1st Time Incubating

[MonTXChickens]

Honestly, I don't know what I was seeing. The only part that light passed through well on most of them was the pointy end of the egg. The blunt end, as best I could tell, wasn't allowing light to pass through. Possibly, the light wasn't adequate but it is a bright little flash light. Now I'm wondering if I'm even going to get 1 chick. I sure hope I'm better at incubating than I am at candling!

 

[okiemamachick]

I candle each egg from both ends the pointy end will allow light through because that where the egg white is (I think) but if you hold the egg with the fat side up and put the light shining down through the fat side (you will be holding the flash light upside down) you should see and defined circle probably the size of a quarter maybe bigger depending on how far along you are. That should be the air cell.

 

[lazy gardener]

MonTx: Even with a very bright light, it's hard to see into dark eggs, especially blue and green ones. Are you in a completely dark room when you candle, no windows? It's amazing how much light even a few little LED's can put into a darkened room. In my kitchen alone, where I incubate, there are at least 7 LED lights that either show time, or just a little light. Next, when you candle, are you excluding all light from that flash light, except for what shines directly into the egg? If you're good, you can do it by using one hand as a tunnel, shining the light up through that tunnel and into the egg. If your light isn't bright enough, you might need to make a candler. If I was going to do it, I'd use a CFL light bulb, and put a card board box over it, with a hole just big enough for the egg. If it's a standard bulb, be extra cautious that you don't over heat the box or the egg! You have to be sure that the only light that escapes from the box goes straight through the egg, and is not leaking through the corners of the box, or through the box hole opening around the egg. Happy candling.

 

[MonTXChickens]

MonTx: Even with a very bright light, it's hard to see into dark eggs, especially blue and green ones. Are you in a completely dark room when you candle, no windows? It's amazing how much light even a few little LED's can put into a darkened room. In my kitchen alone, where I incubate, there are at least 7 LED lights that either show time, or just a little light. Next, when you candle, are you excluding all light from that flash light, except for what shines directly into the egg? If you're good, you can do it by using one hand as a tunnel, shining the light up through that tunnel and into the egg. If your light isn't bright enough, you might need to make a candler. If I was going to do it, I'd use a CFL light bulb, and put a card board box over it, with a hole just big enough for the egg. If it's a standard bulb, be extra cautious that you don't over heat the box or the egg! You have to be sure that the only light that escapes from the box goes straight through the egg, and is not leaking through the corners of the box, or through the box hole opening around the egg. Happy candling.

I did turn off all of the lights but there was light from various clocks and LEDs from the printer etc. Its amazing how much phantom power we use but that's probably a different subject altogether. I tried to make a tunnel with my hand but a lot of light escaped from the back of my hand. This is something that probably needs some practice but probably not with the incubating eggs. Thanks for the tips on building a candler. I will probably try that for the next time in a few days, right before the lockdown.

For the blood ring egg, I suppose I should get it out and throw it away but what about the ones that didn't look like anything was happening? Should I leave those just in case? I will definitely leave the dark ones because I can't tell what is happening but don't want any explosions.

 

[lazy gardener]

It all depends on what you saw, in the ones that looked like nothing was happening. Were the shells darker than the ones that you could see the chicks in? Without seeing what you're seeing, I can't advise. When in doubt, leave it. If you can see inside and there's no vascular development, remove it. If you don't know what you're seeing, leave it. Blood rings: OUT! In the mean time, when you see a questionable egg, but a big ? mark on it. Then, take a couple of the good ones, and a couple of ? ones into a dark closet (put them in a towel lined basket to keep them from knocking around against each other. Shut the door, take a friend if you can to help you, and candle again. It's a good education, and it won't hurt those egglets a bit to be out of the bator for 10 minutes. I always put a big ? on the eggs that I'm not sure of. That way, I can give them extra attention, and candle again to decide who goes and who stays!

 

[MonTXChickens]

It all depends on what you saw, in the ones that looked like nothing was happening. Were the shells darker than the ones that you could see the chicks in? Without seeing what you're seeing, I can't advise. When in doubt, leave it. If you can see inside and there's no vascular development, remove it. If you don't know what you're seeing, leave it. Blood rings: OUT! In the mean time, when you see a questionable egg, but a big ? mark on it. Then, take a couple of the good ones, and a couple of ? ones into a dark closet (put them in a towel lined basket to keep them from knocking around against each other. Shut the door, take a friend if you can to help you, and candle again. It's a good education, and it won't hurt those egglets a bit to be out of the bator for 10 minutes. I always put a big ? on the eggs that I'm not sure of. That way, I can give them extra attention, and candle again to decide who goes and who stays!

I will try that. The ones that were clear very transparent. The ones that have me worried are the ones that were too dark to see through. I was hoping it was a chick that I couldn't see through in there. There is so much to learn along this journey.

 

[MonTXChickens]

,Okay, yesterday was day 18 and the incubator has been put on lockdown. The second plug was added but the humidity spiked to 80 percent so I removed it and taped it partially over the hole. Its back down to high 60s. When we candles the eggs,all 5 jubilee orpingtons seem be not fertilized. There was zero signs of anything in them. There were 5 ameraucana eggs that also seemed to have no development. However there are 11 eggs still in the hunt to produce chicks. 5 I'm almost certain and 7 that I am only hopeful for. We'll see soon! I really cannot wait until Friday to see how this is going to turn out.

Question for those of you that sell eggs. I bought these eggs from a local farm and some of you probably know the owneers. When eggs are not fertile or do not develop on a batch where others do, do you offer to replace them? I know a lot can happen in this process but zero development could not be something that I did wrong could it? What is the etiquette for me to approach them.? They seem like nice people.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would discuss it and see what their policy is. Did you open them? I do not have any kind of answer for you here.

 

[MonTXChickens]

I would discuss it and see what their policy is. Did you open them? I do not have any kind of answer for you here.

I did not open them. I put them back into a carton and put the in the fridge to see what happens with the hatch of the rest. I don't know what their policy is but I don't think they guarantee hatch. I know there is a lot I could do wrong in the process and the incubator and all that. I was just wondering about the ones that never develop at all because one breed didn't have anything at all. I think their Jubilee Orpingtons must be celibate.

 

[lazy gardener]

They have fluffy butts. I'd let the seller know. The girls may need to have a spa day. After incubation, with the eggs sitting in the bator for 21 days, it would be impossible to tell if they were fertile or not. I expect that the blastoderm would have disintegrated by then. If they had started to develop, there would be at least a bit of blood if you opened them. They could have been fertile but still failed to develop. I don't understand: You took the Jub Orp eggs out of the bator, and put them in the fridge? Why?