Incubators

There are sixteen chicken eggs keeping warm in our incubators which are due to hatch in ten days time. 

We have two incubators - an R COM Mini and a Covattutto 16.  The R COM holds only three eggs, but is fully automatic and has a digital display.  Once the eggs have been set, the only thing you need to do is top up with water every couple of days.  The Covattutto 16 (as it's name suggests) is supposed to hold sixteen eggs (but I find only has space for 12-14 normal sized hen eggs).  This is a manual incubator, so the eggs have to be turned three times daily (until a couple of days before hatching) as well as topping up with water when needed.  I have found the hatch rate is good with both incubators.  The only problem with the Covattutto is the fact it is heated by a lightbulb, so there is a risk that it may blow in the night.  This in fact happened a few days after these eggs had been set and I came downstairs to eggs that were cold to the touch.  However, I have candled the eggs with my little candling torch and to my relief, there is still life inside! 

We are looking forward to the arrival of the little chicks. It is so exciting after twenty one days of incubating, to listen for the cheeping sounds, see the eggs start to crack and watch the chicks slowly hatch out!

Blue eggs!

We have had our first blue egg from our Lavender Araucana hen!  Aracaunas were originally from South America, but introduced to the UK in 1930.  The blue colouring in Araucana eggs goes throughout the shell, so the inside of the shell is as blue as the outside!