So, I just finished a batch of shipped eggs, and have some things to think about. I ordered 24 eggs, shipped from Florida to Western Nebraska, and the USPS took 4 days.
My initial candle showed 8 eggs with damaged air cells. Some very loose, some saddle/ lopsided. (All but 2 of these ended up hatching. )
I left the eggs at room temp for 8-10 hours, then into the bator, (Brinsea Eco 20) Temp on bator thermometer was stabilized at 99.5, right in the range that the manual recommends. My other thermometers agreed. I did not start the turner for about 60 hours after that. Then turned the brinsea turn cradle on.
Humidity day 1-18 goal is 30-35%
Day 0 is the evening of 2/13/16
Day 7 candle- 19 eggs show definite growth, a couple I'm not sure about, two are most definitely clears.
Day 14- tossed 3 clears, and 3 with blood rings.
Day 17- lock down one day early due to some saddle air cells. Eggs water candled, 15 with definite movement. Those that did not move were carefully candled with the light as well. Tossed 3 more quitters. 15 eggs made it to lockdown. I debated and read tons of threads, ultimately decided to do upright hatch in cut down egg cartons due to my saddle air cells in 3-4 eggs. Humidity in 60-65% range.
Day 20 1/2- Hatch starts with first two eggs. These two are moved to the brooder after they are good and dry, as there is not much room in the Brinsea.
Day 21- 7 /15 have hatched. Day 21 + 5 hours, I decided to pick up each egg for a quick check and candle. I discovered several internal pips and TWO malpositions. After a quick BYC post, I turned them over on the advice of @MeepBeep
Day 22- One of the malpositioned eggs hatches by itself, as well as several others. At the official Day 22 mark, there are 4 eggs still in the bator. 3 have life, including the malpositioned, and one seems to have pipped internally, then died.
Day 22 1/2- (AM of 3/7/16)- The malpositioned egg has made NO progress, but the chick is still alive. I removed a little chip of shell and the membrane seemed dry. No blood vessels encountered. This pip was noticed Saturday evening, and this is now Monday morning. 36+ hours, as i have no idea how long it sat upside down pipped before I checked. After a 1 1/2 hour rest, I removed a bit more shell, and this seems to be just enough to get him moving. He proceeded to finish hatching on his own. Monday morning 3 of the 4 remaining are hatched and the last egg is candled again, and tossed.
Total hatch 14/24
Clears = 3
My thoughts:
1. I'm a messer, and it paid off in finding the two malpositioned. May not have been an issue if I had laid the eggs down to hatch. I lucked out, and they both hatched, only one requiring assistance.
2. Because I mess so much, I have to add water VERY frequently to maintain humidity.
3. I think my temp is too cool. I plan to increase my temp for the next hatch, trying to get them hatching closer to day 20-21 instead of 21-23
Maybe 100- 100.2?
4. I'm still torn as to whether I should hatch upright or on the side next round. I left my egg cups attached in fours, and that worked, OK, but I think attached in twos would arrange in the brinsea better, leaving more floor space.
5. I think I will weigh eggs next round. I'm not that great at candling anyway, and I've got Welsummers coming.
6. I need a standardized spreadsheet for note taking.
What do you all think? Thanks for your input!
Amy
My initial candle showed 8 eggs with damaged air cells. Some very loose, some saddle/ lopsided. (All but 2 of these ended up hatching. )
I left the eggs at room temp for 8-10 hours, then into the bator, (Brinsea Eco 20) Temp on bator thermometer was stabilized at 99.5, right in the range that the manual recommends. My other thermometers agreed. I did not start the turner for about 60 hours after that. Then turned the brinsea turn cradle on.
Humidity day 1-18 goal is 30-35%
Day 0 is the evening of 2/13/16
Day 7 candle- 19 eggs show definite growth, a couple I'm not sure about, two are most definitely clears.
Day 14- tossed 3 clears, and 3 with blood rings.
Day 17- lock down one day early due to some saddle air cells. Eggs water candled, 15 with definite movement. Those that did not move were carefully candled with the light as well. Tossed 3 more quitters. 15 eggs made it to lockdown. I debated and read tons of threads, ultimately decided to do upright hatch in cut down egg cartons due to my saddle air cells in 3-4 eggs. Humidity in 60-65% range.
Day 20 1/2- Hatch starts with first two eggs. These two are moved to the brooder after they are good and dry, as there is not much room in the Brinsea.
Day 21- 7 /15 have hatched. Day 21 + 5 hours, I decided to pick up each egg for a quick check and candle. I discovered several internal pips and TWO malpositions. After a quick BYC post, I turned them over on the advice of @MeepBeep
Day 22- One of the malpositioned eggs hatches by itself, as well as several others. At the official Day 22 mark, there are 4 eggs still in the bator. 3 have life, including the malpositioned, and one seems to have pipped internally, then died.
Day 22 1/2- (AM of 3/7/16)- The malpositioned egg has made NO progress, but the chick is still alive. I removed a little chip of shell and the membrane seemed dry. No blood vessels encountered. This pip was noticed Saturday evening, and this is now Monday morning. 36+ hours, as i have no idea how long it sat upside down pipped before I checked. After a 1 1/2 hour rest, I removed a bit more shell, and this seems to be just enough to get him moving. He proceeded to finish hatching on his own. Monday morning 3 of the 4 remaining are hatched and the last egg is candled again, and tossed.
Total hatch 14/24
Clears = 3
My thoughts:
1. I'm a messer, and it paid off in finding the two malpositioned. May not have been an issue if I had laid the eggs down to hatch. I lucked out, and they both hatched, only one requiring assistance.
2. Because I mess so much, I have to add water VERY frequently to maintain humidity.
3. I think my temp is too cool. I plan to increase my temp for the next hatch, trying to get them hatching closer to day 20-21 instead of 21-23
Maybe 100- 100.2?
4. I'm still torn as to whether I should hatch upright or on the side next round. I left my egg cups attached in fours, and that worked, OK, but I think attached in twos would arrange in the brinsea better, leaving more floor space.
5. I think I will weigh eggs next round. I'm not that great at candling anyway, and I've got Welsummers coming.
6. I need a standardized spreadsheet for note taking.
What do you all think? Thanks for your input!
Amy