Trader Joe's Fertile Eggs - Started 8/11/12

[cluck-cluck]

Im at day 9 - if I candle and see this

Im pretty sure I'll drop the egg - advice? support? candle over a pillow??

LOL, yes, or seriously, you could make a simple candler where you set the egg in a slot (usually a hole cut into a sheet of cardboard that sits above an enclosed light source). If it's not as wiggly, don't worry, they are often quiet, but you can usually get them moving a little bit by turning the egg. ;-)

 

[tlcmama]

Yeah, I'm not OCD, but I live with several. Funny what they OCD over. I am analytical and need my data a certain way. You could call it OCD or anal. Virgo by nature, Database Programmer by trade. They go hand and hand, right?

I'll candle tonight and move each egg to the empty nest. I was afraid being out from under mom for too long might damage the egg. Newbie fear.

ha ha! ahhh AR (anal retentive) even better. I'm a nurse and I think we are all OCD. It's probably productive as long as it doesn't interfere with your life.
Used to do database admin till I decided I wanted to look at people instead - but some days I don't know

I bought some high power flashlights at Costco today - gonna candle and move mamma. I'll let ya all know how it goes.
I think I read somewhere that its okay for them to be away from mamma while she voids and eats/drinks. As long as its not longer
than like 20min.

 

[tlcmama]

It's on like Donkey Kong!!




I think I'll spend the next hour making a candling box instead of cooking dinner for my family!

 

[GardenerGal]

Trader Joe's sells fertile eggs???
How cold can eggs be refrigerated, and still be viable?

 

[tlcmama]

OMG im gonna throw up
i put mamma and the eggs in their own brooding box and she refused to sit back on them!!!!!

After 10minutes I put something in front of the nesting box so she couldn't get out of it
essentially giving her no where else to go but on top of the eggs

what am i going to do???!?? I knew this would happen, she is SO sensitive and attached to
one of our other hens. do you think i should put her buddy in there with her??

I cant leave her barricaded in the nesting box forever

HELP

oh and there was MOVEMENT in more than one egg when i candled!!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Awww, I actually don't think the hen needs to be relocated, though I know some do that. In fact I heard that hatching amongst the flock affords the chicks acceptance and mama will protect them. I also heard that the mother hen protects them well and that she instinctively know how long she can leave the nest!

If the other hens keep adding to the nest, you could mark all the eggs your broody is sitting on so when new ones are laid, you can recognize them and remove them. If you still want her sepperate, I can't see the harm in letting her best friend hang with her as well? Good luck, and if you have the time, take a look at this great thread that gives all kinds of info and points of views!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...excellent-info-here-everyone-should-read-this

 

[cluck-cluck]

Trader Joe's sells fertile eggs???
How cold can eggs be refrigerated, and still be viable?

mostly, they can't be frozen. In fact, storing eggs to be hatched should be done around 45 - 55 degrees (I think I remember that correctly?) which is the same for wine, which should give those of you out there lucky enough to have a wine fridge a duel purpose now! LOL

 

[tlcmama]

Awww, I actually don't think the hen needs to be relocated, though I know some do that. In fact I heard that hatching amongst the flock affords the chicks acceptance and mama will protect them. I also heard that the mother hen protects them well and that she instinctively know how long she can leave the nest!
If the other hens keep adding to the nest, you could mark all the eggs your broody is sitting on so when new ones are laid, you can recognize them and remove them. If you still want her sepperate, I can't see the harm in letting her best friend hang with her as well? Good luck, and if you have the time, take a look at this great thread that gives all kinds of info and points of views!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...excellent-info-here-everyone-should-read-this

yeah i was actually planning on leaving her in there (she was defending her nest just fine) until at least hatch day but so many things i was reading were saying they HAVE to be moved blah blah blah. also i might be away on hatch day so i want to make sure she is in a safe place.

i will let her out to poop and eat tomorrow and see how it goes. also i think the brooder box is too big and exciting with its close roost and open floor plan

I might put a board in it so that she only has access to a small area of it and see how that goes
if all else fails i can put her back in the main coop nesting box and keep my fingers crossed

BUT the candling went well and to my untrained eye NONE of the eggs looked empty. they all had some sort of veining and an air sac on one end of the egg
and there was DEF movement in more than one of them !!!

 

[cluck-cluck]

You know what, the more I read, the more the information is conflicting. I guess one must do what works for one's self, no? I mean, I went researching (again) tonight, and found one site that said you MUST move the hen and eggs! So lord have mercy, I'm so ugg'd out, LOL. Hopefully, she'll feel good there tomorrow and won't give you any trouble?? I sure hope so!

Ugh, I'm not gonna sleep tonight, I just know it! I went to the bathroom and saw two pips in my 'bator and now, though I'm dead tired, I'm feeling too excited to sleep again! Ugh!

 

[tlcmama]

You know what, the more I read, the more the information is conflicting. I guess one must do what works for one's self, no? I mean, I went researching (again) tonight, and found one site that said you MUST move the hen and eggs! So lord have mercy, I'm so ugg'd out, LOL. Hopefully, she'll feel good there tomorrow and won't give you any trouble?? I sure hope so!

Ugh, I'm not gonna sleep tonight, I just know it! I went to the bathroom and saw two pips in my 'bator and now, though I'm dead tired, I'm feeling too excited to sleep again! Ugh!

just bring the eggs into bed with you! people said i couldnt do that with my baby and you should see this huge, happy kid!

so this morning i removed the barricade, made her space smaller and set out food and water.
She ate like a chicken (horse)

and got back on the eggs

If she is still on them when I have to leave for work I wont put the nest barricade back up

Thanks for the help last night i was FREAKIN'