Candling Araucana eggs

elfael · **Posted:** Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:08 pm

Thank you, I'll be watching them very closely. My mercury thermometer is reading high (it's not accurate), but I think the incubator is probably a bit over temp rather than under. I'm going to assume that the problem was with the eggs, and give the Orpington eggs a good go (after replacing my thermometer!). And if not, well in a few months I guess that little silkie girl will be wanting something to sit on ...

Deans' Poultry · **Posted:** Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:33 pm

jo-chicken wrote:

To Deans' poultry,
Altitude (or more specifically the pressure of altitude) does damage the membrane of an egg according to what I know, did these eggs that had good hatch rates go by plane or road? Because I have spoken to breeders who have told me that they have had eggs sent on many occasion and on investigation the ones that don't hatch anything were flown and the ones that have chicks hatch in fact went by road. Anyway like I said I have always collected my eggs because if I am paying $50 doz I don't want anything to impact their fertility. Anyway I hope the Orpington eggs give you more success elfael.

Yups by plane

I reckon if your methods work for you then stick with them. That's the beauty of having such a diverse range of poultry lovers on the one terrific forum :-D

We all have our own ways of doing things

Cheers n chooks

Darren

jo-chicken · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:20 am

Elfael, is you thermometer a real mercury? if so I didn't think that mercury thermometers could read inaccurately, they are know in the medical world (i'm a Registered Nurse) that they were and still are the most reliable measure possible. Do you have another thermometer to put in to compare with? Might well be the temp of the incubator that's also a problem. Wish I could help more, worried for your Orpington eggs.

elfael · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:29 am

I'm an RN as well, and it's definitely not right ... I certainly don't have a temp of 39.2! It says the incubator is running at 41.8, and I'm sure that's not right either. It's one of those flat ones from the chemist; for some reason I can't shake it down past 36.4 (even putting it in the freezer doesn't help). This is a small town so there's zippo open on weekends, but on Tuesday I'll go hunting for another one, or even a reptile thermometer from the pet shop. If the incubator is running a bit warm I'll try running a fan over the vents and see what wort of difference that makes. I've got a couple of weeks before the Orp eggs arrive, so still time to cancel the order if I can't get it sorted.

jo-chicken · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:50 am

RN to - cool. Anyway those one's from chemist these days are not mercury thermometers as they are too dangerous if broken and so they make these one's that look like mercury but are not, for children and people safety. Might have to ask your pharmacist. Reptile one might work, I'm not too sure what their maximum and minimum etc. is. Bellsouth sell the mercury one's still I think. Sounds like you have a plan. For now pick up an egg and put it to your chest or wrist, if it feels hot it's a problem, if it feels nice and warm, that's great. :-D

Fool proof. Glad you've got time to play around a bit. I would recommend ordering a thermometer from Bellsouth
Check this one out...
B100TH at http://www.bellsouth.com.au/webframe.html it's $25,

it's the same type I use as my reliable old thermometer if I want to check the accuracy of others and incubator etc. They are quite prompt with delivery too.

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