2001 Calico Egg Incubation Data

Here are some photos of my incubating calico eggs.  These were taken on the 9th day of incubation, using a different technique than I'd used before.  It involves damp vermiculite as a medium, and a more open egg tub set up rather than the closed jar method.  There seems to be data that indicates that chondro eggs will tolerate more deviation from ideal incubation temperatures and humidity if they are allowed greater air circulation.

Humidity is supplied for the eggs from the damp vermiculite, as well as water in tubs set on empty shelves above and below the egg tubs.  So far, these eggs are showing very nice vein growth when candled, and are nice and full.  Temps have just been scaled up to 31.5 C after the first week at 30.5 C.

12 of the 18 eggs, resting in damp vermiculite.		This pic shows the thermometer probe resting on an egg in the tub on the left, and the thermostat probe as well as the thermocouple thermometer probe touching an egg in the right tub.  A hygrometer measures approximate relative humidity in the incubator, which has been holding at around 75%.
Close up shot of eggs and thermometer probe.		Lemongirl just before the eggs were removed.

Updates

Feb. 25  Transferred eggs to new tubs with new vermiculite, as the older medium was getting pretty dry.  New vermiculite was mixed with water, and was placed in the incubator overnight to adjust to incubation temperature.   Candling now reveals the yolk sacs forming in the lower half of the eggs.  All 18 eggs appear to be  perfect.

March 2  Almost 1/2 way there!

March 8  The eggs all continue to look perfect.  I'm adding a small amount of moisture to the vermiculite as needed by spraying between the eggs.  The tubs are opened daily to ensure a good fresh air exchange.  Temps will be scaled back a couple of degrees for the final week of incubation, beginning March 23.

March 19  The eggs have begun to dimple slightly, which is normal at this stage of incubation, eleven days from the expected hatch date.

March 22  More eggs have dimpled, and the final week temperature scale back has begun.

March 28  Well, it's down to the wire!  The eggs all look just like they should, and I hope to see them piping sometime in the next 48 hours.  March 30 is 49 days.

March 30  I piped two of the eggs and found live red neonates not yet full term.  This shouldn't hurt them, and I expect they will need another day or two before hatching.  I like to err a tiny bit on the cool side with my temps, especially in the last week, so this accounts for the slight delay.  Some European breeders report artificial incubation times as long as 57 days at a 29 C. incubation temperature.  Stay tuned...any further developments will be posted here as soon as they happen.  I know you are all anxious...I am too!

Later...I found this at 9:10 PM   Outstanding!!

March 31 

7:00 AM one more red baby has piped

8:00 PM  I manually piped the 16 eggs still left, and found one dead baby and 15 live, all red.  It is hoped all 17 will emerge and be healthy.  The first baby to pip on it's own left the egg about 10:00 PM.

April 1  True to my holiday tradition, the bulk of these animals are emerging on April Fools Day.   Only two babies left the egg yesterday, but this morning seven heads were peering into the world, and one baby had left the egg during the night.  After lights out this evening, several more babies crawled out.  There are now seven babies set up in tubs in the baby room, and four more heads showing.  Six eggs containing live young have yet to manifest heads, but they are on the way.  Let me tell you, these babies are Gorgeous!  Any one of the seven emerged young would be the standout in a normal clutch.  Of course it's impossible to make accurate predictions about specific results, but these babies have dark markings similar to calico junior's hatchling appearance.  Two are very dark and the other five are cherry red with dark markings and different degrees of small white markings, and one has yellow markings.  They are fabulous!  As soon as they acclimate for a day or so I'll start working on photos worthy of these wonderful hatchlings.

April 2  As of 11:00 PM all but four hatchlings have emerged from the eggs, and only one still has not shown it's face but is alive, with good reflex action when touched with a probe.  I expect these three to emerge from the eggs tonight, and probably the last one tomorrow.   All the hatchlings seem active and healthy with the possible exception of one, who had to be helped out of the egg, and doesn't act quite right.  Perhaps it will recover.  The babies are averaging about 10.5 grams, with only two weighing in at just under 10.  I'm hoping to have time for a photo shoot tomorrow afternoon.

April 4  The last baby emerged tonight, after poking it's head out this morning.  The baby that looked a bit weak is doing well, perching, and active at night.  There are now 17 beautiful babies.  A photo montage can be seen here.

April 9  The babies are all doing well and are preparing for their first sheds.