Results Of Candeling Day 5

Three didn't make it.  One was infertile, another was scrambled, and yet another had  "the red ring of death" .   < -   If you follow that link, then scroll toward the bottom of that page you will see pictures of what that looks like in a candeled egg.  I have pictures below of what the eggs looked like once I cracked them open after determining they were goners.  Actually, now that I look at #3, I may have acted too early.  Next time I will wait a few more days to see how that ring develops.

#1 Infertile

#2 Scrambled

(good for breakfast, bad for chicken dinner lol)

#3 "thought to be" Blood Ring

Candeling & Embryo Development Link

Yes, I am up at 5:30 a.m. searching the internet for candeling techniques, and charts.   I found this great link.   At first it is unassuming as you will see some cartoon pics.  Don't let that fool you.  This site is a science teacher's dream!  You will see that when you click the actual days of development; day 1, day 2, day 3, etc.  Those inks will take you to some amazing pictures and information.  Go check it out.  I am going back to bed.  I can probably sleep much better now knowing that I know how to do the candeling now. 

Link To Science Teachers' Dream

Ready ... Set ... GROW!

I set the eggs for hatching Sunday, but got so busy with Father's Day that I was unable to blog.  Then, ofcourse, on Monday I had to recover from all that "king for a day" stuff for the hubby.   I was wiped out, but we had a great day!

Ran the incubator Saturday afternoon then all through the night so I could get the temperature and the humidity where it needs to be; 35% - 50% humidity for days 1-18 at 99.5 - 101 degrees.  I filled the bottom of the bator with water, and added 4 little bowls of water just incase that wasn't enough.  The thermometer was reading at the sweet spot (99.5) very shortly and has basically stayed there since. 

Started out early in the a.m. up and at 'em at about 6:30 a.m. to load the incubator and pack the chick crib.  It was very nerve racking and exciting all at the same time.   In went half of my chochin eggs.  I made breakfast, promised my husband I would be right back to celebrate his special day, then I loaded the chick crib and headed to Farm Gurl's coop.  You may remember, she is my baby momma.  She is hatching 6 of my babies in her incubator just incase my stryofoam project fails.  Farm Gurl's eggs are hatching Blue Silkies which will hatch out light to dark gray, so I was sure to put all my lightest color chicks with hers.  When those chicks start hatching like popocorn, we will be able to tell which chicks are mine and hers. 

I finally got to meet her in person, and visit her home.   You should see her vegetable beds!  Go over to her blog and nudge her to post new pics, because the beds are getting nice and full now. 

On my way home I got a sinking feeling that something may be off.  OH YEAH!!!  How do I measure humidity?!  Hey, I said I was a first timer.  I head to Walmart to get a hygrometer, and that's when my nightmares start.  I take my first measurement at it reads 73%.   aaaaaagh!  Not good at all.
Learn from me and DON'T fill your incubator with water and add 4 bowls of water just incase.  lol
Especially if you live in a humid climate like South Florida.

Chick eggs need to be in low humidity so they can actually shrink a little and absorb air to create a nice sized air sac.  That air sac is important for them to be able to breathe.  Yes, chicks actually breathe.  Not through the air sac just yet, but they actually breathe through the many pores in the shell.  Then within the last 3 days of incubation they break through the air sac and practice breathing in that controlled environment.   if they don't have much of an air sac they may pip right through to the shell which will expose them to the outside world much to quickly because their lungs are forming and beginning to funcition during the time between when they pip and actually hatch.  More on that later.  Needless to say, the humidity ESPECIALLY in the first few days should certainly NOT be at 73%, so I worked on it all day. 

Nothing would bring that humidity down, and i mean nothing.  I took all the water out.  I raised the temp a bit hoping to make it drier.  I removed the towel that was under the incubator.   Finally, I made the actual room colder, and opened the door instead of closing it.  YES!  That worked.  Cold air is cryer than warm air.  So, now it's freezing in the house, but the chicks have been at 35% - 40% since last night and all through the day today.  I actually had to add some water back in as it was dropping even further.  so, lots of adjusting over the past few days, but I believe we are at a happy place... for now!   Grow baby grow!

Next step is candeling to check for fertitlity.  Day 4 or 7, then two more times in the future.  That means possibly tomorrow!!!   I can't wait to post pics of it.  We will actually be able to see inside the eggs.  I will tell you more about it then.  Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss it. 

An Eggstra Special Saturday Delivery

WOW!  That was fast.  From Arkansas Farm to South Florida in exactly 3 Days.  I went to the post office bright and early this a.m. in an effort to catch my mailman before he left for his route.  It's a very busy weekend around here, and I knew I wouldn't be able to get anything done unless those eggs were safe and sound.  Here they are on the ride home.

Each one lovingly wrapped in bubble wrap, and carefully labeled fragile.

I bit the bullet and purchased an automatic egg turner at a local

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The Farm Gurl / City Chic Hatch

What's the difference between a Farm Gurl and a City Chic?
 My eggs are due to be delivered Friday (aka TOMORROW) and this City Chic doesn't even have an incubator yet. I will be using the cheapo depot styrofoam version which I selected because I am new to this, and want to make a really small investment.  I will pay dearly for that; manually turning eggs 3 times a day, watching over the temperature to keep it at the sweet spot which is 99 degrees, and ofcourse, dancing with humidity levels.

Farm Gurl's eggs are scheduled to be delivered Saturday, and she is all set with her awesome incubator.  She will show & tell you all about here.  It's one bad mamma jamma.  Check it out!

Farm Gurl: Operation Chicken EGGtravaganza!!!: It's time, It's time!!!!  I assembled my Brinsea Octagon 20 Advance  last night.  I have to say it was a bit nerve wracking.  The instructio...

Picky Picky Picky

FINALLY, after two months of researching all things chicken, we placed an order for our first batch of hatching eggs .  They are show quality Bantam Cochins bred by Roslyn Pickens of Lucky Pickens Farm .  We chose to purchase our eggs from Roslyn because she and her husband have been lovingly breeding and raising chickens to the APA Standards for over 50 years.  Their farm is NPIP Certified .  Additionally, her birds are gorgeous in body type and color.

We chose an assorted dozen of (2) Silverlaced, (2) White, (4) Calico, and (4) Calico Frizzle.  The first two colors being breed standard, and the last two colors not yet recognized in the standard, but truly our favorites!   We hope to be a part of the advancement that the Calico color is making in regards to possible future recognition.

We know that Bantam Cochins (especially Calicos) with their sweet, docile, "house pet" personality will have a wider range of appeal to future "City Chics and Their Kids" who would themselves, like us, want to have them as a pet of choice in their urban backyards and small gardens.

We found everything we need to know about chickens, as well as an amazing community of chicken whisperers at www.BackyardChickens.com .

WAIT!  Before you go, be sure to subscribe to our blog.  The eggs will be here Saturday and we don't want you to miss it.  This is just the beginning of the City Chic-N-Kids' adventure.

PEACE!