Day 7: feathers beginning to form

We are on day 7 of our incubation adventure and we saw the vitelline vessels were visible on about half of them (at least) when we candled the eggs last night! So exciting! It basically looks like a little spider sitting on top of the egg yolk. We are not sure how many of our eggs were fertilized by Merlin, so we don’t know how many of the dozen will hatch. I have them marked X on top and O on the bottom so I know if I’ve turned them. You need to alternate the overnight sides so they don’t spend the overnight on the same side each night. The hen turns the eggs about every 35 minutes, but in an incubator you shoot for at least 3 times a day, always odd number of turnings (to alternate the side exposed to the heat source each night). I also keep water in the incubator to ensure humidity levels are about right. I don’t have a hygrometer, only a thermometer, but these incubators have been around a long time so I’m hoping for the best. And this time I AM actually following directions! Ben will hopefully have a peep or two pip out on his birthday May 21! I will try to attach a picture of candling this evening so you can see. Here’s a link to what we saw just in case I can’t get a good shot: http://www.giffsfarm.com/candledeggs.html

2 Comments

  1. marilou/grammie 5 May, 2012

    How very egg-citing. Could not resist that one. We had a chicken farm nearby when my kids were growing up so i had some good egg-ucation. Oops, couldnt resist again. Have fun & i cant wait for pics
    Love, Grammie

  2. Gramma 5 May, 2012

    Oh how I remember! The first time we incubated, the incubator was in the bottom floor family room on a card table just outside the downstairs kitchen. What a great job you’re doing! I can’t wait for pics!!

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