(no subject)

[pacificpikachu]

I decided to candle a few of Splash's eggs (she's been broody for quite a while now), and while most of them didn't have much of anything in them, in one egg there was a little embryo (guessing about day 7/8), and in the other one, veining and nearly the whole egg was taken up with the dark form of a chick. *0* I'm hoping she manages to hatch at least one, if not both! Of course there's no guarantee she'll be able to hatch either egg, but...yeah! Still excited, and hopeful. That'll be so fun if she manages to hatch little chick-chicks.

Regardless, candling eggs is fun. I can already see why incubating allegedly becomes addictive, and I don't even have an incubator yet. Hoping to order one in the next week or so, if not sooner~

Comments

[grimmerlove.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about poultry so NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO LEARN

Is it normally like that? Some of the eggs won't develop chicks at all, or is it just because they haven't been kept warm?

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Yay! \o/ Learning about poultry is actually way, wayyyy more interesting than most people would think. ;)

It's actually (primarily, I think) because some of the eggs are newer and some she's been sitting on for longer. If I find an egg in their enclosure, I just keep putting them under her, so I suspect the ones that aren't showing anything are newer eggs. Also, even with a fertile rooster not all eggs end up fertile and some eggs stop developing at some stage of development or another (think like a miscarriage), so even under ideal conditions some of the eggs won't develop at all or only to a point.

[loika.livejournal.com]

That's so interesting! Watching something develop in an egg must be fascinating. Love these posts of yours. :)

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

It is! I wasn't sure I'd know what I was looking for as I've never candled before, but it was surprisingly...well, vivid, I suppose. As in, even with little/no experience it's easy to tell whether there's something growing in there or not. And I could actually see veins in the egg and everything! I wish I could post pictures but they would never turn out, so I'll redirect you here instead: http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876

I'm glad you enjoy them! :D I'm so passionate about all this stuff that it makes me happy other people find it interesting, too.

[mommymoose.livejournal.com]

that sounds so neat!!! I had heard of candling of course but to actually know someone that's done it and sees stuff in there, I know I would be so excited! I am excited for you that's for sure!
Keep the progress updates going. Can't wait to see baby pictures!

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

It is! Really fun and interesting stuff, getting to watch the little ones develop and everything. :D Here's a great forum thread for checking out some candled egg pictures: http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876

I'll post more updates when I have some! I think I'm going to candle again tomorrow now that I know more what I'm looking for. I'm really hoping I'll have chick pictures to share in a week or so!

[scorpio-alice.livejournal.com]

Would you be up to finishing Princess Tutu tomorrow (jan 2)?

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Indeed I would! What time works for you? :D