Straub’s search for colored eggs

[Tstraub]

One week into incubation and only 6 eggs remain. I’m not totally sure what happened. They are gone so the most likely explanation is that they were eaten. I started with 11 eggs 5 from Blue and 6 from Wednesday. As far as I can tell without disturbing anything any more than necessary I still have all 5 of Blues eggs and only one from Wednesday.

The fact that all of the missing eggs are from the same hen makes me wonder if Wednesday’s eggs are too weak and getting broken by accident. I did try to candle one egg today just out of curiosity but the shell is too dark in color to see anything. Since I couldn’t see anything I chose to not disturb the rest of them.

 

[wrathsfarm]

One week into incubation and only 6 eggs remain. I’m not totally sure what happened. They are gone so the most likely explanation is that they were eaten. I started with 11 eggs 5 from Blue and 6 from Wednesday. As far as I can tell without disturbing anything any more than necessary I still have all 5 of Blues eggs and only one from Wednesday.

The fact that all of the missing eggs are from the same hen makes me wonder if Wednesday’s eggs are too weak and getting broken by accident. I did try to candle one egg today just out of curiosity but the shell is too dark in color to see anything. Since I couldn’t see anything I chose to not disturb the rest of them.

View attachment 4043419

That's odd. Any signs of shell or yolk in bedding either?
Do you have a camera on her?

 

[Tstraub]

That's odd. Any signs of shell or yolk in bedding either?
Do you have a camera on her?

I only lifted her up enough to peek underneath her. I didn’t want to upset her and risk her accidentally breaking any more trying to fight me for them. I didn’t see any shell pieces. The unmarked eggs that I took from her were clean and dry no signs of yolk.

My cameras require a paid monthly subscription for the option to record. I’m too cheap to subscribe so I only get live viewing. I can’t see anything after it has happened.

 

[Tstraub]

I haven’t been checking under her every day since it’s been cold I just let her do her own thing so these eggs could have disappeared over the course of three or for days not necessarily all at once.

 

[Tstraub]

Just some random ramblings. I had eggs for breakfast today and intentionally chose to eat an egg from Blue one from Wednesday and one from Oreo, the Barred Rock. The barred rock egg was just a random one from the flock. Anyway the one from Wednesday was noticeably easier to break and the shell seems thinner than the other two. So I believe that the thin shells simply couldn’t support the weight of the Jersey Giant sitting on them and they accidentally broke. I probably need to try to get more calcium into that hen.


I noticed that my govee thermometer had a dead battery this morning and that seemed very odd because I just put brand new fresh batteries in it the day after I pulled it out of the nesting box. So I figured that it must have gotten egg inside it when I had the broken egg last week. I pulled it apart and the circuit board was covered in wet sticky pine shavings and egg yolk

I gave it a good scrub with 91% isopropyl alcohol followed by a blow dry with my wife’s hair dryer and it looks good. I’m currently out of AAA batteries so I’ll get some when I’m in town later and see if it comes back to life. End rambling(for now).

 

[Tstraub]

One week to until hatch day. Very cold weather is in the forcast I’m still trying to decide whether it would be better to leave her in the main coop or move her to the grow out pin for hatching. My original thought was to simply leave her where she is and only move her if the chicks looked to be in danger. Now I’m debating on whether I want to spend the day outside in single digit temperatures playing referee. I might try candling the eggs after dark just to make sure the look viable it has been very cold and I’m not certain they have stayed warm enough the whole time.

 

[NanaK]

I might try candling the eggs after dark just to make sure the look viable it has been very cold and I’m not certain they have stayed warm enough the whole time.

Sometimes when eggs incubate on the cool side of optimum they may take an extra day or so to hatch.

***Just a FYI incase you didn't know.

The weather has turned colder here too.

 

[wrathsfarm]

One week to until hatch day. Very cold weather is in the forcast I’m still trying to decide whether it would be better to leave her in the main coop or move her to the grow out pin for hatching. My original thought was to simply leave her where she is and only move her if the chicks looked to be in danger. Now I’m debating on whether I want to spend the day outside in single digit temperatures playing referee. I might try candling the eggs after dark just to make sure the look viable it has been very cold and I’m not certain they have stayed warm enough the whole time. View attachment 4047877View attachment 4047878

Best of luck with your hatch.
I am so ready for Spring, so much to do.

 

[Tstraub]

Best of luck with your hatch.
I am so ready for Spring, so much to do.

Thanks, I agree I’m ready for spring. That dang groundhog really screwed us over this year.

 

[Tstraub]

It’s currently 20f here and I believe my broody Gena has officially given up and stepped away from her eggs. Her first broody night was Jan 14 but I didn’t actually give her eggs until the 28 because I was waiting for a cold weather event to pass. In her mind she gave it 30 days. When I started this hatch attempt I said I would let her take the lead so if she is done I guess she is done. I haven’t taken the eggs away but they have been out in the cold most of the day today. If she goes up to roost tonight I’ll take the eggs.