Anyone HATCHING?!?!? Newbie's and addicts WELCOME!!!! Hatch Calendar page 1!!!!

[Chiko]

Please don't think I'm a dumbo but what is Lockdown Oh and I just put 7 eggs under a hen today

 

[Chiko]

Setting a dozen mixed eggs tonight! Woo wish me luck!

 

[Maximus]

Thanks

 

[rgvchicks]

rgvchicks here.....just set 40 eggs on the 10th ....should hatch by the 2nd of march.....i used another homemade incubator i built after getting excited after watching movement on the other eggs i set on the 1st on the aquarium incubator i first built (9 more days to go on that one)......WHAT CAN I SAY.....I BECAME AN ADDICT....LOL

 

[Tressa27884]

Just bought my very firsthatching eggs! I should have them in a few days. I'm all ready excited and they aren't even here yet! Advice?! Suggestions.

 

[silkymom1986]

Good luck to everyone setting eggs!!!

for good hatches!!!

I put 25 in lockdown on Saturday around noon, and had 1 silkie hatch yesterday and this morning when I went in 2 more had hatched and 4 more had pips!!!

They must be early birds, lol

Hi Tressa, welcome to the thread!!! And be for warned incubating is a major addiction, but a good one,

What kind of incubator are you using? If you haven't already you should go ahead and set it up so you can get the temp and humidity stable so when your eggs arrive it's ready. When I get shipped eggs I usually let them sit for a while to get to room temp before I put them in the bator and I don't start turning them for 24 hours. Good luck and feel free to ask any questions you might have!!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Hi SikieMom and Everyone else

,

This is my first time incubating and what an experience it has been! I'm on Day 17 and tomorrow is LOCKDOWN!

I have 10 silkie eggs in the incubator. They are shipped eggs from blue/black/splash and blue/black pens.

Started with 16 pretty little eggs: 4 were infertile, 1 quit, and 1 got cracked. We scrambled up the clear eggs for our chickens (yum) so they didn't go completely to waste. We checked out the cracked egg and discovered a beautiful, little day-4 embryo inside, veins, heart, etc. I felt heartsick but also encouraged that they were developing. We also did an eggtopsy of our day 10 quitter and could see the beak, tiny feathers and wittle toesies...so precious. I think that one must have been in a "cold spot" in the incubator too long and just quit.

I've been driving my husband and son crazy! I'm using an old Brower, still air incubator and check the temperature cycle at least 4 times an hour. I drink water before going to bed so I wake up and check the eggs during the night (and then drink more so I'll wake up again!) Someone loaned me a still air HovaBator, so now I'm regulating temperature in THAT one too to use during lockdown. Now, I'm really like a madwoman running back and forth between these two bators. The reason I'm using the HovaBator for a hatcher is because it has windows and is bigger than the Brower. I've also noticed (since I put water in the bottom) that the HovaBator feels like a sauna (so cozy) compared to the Brower. I've pretty much done a dry hatch in the Brower and only added water at first if it dropped below 20. Since the aircells are plenty big, I've added some damp paper towels and my humidity is hovering around 40. I have all the vents open for good ventilation.

I do have a question:
This morning I candled 2 eggs and didn't see any movement. I could see veins and alot of black as the chick is filling up most of the space. Is that normal for day 17? Do you think I should candle again tomorrow before lockdown? And, if so, what should I be looking for? I don't think I'll see much movement and am afraid I might jeopardize the chicks if I candle too long or drop one.

Any suggestions would be wonderful.

 

[silkymom1986]

When they get that far along it's hard to see movement because of exactly what you said, this chick is filling up most of the egg and all you can see is the airsack. I always do my last candling before I go into lockdown to get rid of any laste quitters, I try to only candle 3 times during the whole incubation process to prevent getting germs on them. First time around 5-7 days, second around day 14, then before lockdown. Sounds to me like your good to go if the airsacks are all about the same size. Good luck!!!

And here's some good hatch vibes for your eggs!!!

 

[Johndeere96]

I have 1 pip and 3 eggs moving around like crazy! I went into lockdown yesterday at 5:00 pm

 

[silkymom1986]

YAY!!!

I have 1 pip and 3 eggs moving around like crazy! I went into lockdown yesterday at 5:00 pm