be a Creator... and if a Creator, the created are designed to serve His purpose, and are obligated to know what that purpose is. I am also looking forward to that great day.

 

[LindaB220]

I've got my head on straight now, so I've got it reasoned down to logic how I'm going to be able to breed these WRs without a broody on hand and using this method....I'll outline it below.

The TSC chicks are RIRs...they say...but a few have white feathering on the wing tips, which could mean RSL. They are straight run so it's likely I'll have to eat some or all of them...I tried to get the man to be selective about which chicks he was picking but he didn't even know what breed they were and acted like it was the first time he had ever seen a chicken.

The KCs would have been the only ducks I would have even considered bringing home....they are such good egg layers(better than chickens), good foragers and stay healthy even without water to live near, so they are pretty low maintenance as far as ducks go.

The other roo is taking a journey to a new home soon. They are settling their differences this morning and are currently walking calmly side by side, foraging with the flock. Will set some more eggs in May a good long while after this former roo is gone. Chances are I might still get a Cochin in the nest but maybe not. He's not a real vigorous breeder and this WR most certainly is....my girls don't know what happened to their world this morning but they are going to be losing some pounds, I tell ya!


He is a Plymouth White Rock, the king of all poultry, IMBO(in my biased opinion

) but they are often referred to as WRs. The red streaks are where he got his comb and wattles bitten in a fight...they bleed pretty well because of their good blood supply, so it looks worse than it really is.



My thinking on any further incubation I may be doing......

I've got it decided in my head how I'm going to get through this incubation without breaking my heart over it each time. I'm going to stop candling so much...only going to candle at day 10 and remove the clears, day 14 to mark air cells and again on day 18 to mark the same and the pip site, and in the end, any eggs not hatched by 48 hrs past the hatch date will be tossed without an examination...what do I need to look at them for? I can't tell what happened anyway, so no need to go there.

In that way I can minimize my motherly tendencies towards seeing babies in the eggs and identifying strongly with them....I don't know if this hits you guys because you are not built in that way, but as a woman with very strong mothering tendencies, I really can't seem to separate myself from the fact of chick death and I'm hoping the least I handle and candle, the least I'll get caught up in the nurturing of it all.

Got another chick this morning and these chicks are extremely healthy, loud and strong.....got five more making sounds of arrival and one with no sound. I'm pleased that this method does indeed work, that one doesn't have to measure or maintain any certain humidity to have a successful hatch with it, it held temps incredibly steady in a room with fluctuating ambient temps, and I'm certain as time goes along and I get better, more viable eggs, I'll be able to use this method alongside a foam chest incubator to measure true efficacy with the same sort of eggs.

I'm convinced this method works and I'm loving it that one doesn't have to do anything to the humidity to get a successful hatching....these babies are practically bursting out of their shells and when I find them their shells are nestled one within the other...is that typical? These chicks are very tiny...not like the other ones. They are about the size of those bantam chicks I saw at TSC yesterday...incredibly tiny. Big head, big feet, tiny body.....I think that is more due to the sire because that's how he looks too. Both of these chicks are from BA hens. Will post updates as more arrive throughout the day.

I think this method is going to be a 22 day method and I may even coin the name for that and call it NN22, for short, as I continue to work with it and I hope others do as well.

I have to get out there and do some revamping of coop feeding situations~build a bigger feed trough~and till some land to plant my salad plot and my wildflower plots. Will also give the garden another turning before the final tillage for the season. I'll keep checking back on the chicks and letting you all know how it goes along.

A very healthy outlook. You're learning with each attempt. It does work and you are learning how to accept loss. And there will be loss. I am so proud of you. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, yada yada.

 

[Tomtommom]

Two more pips and a rocking egg!

So far Hootie 2 and No Name chick are out, loud and proud and Hootie is up in the coop with the "We are the world" crew of ducks, chicks and meaty chicks in recovery from accidents. New chick is heading to the coop in a minute...he's too loud to stay here. Expanded the brooder last night and am using the heat lamp because both heating pads are currently in use...one on the hatching eggs and the other under my tomato seedlings.

Glad to hear you're getting some babies!


As promised, an update... No 'candling' pics from me, but we did see our daughter's face for a brief moment.

She shows to be 8lbs 14oz, and measures at 40 weeks, 3 days... which is a week further than she measured until now. I've got a magic baby

However, I am not concerned with her size... under 9lbs is perfectly fine with me and she gets to cook as long as she needs. No "assisted hatching" on this one

Tech assured me it couldn't possibly be very long anymore.

I'm taking my two year old son to an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, all that moving around should convince the young lady to evacuate the premises.. maybe? Sunday is my original due date, and also when dad's maternity leave starts (or well, two weeks of paid vacation)... hoping she will be here soon! I want to enjoy dad's help as long as I can

 

[Tomtommom]

Oh, one word of warning. Please DO check your eggs after 48 hrs Bee. A friend of mine tossed her remaining eggs at 24 days and one started peeping! She saved it and it hatched 4 days late.. but it's thriving now... nature can toss us some curve balls at times.

 

[Cowpoke]

Glad to hear you're getting some babies!


As promised, an update... No 'candling' pics from me, but we did see our daughter's face for a brief moment.

She shows to be 8lbs 14oz, and measures at 40 weeks, 3 days... which is a week further than she measured until now. I've got a magic baby

However, I am not concerned with her size... under 9lbs is perfectly fine with me and she gets to cook as long as she needs. No "assisted hatching" on this one

Tech assured me it couldn't possibly be very long anymore.

I'm taking my two year old son to an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, all that moving around should convince the young lady to evacuate the premises.. maybe? Sunday is my original due date, and also when dad's maternity leave starts (or well, two weeks of paid vacation)... hoping she will be here soon! I want to enjoy dad's help as long as I can

Good news TTmom! Wishing and praying for the best for you and your family.

 

[Cowpoke]

Oh, one word of warning. Please DO check your eggs after 48 hrs Bee. A friend of mine tossed her remaining eggs at 24 days and one started peeping! She saved it and it hatched 4 days late.. but it's thriving now... nature can toss us some curve balls at times.

Good Advice!!!