I have 1 week old possibly fertile chicken egg I've been keeping warm in a homemade incubator, I have candled it and it is dark on the inside. Here's what's up, I haven't told my parents or older sister about the egg, I'm concerned they may make me get rid of it before it possibly hatches. I do plan to tell them if the egg hatches, but my problem is some people think should stop incubating the egg since I don't have the right home for it.
But here's a description of where I live
I live in a 3 story townhouse complex in Henderson, NV(in short I live in Las Vegas). Our complex is still under construction and there really isn't an outdoor area the chick can go to or live in. We don't have a backyard just a balcony. We live in a 3 bed room townhouse. But most people think the chick will be miserable if it stays in the house or I can't find the right home for it. Also some other people think I should stop incubating the egg if I can't care for it, so should I do it or not?
2006-07-04 07:12:51 · 19 answers · asked by Checkers- the -Wolf 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
No jokes or wise cracks allowed!
I only ask for good advice not jokes!
2006-07-04 07:32:00 · update #1
What I meant by candling it is checking to see if its fertile, using a flash light. Also I'm home schooled and Summer vacation is here so I don't go to a public school, the air cell in the egg has gotten to the size it should be when it reaches the 7th day of incubation(I found a char online that explains it). So the humidity seems fine if the air cell is at the size it should be according to the chart. Although the egg may possibly hatch I've read that some people have had a bit of success using a homemade incubator.
2006-07-04 08:30:19 · update #2
yea do it.
2006-07-15 22:43:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF it hatches, it will be easy, chicks are born with feathers and ability to eat and anyway you will not let it out from the first day. so by the time it hatches or at least by the time it could be out, you probably will have some solution - like somebody will hapily take it somewhere where it can be kept OK.
but i seriously doubt that the incubator is working properly - you say something about a candle??? what does it mean? how do you maintain the temperature and humidity and at what levels? at present this is far more important than that your apartment is 3 bedroom or other-dont you think????so please tell us so that it can be corrected if wrong. dont forget to turn the egg over.
you should be able to see if it is developing - the veins, so if it is not, you can terminate it, so check it regularly. i have no experience with chickens, so i cant tell you how soon after start of incubation you will see it. How about getting in contact with your science teacher so that you can construct better functioning incubator at school and keep the egg there?? then your family cannot complain. or at least you can borrow a hygrometer to check the humidity if you dont have one. most eggs die due to too little humidity or too much of it.
if i were you i wouldnot tell anybody. if somebody finds out, tell them that you will give it away if it continues developing, that you dont think of keeping a chicken, but are just curious whether it can develop in your incubator. You can always tell that you will write a project report for school about it (and you can do it, sure). maybe you take it to school biology lab if it hatches? In some schools there are pet animals kept like this. But seriously i think you will not be able to hatch it no matter how you try, but i will keep my fingers crossed for you.
2006-07-04 08:21:42 · answer #2 · answered by iva 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, when I was in elementary school we hatched quail eggs in a classroom. However, because they needed to live in a natural habitat we gave them away at the end of the year. I really think you'll have to do that too. If you can even get the egg to hatch- because that's not easy to begin with. There won't be room for it in an apartment. If you arrange a place to send it if it does hatch, then I would say you could continue incubating, but if you don't have any place to send it or you don't know what to do with it then the chick will just be miserable when it's born.
2006-07-04 07:20:48 · answer #3 · answered by Hermione 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be a wonderful experience seeing a new life come into the world. I think everyone should have that in their life once. Read online what you need to complete this project.
As for keeping the chick after it is hatched, well that poses a problem with your housing situation and I might suggest after a couple of weeks you find it a home at a zoo or sanctuary.
But have fun, know what you have to do and get your parents and family involved with it. This could be a wonderful experience!
2006-07-04 13:04:35 · answer #4 · answered by JC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a pet chicken-- she lives in my house in a cage -- To be honest the chances of you actually hatching the little guy- especially in a home made incubator are slim to none. Most people with regular experience still have difficulties when it comes to incubating-- It's a very exact science. Go ahead and try is what I would do-- Keep it if you can-- (My chicken is very happy, and very affectionate--will respond to her name even)-- Check out this site and do a search on incubating-- it will give you time lines for development-and information on humidity / temp etc.-- www.classroom@thecoop.com --Good luck
2006-07-04 09:03:20 · answer #5 · answered by Robin C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it does need a better home to be able to have free range, and a great outdoor area to call it's own. For a chicken, it would be difficult to keep it in such confined spaces, especially since you cannot pot-train them. Look for a farm that has "free-rage" chickens- these chickens are hardly caged and are allowed to roam a large area. They are not confined, and they get the best diets.
Good job for keeping it alive this long- but you may want to start looking for a home for it as soon as it hatches. Keep it up!
2006-07-04 08:14:11 · answer #6 · answered by babefirstclass 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure it is fertile? How did you come across it?? There are probably city codes which do not allow farm animals to be raised in that type of dwelling, not to mention the apartment management probably does not allow chickens. But if it hatches contact someone at the Humane Society, they may have a referral for someone who can take it and care for it, or offer suggestions on how to care for it yourself.
2006-07-04 07:22:59 · answer #7 · answered by Leigh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry to have to tell you, but you must get rid of it. There is a health aspect to consider alongside the conditions in which the chicken would have to live. It would also most probably be contrary to your parents tenancy agreement to have an 'animal' living there. Taking everything into account - it would be cruel so it is better to do the honourable thing now before the chicken is hatched....................
2006-07-04 07:22:58 · answer #8 · answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand your postion. It would not be happy and it probably isn't allowed where you live. If the chick hatches, I would be happy to give it a home. I live in WI, and we live on a farm. I have 30 or more chickens. We don't eat our chickens either. And yes you can ship chicks, but you have to do it 1 day after they are born otherwise they die. If you are interested in my offer please email me.
2006-07-04 10:31:23 · answer #9 · answered by silverboy470 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cold, ugly truth is that you have a human, urban micro-environment that is inappropriate for a chicken.
I recommend that you stop incubating the egg.
2006-07-04 07:22:26 · answer #10 · answered by urbancoyote 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should care for it because if you take care of it.
#1:You could be famous.(just kidding.HAHAHAHAHAHA.)
#2: You don't want a dead chicken in your house.
#3: It could scare away rats.
THE END
2006-07-04 07:29:38 · answer #11 · answered by a 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋