Petee

There are now two chicks and several eggs have pipped.  Hopefully they don't mind peeping Petees with flashlights in their portholes.

It popped out of the shell about 5:30 and immediately made its way to the front of the incubator where there's a little light.  It's knocking all of the other eggs around and I think it's egg #2.  I forgot that I had set them in order in the incubator.

It popped out of the shell about 5:30 and immediately made its way to the front of the incubator where there's a little light.  It's knocking all of the other eggs around and I think it's egg #2.  I forgot that I had set them in order in the incubator.

It popped out of the shell about 5:30 and immediately made its way to the front of the incubator where there's a little light.  It's knocking all of the other eggs around and I think it's egg #2.  I forgot that I had set them in order in the incubator.

It popped out of the shell about 5:30 and immediately made its way to the front of the incubator where there's a little light.  It's knocking all of the other eggs around and I think it's egg #2.  I forgot that I had set them in order in the incubator.

I thought I heard a peep this morning, and tonight it's a definite.  One of them is in there just peeping away!  Even though this is what I've been working for, it's still a surprise that there are actual living chicks in there!  Hopefully there will be babies in the morning.

I only opened it a crack to add water and it's back under the styrofoam away from the window so I'm not sure if there are any pips.  If I can catch them hatching I would like to see which egg they come out of.

I thought I heard a peep this morning, and tonight it's a definite.  One of them is in there just peeping away!  Even though this is what I've been working for, it's still a surprise that there are actual living chicks in there!  Hopefully there will be babies in the morning.

Don't let my husband see you giving me ideas! 

I thought I heard a peep this morning, and tonight it's a definite.  One of them is in there just peeping away!  Even though this is what I've been working for, it's still a surprise that there are actual living chicks in there!  Hopefully there will be babies in the morning.

I thought I heard a peep this morning, and tonight it's a definite.  One of them is in there just peeping away!  Even though this is what I've been working for, it's still a surprise that there are actual living chicks in there!  Hopefully there will be babies in the morning.

I thought I heard a peep this morning, and tonight it's a definite.  One of them is in there just peeping away!  Even though this is what I've been working for, it's still a surprise that there are actual living chicks in there!  Hopefully there will be babies in the morning.

I thought I heard a peep this morning, and tonight it's a definite.  One of them is in there just peeping away!  Even though this is what I've been working for, it's still a surprise that there are actual living chicks in there!  Hopefully there will be babies in the morning.

Don't let my husband see you giving me ideas! 

Tomorrow afternoon is the last I will roll them.  Then it's a waiting game to see who gets out of the shell.
 
I have the humidity about 60-65 percent.
 
I swear I heard a peep tonight and some clicking noises.

Tomorrow afternoon is the last I will roll them.  Then it's a waiting game to see who gets out of the shell.
 
I have the humidity about 60-65 percent.
 
I swear I heard a peep tonight and some clicking noises.

Not sure, I'm not at my hatching calendar but it's definitely getting to be time!  Better get the pine chips and tote ready for occupancy.

Maybe he wasn't wearing the right aftershave?

I'm working on an idea to get them out to fresh grass every day possible without them running loose.  It should be fun interacting with the girls to make it work.

I'm working on an idea to get them out to fresh grass every day possible without them running loose.  It should be fun interacting with the girls to make it work.

This is a great video of candling eggs and seeing the movement of the chicks.
 

I miscounted which I realized today when I weighed them all.  There were originally 24, so I have 21 now.  I fiddled with them too much and am now having a problem getting the temperature regulated so I have to check it every half hour but it's coming along.
 
Each egg is numbered and I will show a list.  Some are a clear beige or brown while others have lots of mottling or freckles which makes it even harder to candle them.  I'll update it about every three days or so.

Normally I wouldn't bother but I thought it might be fun for the people on here who have never seen eggs being incubated.
 
I went out today and bought a flashlight that has 700 lumens.  Then I built a "holder" out of a stack of McDonalds cups so the flashlight is standing inside on end with the light up, and there's an opening on which to lay an egg.  My hands are giving me fits so I don't want to risk dropping an egg or making my hands ache.
 
It must be bright enough because I got a ray of light from around the eggs and about blinded myself!  Tonight, after dark, I should be able to take an x-ray of them!

Normally I wouldn't bother but I thought it might be fun for the people on here who have never seen eggs being incubated.
 
I went out today and bought a flashlight that has 700 lumens.  Then I built a "holder" out of a stack of McDonalds cups so the flashlight is standing inside on end with the light up, and there's an opening on which to lay an egg.  My hands are giving me fits so I don't want to risk dropping an egg or making my hands ache.
 
It must be bright enough because I got a ray of light from around the eggs and about blinded myself!  Tonight, after dark, I should be able to take an x-ray of them!

I used an LED flashlight last night without much success, but I did find one that had come in the mail with hairline cracks.  I was incubating it anyway but realized that the cracks were widening and a small chunk of the shell had dropped away with a slight leakage of fluid so I circular filed it.  However, I opened it first and there was definitely an embryo so there has been fertilization.  I'm off today to find the brightest flashlight I can find.
 
Today they will each be numbered and photographed so everyone can now keep track of what's going on.  Originally there were 25 eggs so they will be numbered from 1-22.  #1 came broken, #2 broke in the incubator, #3 had the cracks and leakage.  When they hatch I will try to connect the chick with the egg shell.  Unless they sneak out when I'm not watching it should be fun tracking them.