12th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

[kelseyk]

Soooooo... I decided to candle the eggs to make sure I didn't have any double yolk eggs in the incubator. (Don't want to try to hatch something that has a high chance of dying on me.) I discovered this one has a small crack:
View attachment 2568396

It's been in the incubator for three hours. Any chance it will hatch or should I pull it out? I had one last year that I didn't realize had a crack in it and it never started to show signs of life.

definitely has a chance to hatch! Put some candle wax or fingernail polish over the crack and stick it back in the incubator. I have hatched quite a few cracked eggs that way.

 

[BesideStillWaters]

@BullChick Good to know! I wasn't sure what to do. I was told to throw a blanket over the incubator but within an hour, it had dropped below 90 degrees, so I went to plan B. The internet went out with the electricity and I didn't have a phone at the time so I couldn't get any advice. I just did it and prayed I didn't kill them. Also tried an electric blanket for a bit but it wasn't getting hot enough.

 

[BesideStillWaters]

@BullChick OH WOW. Sorry I meant polish!!! My mom came in and I don't know where my mind went while typing that!!

 

[BesideStillWaters]

@BullChick and @kelseyk That's awesome!! I'm really relieved because I'm trying to hatch eggs from a specific hen, a Rhode Island Red (her name is Aurora) and she is older so not laying as well. Don't have many of her eggs in there. I tried to hatch hers last year, 6 eggs, and none even attempted to start life. I don't know what happened, but if they don't start life this time, I'll wonder if her eggs are hatchable...

I threw a few Silver Laced Wyandotte eggs in there so I won't be too disappointed on hatching day if Aurora's eggs don't hatch, haha.

 

[BenlynFarm]

Soooooo... I decided to candle the eggs to make sure I didn't have any double yolk eggs in the incubator. (Don't want to try to hatch something that has a high chance of dying on me.) I discovered this one has a small crack:
View attachment 2568396

It's been in the incubator for three hours. Any chance it will hatch or should I pull it out? I had one last year that I didn't realize had a crack in it and it never started to show signs of life.

It’s hard to see it in your picture but I hatched one last month with a crack in the shell, no damage to membrane. I didn’t seal it even, but I know many do. I just left it alone and it was completely fine.

 

[BullChick]

@BullChick OH WOW. Sorry I meant polish!!! My mom came in and I don't know where my mind went while typing that!!

I actually knew you did. I couldn’t help teasing you though.

 

[BullChick]

@BullChick Good to know! I wasn't sure what to do. I was told to throw a blanket over the incubator but within an hour, it had dropped below 90 degrees, so I went to plan B. The internet went out with the electricity and I didn't have a phone at the time so I couldn't get any advice. I just did it and prayed I didn't kill them. Also tried an electric blanket for a bit but it wasn't getting hot enough.

Your instincts were very good!

 

[BullChick]

@BullChick and @kelseyk That's awesome!! I'm really relieved because I'm trying to hatch eggs from a specific hen, a Rhode Island Red (her name is Aurora) and she is older so not laying as well. Don't have many of her eggs in there. I tried to hatch hers last year, 6 eggs, and none even attempted to start life. I don't know what happened, but if they don't start life this time, I'll wonder if her eggs are hatchable...

I threw a few Silver Laced Wyandotte eggs in there so I won't be too disappointed on hatching day if Aurora's eggs don't hatch, haha.

It sounds like her eggs aren’t fertile. Have you seen a bull’s-eye in them?
I am hatching Silver Pencil Rocks. So a SLW with a different comb.

 

[BullChick]

@BullChick OH WOW. Sorry I meant polish!!! My mom came in and I don't know where my mind went while typing that!!

Long story short, I once surprised my mother while she was doing her hair. She grabbed the aerosol deodorant instead of hairspray.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So I reported my 35 egg addition before it was final and wouldn't you know the clumsy is me decides to show it's antics. I knew you can't count your chicks before they hatch. Who new you couldn't even count your eggs before you set them??

That double stack egg thing to make more space wasn't coming together with the incu turner I have running.. eggs were rolling every which way in that side turning tray.. but in my mind I visualized a perfect double stack hot dog roller like at 7-11, Pilot, etc.. and everything was functioning JUST perfectly, the eggs were all rolling uniformly and getting along!

Luckily I did remember to set the next half of the eggs and none actually bit the dust!

With the other eggs already in there.. I counted 56 total!

I did need to unplug the automated turner and will start depending on these worthy appendages called hands to turn the single stack layer of eggs.. yay, hands on fun! (I got my best hatch rates ever HAND turning.)