my eggs are hatching!

[Lisa]

I didn't want to say anything about this yesterday, in case I jinxed the whole thing ...

I've been running a small incubator in my office, with chicken and turkey eggs. One of the chickens pipped yesterday, and was a long time poking through the membrane -- so I wasn't expecting much when I came in this morning. But there were 4 chicks walking around, and 3 more eggs had pipped in the meantime!

The first one to pip took the longest and was still very damp -- actually he went out the wrong way, via the small end (the big end of the egg has a bubble with the air supply and it's also weaker than the small end). I was tempted to name him "George", but then again he did make it on his own!

Anybody ever raise Sex-Sal-Link Browns? (Rhode Island Red hybrid, I think.) I think the males are supposed to be paler than the females, but I'm still having trouble sexing them. Ducklings are a snap next to these guys!

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Pictures! Pictures!

I love little chickies!!

How are the little turks doin'?

[Lisa]

2. Turkeys are due next week ...

I've been turning the eggs faithfully (after stopping the automatic turner to let the chicken eggs prepare for the hatch).

Some friends of mine stopped by and took pics this morning -- I'll see about posting them. In the meantime, though, the chicks are asleep in a box on my desk (I'm taking them home shortly though).

[jukes]

3. Lisa

that's so cool! is this hobby, avocation, or enterprise?

hi, i'm jukes! :hi:

[johnnie]

4. Just a quick question

What kind of office do you work in? And does anyone mind you are raising poultry in it?
But other than that..that sounds so cool. Congrats on your ummm.. pippin' poultry.

[Lisa]

6. I teach at a college ...

Three of the staff have dibs on the babies so far!

Apparently there's an inspection by Buildings and Grounds tomorrow, but I talked to the departmental safety guy in advance. The incubator has a surge protector and a heavy-duty air conditioner power cord, and anyway it's basically a 60-watt lamp with an attached cooling fan. With most of the eggs gone now, and me taking the chicks out before they poop in the incubator -- plus the eggs coming from an avian-flu-free zone -- that should address concerns.


p.s. I am testing the incubator to make sure it works, prior to hatching out some heritage-breed poultry for the BC Land Conservancy next year (they have a working farm and are hoping to set up an historical agriculture exhibit).

[hedda_foil]

5. Betcha little Georgie is a male!

Sexing him should be a snap!

[jukes]

7. hedda_foil

oh, i feel so objectified!




:grr: