"Springing in the Chicks" 2016 April Hatch-a-Long Hosted by Mike & Sally

[mlm Mike]

I apologize for changing topic, but I have a question that I have researched but can't seem to find exactly what I am looking for in the "incubation manual":
Do you candle all the eggs you set?
Background - I have 30 eggs incubating I have completed 6 24 hour days. And I candled 10 of them. Some I could see veins right away! Some looked completely "lit up" like nothing had changed. Some had things floating and moving in them like small air bubbles. Some are Welsummers and EEs so I saw NOTHING. And some had darkness to them but no veins. At this point, I got overwhelmed and just walked away.
It just seemed like I needed a giant chart, a deep breath and a time out. Am I suppose to candle all of them or just a portion? Am I the only one that got kinda overwhelmed with this for the first time?!
Thank you in advance for your help and advice. If I need to post elsewhere just let me know. Sorry and thanks!

@mlm Mike - I LOVE the goats. We are building our farm and the goats are a MUST. I haven't fully decided on our goat breed yet (dairy for sure), but your babies are cute, cute, cute. I hope you post many pics for us.

@BantiChooks - Please tell me there is no Goat Math. I have already been hit with chicken math and duck math. And my kids are still to young to help with all this Math... oh my!

There isn't a "right" answer to this. Some candle all their eggs and mark air cells on each egg. I think it is important for beginner hatchers to candle and learn what they are looking at. To recognize if the egg is developing normal or not. If random spot check candling works for you, I would compare those air cells to what is shown in the hatching 101 article, and adjust humidity accordingly.


I mostly enjoy the goats, and the kids are lots of fun.

 

[mlm Mike]

Hi all,

I just got my hatching eggs in the mail today! This will be my second hatch; I hatched for the first time last October when I had 2 hens go broody. This time my hens are not cooperating so it looks like I'll be hatching in the incubator.

I will be setting Orpington eggs from Papa's Poultry again. I just sold my cockerel a couple of weeks ago & he had just been starting to mate the hens so I might throw in a couple of my hens' eggs as well & see if anything hatches. Those would be half lemon cuckoo Orp and half bbs bantam Orp if any hatch. Now that I think of it I should probably check a few & see if they look fertile.

I will be setting them in a few days so they should probably hatch out around the first week of April. I am looking forward to hatching again & to learning from all the helpful experienced people here.

Wonderful, and welcome!

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote:
Thank you! I hope you are able to get some soon.

 

[mlm Mike]

Good Morning!

 

[Chaos18]

Morning Mike

 

[BantyChooks]

Good Morning!

Mornin!

 

[mlm Mike]

Morning Mike

Good Morning Chaos!

Quote: Good Morning Banti!

 

[Chaos18]

Good Morning Chaos!

Good Morning Banti!

Congrats on the kids. They're cute

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: Thanks Chaos!

 

[Chaos18]

Thanks Chaos!

Milk goats?