Advice on Hatching Chicks in an Incubator?

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So, do I need a candler to successfully candle eggs? I have been using a flashlight, but I am not seeing things as clearly as other pictures look like. I can tell at least six are developing, though, which is great! But, if I don't need to spend the money, I will stick with the flashlight. Any more suggestions for candling?
 
ConfusedTaru said:
So, do I need a candler to successfully candle eggs? I have been using a flashlight, but I am not seeing things as clearly as other pictures look like. I can tell at least six are developing, though, which is great! But, if I don't need to spend the money, I will stick with the flashlight. Any more suggestions for candling?
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I use a decent powered flashlight that I bought for $10 at Tractor supply that works awesome when it has fresh batteries...lol Green/blue or dark brown shells are a pain to candle without an ultra strong light. Candling down into the egg from the air cell end is the best way to see anything. Some people make home made candlers. I've tried, but nothing works as well as my flashlight and hand....lol
 
ConfusedTaru said:
So, do I need a candler to successfully candle eggs? I have been using a flashlight, but I am not seeing things as clearly as other pictures look like. I can tell at least six are developing, though, which is great! But, if I don't need to spend the money, I will stick with the flashlight. Any more suggestions for candling?
Click to expand...


I have an egg candler. My flasliight makeshift works better. I took a piece of cardboard and wrapped it around the flashlight's end to match the size of the egg. If light can not escape around the edges of he eggs, it is forced through the eggs and you will see what's inside a LOT better.
 
nchls school said:
I have an egg candler. My flasliight makeshift works better. I took a piece of cardboard and wrapped it around the flashlight's end to match the size of the egg. If light can not escape around the edges of he eggs, it is forced through the eggs and you will see what's inside a LOT better.
Click to expand...
I wrap my hand around it...lol
 
ConfusedTaru said:
I have been reading up on this a lot, but many people say different things. I am hatching eggs in an incubator for a science fair project. It is a little giant still air, no turner. I have been turning the eggs 2-3 times a day and have been keeping the water reservoir full. What is the best temperature for hatching chicks? The eggs are regular chicken eggs from a friend. Am I allowed to open the incubator during lock down to remove the chicks that have hatched? I have hatched chicks before with broody hens, and have done it in an incubator once, but that was not for hatch rates, just to save some abandoned eggs. I am new to backyard chickens, and actually got an account to ask for help on these questions. I need at least a 75% hatch rate for the science fair to work.
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Welcome to BYC! Sounds like you have an awesome science fair project! Only other comments I can add to the ones already posted: If you haven't already, read all of Hatching Eggs 101 in the learning center. Also, be sure your thermometer is calibrated. If it's not accurate, you have no way of knowing if your temp is what you think it is! Also, check multiple locations throughout your bator, and be sure to shift eggs through those positions if there are warm/cool spots.

ConfusedTaru said:
So, do I need a candler to successfully candle eggs? I have been using a flashlight, but I am not seeing things as clearly as other pictures look like. I can tell at least six are developing, though, which is great! But, if I don't need to spend the money, I will stick with the flashlight. Any more suggestions for candling?
Click to expand...
Fresh batteries, super dark room, candle through the air cell. Best candling entertainment: days 7 - 10!
 
Okay guys, sorry I haven't replied quickly. At least one egg is developing very well, but the others have darker shells and are a bit harder to tell. On the first day, they got to about 108 degrees for an hour before I noticed. I took the lid off and let it cool for about half an hour before replacing the lid and putting the thermostat as low as it would go until I could stabilize it. Was that the right thing to do? I am very excited about having chicks, but am worried because it just snowed here and I don't want to lose power. What do I do if I do lose power? We have no broody chickens, so if the power goes out, I plan either to plug it into our RV outlet or put it in front of the fire. Thanks for all the input!
 
ConfusedTaru said:
Okay guys, sorry I haven't replied quickly. At least one egg is developing very well, but the others have darker shells and are a bit harder to tell. On the first day, they got to about 108 degrees for an hour before I noticed. I took the lid off and let it cool for about half an hour before replacing the lid and putting the thermostat as low as it would go until I could stabilize it. Was that the right thing to do? I am very excited about having chicks, but am worried because it just snowed here and I don't want to lose power. What do I do if I do lose power? We have no broody chickens, so if the power goes out, I plan either to plug it into our RV outlet or put it in front of the fire. Thanks for all the input!
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Not much more you could have done than you did. As for power loss, if you could plug it in that'd be great, but I would imagine that the rv would be pretty cold and the bator wouldn't be able to hold the heat.
 
Okay, sadly, I do not think these chicks survived the fluctuation in the incubator temps. I am really sad that all this work may not be going to anything. HOWEVER, we had some fertile eggs from a farm nearby and those are now in the 'bator. They are unwashed, but have been refrigerated for a few days. At this point, it is just for expanding our flock, not for the science fair. We have not given up on the first eggs, and won't for a while. But, I just wanted to let you know that I should have some chicks in a few weeks. I will try to keep you updated.
 
ConfusedTaru said:
Okay, sadly, I do not think these chicks survived the fluctuation in the incubator temps. I am really sad that all this work may not be going to anything. HOWEVER, we had some fertile eggs from a farm nearby and those are now in the 'bator. They are unwashed, but have been refrigerated for a few days. At this point, it is just for expanding our flock, not for the science fair. We have not given up on the first eggs, and won't for a while. But, I just wanted to let you know that I should have some chicks in a few weeks. I will try to keep you updated.
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I don't usually say this but I hope you are wrong. Good luck on all of them.
 

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