Yet another nervous first-timer

[AmyLynn2374]

Candled again today to mark air cell progress.

Most of them showed air cell growth consistent with my expectations. The light shelled eggs also showed movement/growth.

One or two of the green eggs concerned me a bit. They had almost no change in air cell size/shape. Along with being unable to determine if any development has taken place, this is extremely frustrating!

I did read a bit, and saw it mentioned that very hard eggs may be less porous and may not show as much air cell growth as eggs with more porous shells. Well, I can tell you for sure, my Chippy's green eggs have always had really hard shells. Any chick hatching out of that egg is gonna feel like they just broke out of Fort Knox. Here's hoping it's just a nice thick eggshell, and everything else is going well in there. I'm not naive enough to expect I'd get a super high hatch rate my first attempt, but darn it I have gotten this far and if none of these babies make it I may actually sit down and cry right there in the garage.

I almost did with my almost complete failed first hatch. It was so dissapointing I had no desire to try again. I'm glad that I did though. I haven't had (knock on wood) another bad hatch since.

 

[Drewnkat]

Thanks Amy! I've seen your posts in many threads, and you always have practical positive things to say. I appreciate your encouragement.

I've already decided I'm not giving up. If things don't work this time, I will examine what can be improved (so far, not much: The temp has been great, humidity has been between 20-35%, and all the eggs I can see inside show movement/vessel development), and try again.

I already have ideas for what I will do at lockdown. I'm going to make dividers out of plastic canvas to separate the blue eggs from the green ones. I'm pondering ways to mark the babies as to which one is from which momma as they grow...

I will fill the water channels, and then see what else needs to happen as far as paper towels/sponge/water containers to increase humidity.

I will restrain myself from touching the eggs, and threaten the rest of the family with the Wrath Of Doom if they touch it...

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thanks Amy! I've seen your posts in many threads, and you always have practical positive things to say. I appreciate your encouragement.

I've already decided I'm not giving up. If things don't work this time, I will examine what can be improved (so far, not much: The temp has been great, humidity has been between 20-35%, and all the eggs I can see inside show movement/vessel development), and try again.

I already have ideas for what I will do at lockdown. I'm going to make dividers out of plastic canvas to separate the blue eggs from the green ones. I'm pondering ways to mark the babies as to which one is from which momma as they grow...

I will fill the water channels, and then see what else needs to happen as far as paper towels/sponge/water containers to increase humidity.

I will restrain myself from touching the eggs, and threaten the rest of the family with the Wrath Of Doom if they touch it...

Good luck on restraining yourself....I have yet to figure out how to restrain myself.....lol A lot of people use those rubber/elastic bands that kids use to make bracelets or something with to "band" newbie chicks with.

 

[Drewnkat]

Oh yes, I have three girls, ages 9, 14, and 15. We have more loom bands, bracelets, and other doo-dads than I can even count. I am pretty sure they will be happy to let me use a few bands for the chickie babies.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Oh yes, I have three girls, ages 9, 14, and 15. We have more loom bands, bracelets, and other doo-dads than I can even count. I am pretty sure they will be happy to let me use a few bands for the chickie babies.

LOL ya, those....lol

 

[Drewnkat]

Since this weekend is lockdown, today I assembled two baskets/dividers to separate the green/blue eggs. I am thinking of using food coloring at first, then trying loom bands when they get bigger.

If the blue eggs hatch out a rooster, and he seems to have a mellow personality/healthy physical constitution, we're keeping him and not the current RIR roo (who is healthy, but can get a little aggressive with the kids). I would then hatch out eggs from the RIR females, fathered by the EE roo.

I wouldn't incubate eggs from the momma of the roo (i.e. breeding son-to-mother), but the other EE would not be as closely related, so I think it should be OK. Any half-siblings I end up keeping (RIR daddy, different EE mom) would also be used for breeding. I might one day breed grandson to grandmother, but that's probably the closest line-breeding I would consider.

And here I go counting my chickens before they hatch.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Since this weekend is lockdown, today I assembled two baskets/dividers to separate the green/blue eggs. I am thinking of using food coloring at first, then trying loom bands when they get bigger.

If the blue eggs hatch out a rooster, and he seems to have a mellow personality/healthy physical constitution, we're keeping him and not the current RIR roo (who is healthy, but can get a little aggressive with the kids). I would then hatch out eggs from the RIR females, fathered by the EE roo.

I wouldn't incubate eggs from the momma of the roo (i.e. breeding son-to-mother), but the other EE would not be as closely related, so I think it should be OK. Any half-siblings I end up keeping (RIR daddy, different EE mom) would also be used for breeding. I might one day breed grandson to grandmother, but that's probably the closest line-breeding I would consider.

And here I go counting my chickens before they hatch.

My understanding and the powers that be can correct me if I am wrong because I have not entered this realm of chickenhood yet.... is that it is better to line breed (father to daughter/mother to son) than it is to inbreed (sister to brother). You can go more generations line breeding w/o the defects becoming prominent than you can if you breed sibling to sibling.

 

[WVduckchick]

First, congratulations on your success so far! And best wishes for continued success. Sounds like we have another candling addict, or at least one in the making!

I have also wondered about the inbreeding. If the chickens are all together, how do you keep brothers and sisters from mating? Do they know the difference?? LOL I've thought about it, but never actually asked anyone about it.

And in my case, I know the eggs I have on day 14 today, came from 6 different hens. I asked the gal I got the eggs from how many she had collected from. But I don't know which eggs came from which hens... so I won't really know if any of them are truly brother and sister or not. Or different hens from the same roo?? OMG too much brain overload....

 

[AmyLynn2374]

First, congratulations on your success so far! And best wishes for continued success. Sounds like we have another candling addict, or at least one in the making!

I have also wondered about the inbreeding. If the chickens are all together, how do you keep brothers and sisters from mating? Do they know the difference?? LOL I've thought about it, but never actually asked anyone about it.

And in my case, I know the eggs I have on day 14 today, came from 6 different hens. I asked the gal I got the eggs from how many she had collected from. But I don't know which eggs came from which hens... so I won't really know if any of them are truly brother and sister or not. Or different hens from the same roo?? OMG too much brain overload....

I think it matters most when you are breeding for a line. For show or for selling. Then most people who do that seperate out for breeding purposes. If you are using the eggs as breakfast or just adding to your flock here or there, I don't think it matters unless you are trying to strengthen the breeds or lines.

 

[WVduckchick]

I think it matters most when you are breeding for a line. For show or for selling. Then most people who do that seperate out for breeding purposes. If you are using the eggs as breakfast or just adding to your flock here or there, I don't think it matters unless you are trying to strengthen the breeds or lines.

Well, I still have 14 very good looking eggs. If that many make it to hatch, I plan to keep maybe 6, give a few to my sister-in-law, how many ever she wants, maybe 2-4. So I might end up with a few extras to sell. I got them from a breeder who is very careful with her flock, so they "should" be good ones. (not necessarily show quality, but good line anyway) I guess I will have to figure that out, if they hatch, and if I'm able to actually part with them! haha...