Speckledhen Expired babies *GRAPHIC PICS*

[Katy]

Quote:
I think that shipped eggs come with a whole set of issues that don't always affect eggs that have not been shipped.

 

[walkswithdog]

I agree with Katy. Even in the same incubator under the "same" conditions, shipped and unshipped eggs incubated at the same time behave totally differently.

Shipping has long term effects on an egg, right up to hatch.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Quote:
Very true, totally different ballgame.

 

[Cetawin]

I agree with the differences between the shipped and non-shipped. For example...I put 6 of my own eggs in 1 was not fertile so out of 5 fertile I hatched 4 babies. Speckledhen sent me 12, 3 of which were not fertile, 1 questionable...I thought I saw veins in one but am not positive. So take those 4 out of the equation, so 8 were fertile, I hatched 4. So about 50% on my shipped eggs, which I am still thrilled over.

I did have to add water more than most probably, on average I would be almost completely dry in the 1 channel during the first 17 days, every 2 days. In the last 3 days however, I only added water to the sponge 3 times. I took Speckledhen's advise and found the biggest sponge (surface wise) that I could then I filled all three channels in the bator with water. Altitude I am around 1800 feet, less than Cyn so I would not think altitude would be an issue.

The EE baby was drier than the Delaware or the orp. The delaware was the wettest of the three. But the Delaware was the only one showing movement, strong movement early Day 23. The orp had expired between Day 18 and 22 as with the EE. Both had good movement on Day 18 just before lockdown. I kind of regret not helping baby delaware...Cyn and I spoke on the phone about how to make a small hole in the end to help baby get air, I guess I did not make a large enough hole or did not get through the membrane completely because I lost that baby. Then again, it may not have mattered at that point.

I truly wonder what would have happened had the eggs gotten here in 2 days and the broody had accepted them rather than 3 days to arrive and having to wait through the weekend for the bator to arrive.

 

[speckledhen]

You learned alot during your first incubation so now, you're ready for the next one! Today, I'm calibrating two of the hygrometers that I regularly use to be ready to start a hatch Monday. I do re-calibrate from time to time, just to be sure the instruments are still working as they should, but then, they've been used and abused through numerous hatches over the last three years.
Enjoy your babies!

 

[insiderart]

Yes very good results. And now you have an incubator! Very dangerous indeed!

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
right there with ya!

Cetawin, thanks for the pic's and

 

[Cetawin]

Yes this hatching business is great fun, torture, thrilling and my genesis has been clean, sterilized, packed up and even has shipping tape on the box end to make sure I do not snatch it out in a "hatch fever" moment and use it! LOL same with the turner...I also stored them in separate closets so they are not right there together looking at me.

DH just walked up and asked me what the chances are that one of those babies (delawares) is the rooster he wants.

I said ummm 50-50 is about what she has been hatching I think. He smiled. He wants that rooster bad. LOL

 

[insiderart]

Quote:
Well if they do turn out to be pullets, perhaps you can talk Cyn into sending you more eggs when it's cooler, since you have the incubators and all.

 

[speckledhen]

Or, she can throw caution to the wind and drive to GA like Jim did to get those golden eggs, LOL.

After calibrating them today, the Fluker's Hygro is 3% low and the Springfield is 6% low, however, the Springfield (a gray rectangular shaped one with easy-read numbers for temp and humidity, the type that has a suction cup to stick on a window), which used to be very accurate with temp is reading a degree and a half lower than the Fluker's. So, that goes to show that you can't trust the same instrument forever, especially ones that were not designed for the precision task we expect them to do with incubating.