Day one of Incubation

Just a quick update on the broody girls and their eggs:  

They have been named, thank you Mary for the great suggestions of Lucy and Ethel!!! 

Last night when I checked on them I noticed one of Lucy's eggs was out from under her and off to the side.  I reached in to tuck it under here and discovered it was broken.  It was egg number 6, so she is now down to 7 eggs under her, but all the others seemed fine.  This egg did appear to be a bit softer in the shell than others, so perhaps she broke it on purpose to eliminate it.  Ethel has all of hers and is super protective...I love how she screams at me when I try to check in on her.  Her eggs are lettered...this will help me keep better track of them.  

So lets talk about egg development.  My plan is to share how and what is developing within the egg/embryo over the next three weeks.  Provided the egg has been fertilized, a lot happens in the first 24 hours under the hen or in an incubator.  By hour 20 there is already enough cell growth that there is a beginning appearance of a vertebra and within just a few more hours the head is beginning to form.  At the end of 24 hours, the eyes are starting to form.  Of course, this is all microscopic and we will not be able to see anything for a few more days.  Amazing, that this all happens so quickly.  

What is more impressive to me is that a chicken can regulate the temperature under her so that each egg stays at the right temperature and is provided with the proper humidity to grow.  Mother Nature is impressive. 

I will candle them tomorrow night, and hopefully I will be able to see some spider veining.  Then I will know for sure which ones are fertile.  I would be super pleased with a 50% hatch rate.  So keep your fingers crossed.  

Here is a picture of Ethel, right after I gave her eggs...she was scooting them under her belly.  I think she is going to be a great momma...she is very protective.