As I related before my ever inspiring and adventurous husband purchased 10 dozen eggs at our local livestock auction. After much research he gathered the parts for an incubator (thermometer, thermostat, water container, egg racks - we had all these items on hand) and proceded to put one together. The trickiest part was keeping the temperature between 99 and 100 degrees. The incubation process will not start until the 99 degree temp is achieved and held for several hours. However, much over 100 degrees will fry the eggs and burn the embryo neither of which was our desire. We want baby chicks!
After monitoring the temperature in our incubator for 24 hours, we felt we were safe in adding the eggs. During the loading process, a egg carton tumbled to the floor and we lost 5 eggs, oops!, but that is just the first accident in this process. We were able to load 7 dozen eggs in our incubator and felt we were on our way. At 50 cent a dozen, hubby and I feel this is an inexpensive trial run and if we get baby chicks, so much the better. On Monday, one egg crack during the turning process. Tuesday produced the same problem. If it continues, we will have to investigate further, but soft shell eggs are more difficult to hatch. Soft shells is the result of the lack of nutrients in the laying hen. Now in Day 4, we are anxious to see if we have learned anything in this process and if successful to celebrate the little hatchlings.
When a setting hen sits on her eggs, she turns them with her feet several times each day. If the eggs are not turned, the clear fluid (known as the egg white) will adher to the inside of the shell and the embryo will not develop properly resulting in physical deformity. Nutrients are contained in the egg white to nourish the little chicken embryo until it is developed and ready to hatch. So, we started the process and turn the eggs at least 3 times a day. It takes only 15 to 20 minutes. The hatching process will take about 20 days depending on - well a lot of things! I think I am getting into this process of egg hatching.
None of our hens will sit on the eggs we put in the nest. I know there could be several reasons, but maybe I just don't have a brooder. I wish for a broody hen right now.
Meanwhile, the new baby chicks are hungry little buggers and are taking in three bowls of food per day. I guess they are making up for the time lost living on egg whites. They are all over my hands as I fill their bowl and devour the food like they are being starved! Black with some light feathering of down on the throat to their front legs, they are beautiful. They are growing rapidly and in a few weeks we will get them ready to go in with the other hens. They are confined for now in a nice roomy pen safe and sound, except when the grandchildren come for a look. At this stage they are not allowed to handle them, both are too young to understand the need for restraint or the power of their little hands.
I was sad to see that one of the Metro Atlanta cities banned pet chickens from their city limits. Chickens are not noisy, make great pets, and teach children responsibility among other things. There was much discussion on the fecal matter causing an unpleasant odor, but unless you have a lot of chickens, there is no odor. I am afraid for those who perfer the smell of vehicle exhaust and smog over the natural odor of people and animals.
The baby chicks are waiting on me and I have chores to tend to. Sound like a farmer again, don't I? Thanks for dropping in and come back soon as the Diary of Hatching an Egg continues.
Happy reading!
Belle
No comments:
Post a Comment