Well, the eggs I set that were my chickens' final eggs were due to hatch on Thursday.
When they were a day overdue, I candled them again, and I could tell that they were not viable. Since I'm curious, I sealed them in a ziploc bag, and opened them all up.
1 egg stopped developing around day 13-14.
3 eggs stopped developing around day 10.
1 egg stopped developing around day 7
1 egg stopped around day 3-4.
I'll admit that I'm pretty upset about it. I had an emotional attachment to the idea of hatching MY chickens' eggs. It would've been nice to have a legacy. I didn't cry when I found my chickens dead and had to bury them, though I wanted to. I did cry a little when I realized the eggs weren't going to hatch. I think that it was also for the loss of the hens as well- I'd pinned my hopes on these eggs. Also, to see that they had started developing and died for some reason was difficult. I wonder if I'd done something wrong, and if it could have been prevented.
I mailed my incubator back to Brinsea today. The autoturn feature on it was broken, and they'd given me a return authorization so I could get it repaired. When the chicken tragedy struck, I wanted to try to hatch before I sent it back. Hopefully I'll get it back in a month or so and I can try again.
Once it comes back, I will do a test incubation at home to make sure it's turning the eggs ok and will hatch successfully. Then, I'll do a couple incubations at my kids' schools. I mentioned it in casual conversation, and I have three teachers at three schools who are really excited at the idea of hatching chicks in class.
I'm embarrassed to admit I'm so broken up over some birds.
I'm so sorry Wen. Of course you would be broken up. The chickens were more than egg-producers. They were pets with distinct personalities. And the eggs were an extension of them. You spent a lot of time with them and why wouldn't you grow to love them. Don't be embarrassed about being someone who cares about "all creatures great and small".
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