Incubating Some Eggs.........39 chickens and 1 duck

 

I love everything about God's creation........He did it so well and He lets me enjoy!!!! 

Hello Sweet Ladies, 

One of my favorite blogs to go to for lots of homesteading helps is Homestead Revival. Amy has lots and lots of information on each of her posts helping all who want to learn about everything you can imagine!  She is hosting a Barn Hop #1 at her blog. I thought I would link up and join in. You will enjoy all the other blogs that are available at the link ups so go and visit. 

Oh, my...........mothering has just hit this farm girl's heart. I am going to be incubating some baby chicks and one duck in the next three weeks! Can't wait.........it is one of my most favorite things to do.......besides being a real Momma and Grammie to my grandchildren! I love everything about Babies!  Wish I could still be having them........but the Lord hasn't called me to be a Sarah. Sooooo I will just incubate little chicks and ducks! 

For the last couple of years I have not had to use an incubator. My girls did everything for me. Even my momma duck sat on baby ducks and chicken eggs last year. Remember when the bobcat came through the farm and killed all the ducks and some of my chickens? Well,  Little Miss Fluff and Little Red who were my best Momma's both were killed. This year I am not sure if any of my girls will sit, so I wanted to get some babies going soon. I will have to use the incubator this time and then I will see if any of my girls will sit this spring. Oh how I hope so. 

Gather eggs within a 7 day period. Make sure that your hands are clean.  Set the eggs in an egg carton with the small end down. Keep eggs at 60-70 degrees. DO NOT PUT IN FRIDGE! After you have gathered the amount of eggs you want, set them inside the incubator. If you don't use an egg turner.......make a small pencil x on one side of the egg. This will help keep track when you turn the eggs.  

You can find incubators at any farm store. Easy to use and they have worked great for me.

I like to use a egg turner. It is easier....... if you have a lot of eggs. Other wise you have to turn the egg two to three times a day. It really work great. Each box has wonderful instructions for you to follow. Very simple to use.

Fill water wells on the bottom of the incubator with warm water. Let sit about 5-6 hours.

Now it is time to set the eggs with the small end down into each slot. Lay the thermometer on top. It should go back to 99.5 degrees after it sets awhile.  I can't wait until the 5th day so I can candle the eggs. (That means I will use a flashlight under the egg and shine the light through the bottom of the egg. You can see the little chick starting to form. It is amazing!!!!!!! I will try to show you when I do it.  It is so precious to see the veins and the tiny big eye forming. 

Set the lid back on the top. I like to have a small flashlight by the incubator so I can keep check on the heat. Now we wait. I will show you the candling or try to in 5 days. Be sure to check back with me. It really is very precious to see. 

I will also be ordering some baby chicks with my farm friend Gail. I will get another male for my white Cochin (the daddy was killed this winter by the bobcat).  I also want to try some Blue Cochins. They are beautiful.  Gail and I have ordered for many years. Her favorite part is to go to the Post Office and pick them up. 


 When I was a young girl living in Alaska my Daddy had a big incubator maybe it wasn't that big now that I think of it.....maybe it was because I was little? We incubated geese, ducks and chickens. When you homesteaded you had to have your own livestock. Kind of like families are doing now. I guess that is why I love living on a farm and seeing things born. It is truly a miracle!  God has been very good to my family to let us live like on a farm..........we are truly grateful. Please if you have a farm or anything you think we would be interested in...........send us all over. We would love to see!

Blessings from our farm to your HOME!

Linda