- Mar 21, 2010
- 54
- 1
- 84
So, we put 35 eggs in the 'bator around 5pm Saturday. I am so worried that none of them will hatch. I already told my girls that they would be very lucky if one or two hatched, because I don't want them to be disappointed.
There were 3 nests in the coop, one for each hen. They each had well over 10 eggs in them, we threw out about 10 that were cracked. I was all for letting the momma's set their own eggs, but my SIL convinced the girls (and dh) that the hens wouldn't lay anymore eggs this year if we didn't take them. Plus we were going to have to move the birds and coop anyway due to a cracked septic line that ran right under their coop. The hens didn't appear to be actually setting on the eggs anyway, but still I worry that we may have harmed their chance. BTW the hens are banties, one Mille fleur and 2 seabrights and they have one MF rooster.
So I figure, some of the eggs are probably too old to be viable? I don't know how long they have been laying. My girls got the birds last spring, and just keeping them alive was a major feat. Dh and I buy the food, and he built them an A frame coop, but otherwise we have stayed out of the whole thing. Really my younger girl gave up as soon as it got chilly out, but my older girl is faithful about watering and feeding, but wants to "do it her way". My girls are 10 and 11 (almost 12). I am only involved now because she asked for my help.
We just have a cheapie LQ styrofoam incubator. The temp is staying pretty steady, I tested the thermometer it came with with one of the digi's we use at the lab I work in. I know it is accurate, and staying between 99.5 and 101. I don't have a hygrometer, need to poke around the lab and see if I can find an old one. Just put a little bit of water in the wells, and figure we can fill it up when it gets empty. I live in OH, so the outside humidity is around 88% according to the weather.com. So I think we should be OK on humidity. I have both vents open for good air flow. They are in a room with a steady temp, and I have impressed on the girls that to leave them alone (other than turning) is the best thing that can be done.
Does it sound like we may have a chance???
I do have another dozen hatching eggs on order for April 17th. Getting a mixed lot of MF's and silkies, found on craigslist so they will be local and we will pick up, not have them shipped. My girl has decided she wants to raise MF's and silkies, and has dh convinced to build her another pen so she can keep the breeds seperate. The seabrights will go to a good home, either SIL's or somewhere else. Or maybe they will stay here I don't really know.
I am pretty sure I am going to be a nervous wreck for a while. I am just so worried, I want this to go well for my daughter, she tries so hard to take good care of them. If even one of them hatches, I think she will be thrilled. But what if none of them hatch? She was so excited to get what she knew was a fresh egg Sunday night (well 2 of them) she went and made herself eggs for dinner, tiny though they were, I know they were the best eggs she ever had.
Tell me the eggs have a chance of hatching, and please let me know if I am missing anything important!!
There were 3 nests in the coop, one for each hen. They each had well over 10 eggs in them, we threw out about 10 that were cracked. I was all for letting the momma's set their own eggs, but my SIL convinced the girls (and dh) that the hens wouldn't lay anymore eggs this year if we didn't take them. Plus we were going to have to move the birds and coop anyway due to a cracked septic line that ran right under their coop. The hens didn't appear to be actually setting on the eggs anyway, but still I worry that we may have harmed their chance. BTW the hens are banties, one Mille fleur and 2 seabrights and they have one MF rooster.
So I figure, some of the eggs are probably too old to be viable? I don't know how long they have been laying. My girls got the birds last spring, and just keeping them alive was a major feat. Dh and I buy the food, and he built them an A frame coop, but otherwise we have stayed out of the whole thing. Really my younger girl gave up as soon as it got chilly out, but my older girl is faithful about watering and feeding, but wants to "do it her way". My girls are 10 and 11 (almost 12). I am only involved now because she asked for my help.
We just have a cheapie LQ styrofoam incubator. The temp is staying pretty steady, I tested the thermometer it came with with one of the digi's we use at the lab I work in. I know it is accurate, and staying between 99.5 and 101. I don't have a hygrometer, need to poke around the lab and see if I can find an old one. Just put a little bit of water in the wells, and figure we can fill it up when it gets empty. I live in OH, so the outside humidity is around 88% according to the weather.com. So I think we should be OK on humidity. I have both vents open for good air flow. They are in a room with a steady temp, and I have impressed on the girls that to leave them alone (other than turning) is the best thing that can be done.
Does it sound like we may have a chance???
I do have another dozen hatching eggs on order for April 17th. Getting a mixed lot of MF's and silkies, found on craigslist so they will be local and we will pick up, not have them shipped. My girl has decided she wants to raise MF's and silkies, and has dh convinced to build her another pen so she can keep the breeds seperate. The seabrights will go to a good home, either SIL's or somewhere else. Or maybe they will stay here I don't really know.
I am pretty sure I am going to be a nervous wreck for a while. I am just so worried, I want this to go well for my daughter, she tries so hard to take good care of them. If even one of them hatches, I think she will be thrilled. But what if none of them hatch? She was so excited to get what she knew was a fresh egg Sunday night (well 2 of them) she went and made herself eggs for dinner, tiny though they were, I know they were the best eggs she ever had.
Tell me the eggs have a chance of hatching, and please let me know if I am missing anything important!!
